All In A Days Work

Cleaning out your car can be one heck of a chore. BUT there are a few hacks that can help make that job a little bit easier.

To do a deeper clean of your seats’ upholstery, make a paste out of vinegar and baking soda. scrub it into your upholstery and then rinse it out. It will take away dirt you didn’t even know was in there! It will also help with smells you didn’t even know were there!

Clean your cars dashboard by applying a few drops of olive oil to the coffee filter. You may want to use an eyedropper to control the amount of oil you apply. You can add more olive oil to the coffee filter as needed. Wipe until dust and dirt are removed! You can also use this method on pleather or leather seats and armrests

Once you get your cup holders clean, but a silicone cupcake liner in them. The liners will gather any gunk that found its way there, and the next time you go to clean the car, all you’ll have to do is take out the liners, shake them out, rinse, dry, and pop them back in! Trust me, you’ll thank me once you start using them!

If you are like me, your pup likes to go in the car – like rides are her favorite thing! ,But the mess she can leave behind is – pretty ick. So since you can’t really help it, and you don’t want to leave those poor puppy dog eyes at home, there’s a super easy cleaning hack to get rid of all that hair. Mist the seat with some water (just use a spray bottle with plain water) and use a squeegee and run it over the upholstery, it will take all the pet hair with it!

Laundry scent balls, or even the ‘crystals’ that help make your laundry smell soo good – can work for your car! Put some in a mason jar and poke a few holes in the lid of the jar – this will help keep your vehicle smelling so fresh and so clean!

Dryer sheets are really good for getting bug guts off your car! Before going to the car wash, take the dryer sheets and rub them across your car,windshield, fender, etc, when you go to wash your car, all the bug guts will come with it!

What are your hacks for cleaning your car??

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Enough sleep or not, driving can make you sleepy. Sitting in one spot, staring at the road – its definitely a way to make even the most alert driver drowsy. Did you know that a drowsy driver is 3x more likely to get in an accident?? !
Learn how you can help prevent yourself from becoming a statistic.

The National Sleep Foundation says that a lot of driving skills can be affected by being tired. If you drive drowsy, you can have a slow reaction time, impaired vision, aggressive driving behaviors, lack of awareness, and reduced hand-eye coordination. They also say a really tired driver can actually experience “micro sleeps” where a person can involuntarily bouts of sleep or unconsciousness. They episodes of ‘micro sleep’ can last a few seconds, which is plenty of time for you to drive the length of a football field at just 55 mph!

What Makes a Driver Drowsy?
Of course if you don’t get enough sleep at night it can cause you to be drowsy, but also people who work swing shifts, people with untreated sleep disorders, certain medications, or even coming off a caffeine or sugar high.
Signs of Drowsiness
You may think you are fine, but you want to keep an eye out for signs of drowsiness for you (or whomever is driving) such as heavy eyelids, frequent blinking, wandering thoughts, missing traffic signals or signs, yawning, restlessness, irritability, suddenly realizing where you are ,etc. IF you get drowsy, consider stopping for a break. Take a walk, drink some coffee, or even get a nap in.

How To Prevent Drowsy Driving
There are a few things to help you prevent drowsy driving such as:
Rest Up – make sure before you get behind the wheel that you are WELL RESTED. Starting off sleepy is a recipe for disaster.
Plan Ahead
If you are planning a road trip, schedule it so you get plenty of sleep prior to the drive as well as scheduling stops throughout the drive to stretch and if possible, switch drivers every 2 to 3 hours or so.
Be Aware of Medications and Medical Issues
Whether its medication or a medical issue that causes you to be sleepy, be aware and switch your driving habits as needed.

As they say – it’s better SAFE than SORRY. That road trip destination will still be there when ya’ get there!

Anytime you make a big purchase, it’s important to do your research. In this day and age it’s a lot easier thanks to online reviews and consumer reports at our fingertips.

As great as that info is, it won’t do you much good if you aren’t sure what you are looking for. Sometimes you need to dig a little deeper; and read a little more, to make sure that you are making a good, informed choice. If you have an idea of the car you are interested in, make sure to follow this simple check list to make sure you are getting a safe vehicle.

DO MORE THAN A STANDARD TEST DRIVE
A drive around the block, or even up the interstate and back won’t tell you what you need to know. Spend more time in a vehicle to make sure that its going to meet your driving needs. Cup holders, sun visors, even ports for your cell phone! I once bought a vehicle with ONE plug. ONE. I have 3 kids – it didn’t work well. Try to make a list of things you know you need, what you want, and what you can’t stand, so that you make a good decision.

A “CARFAX” ISN’T ALWAYS ALL THE FACTS
Those Carfax reports can be great – they give you a decent history report of service history, and accidents – that were REPORTED> But not everything that happens to a car gets put on that report. Some people chose to repair vehicles themselves, or even ‘cover up’ certain damages that they didn’t turn in to their insurance companies.
Be sure to use a sharp eye to look inside and outside the car – look for molded , stained or discolored carpet or seats, and even paint – if it looks somewhat mismatched there could have been prior damage. I always recommend having a second pair of eyes go with you (a friend or relative) because 4 eyes are better than 2!

CHECK KBB OR EDMUNDS
Both sites can offer reviews, safety ratings, values and a plethora of information that could be useful in your search.

CHECK FOR RECALLS
I cannot stress this enough – so many times people will ignore recalls, and that can be a safety hazard to YOU. The seller is under no obligation to let you know there is one (if they are aware of it). So for your own benefit, check yourself!

DON’T FORGET THE TIRES/BRAKES
I make it MANDATORY (if I am buying from a dealer) that my tires are in tip top shape, if not brand new. I also have someone check the brakes to make sure those aren’t close to needing to be done. You should have a good year left on both!

TRUST YOURSELF
Go with your gut – if you feel off about a vehicle, it’s OK to walk away. There are PLENTY out there. Take your time!


Making safe decisions when you’re purchasing a car is an important way to ensure you get a vehicle that keeps you secure for years to come !