All In A Days Work

Most people know you keep important paperwork in your glove compartment – your insurance card, your registration, the manual, maybe receipts for work you’ve had done. But there are a few more things you may want to have within an arms reach of the drivers seat:

This post is sponsored by Carson Market.

Important Numbers.
Even though we have these great things called smart phones that are little computers that travel around in our pockets, its always a good idea to keep important numbers somewhere easily accessible. Not everyone saves local tow companies in their contacts (or do you??) There are times your phone could be dead, you forgot it at home, or you can’t use your data because of where you are (that’s happen to me more than once). Keep your roadside assistance service phone numbers on the list. The claims number for your insurance company or your Agent in case you are involved in an accident, emergency contacts for you and your family in case something happens, so police or paramedics can contact your family.

Cell Phone Charger.
Obviously a cell phone is important and keeping a charger handy will make sure it’s always charged when you need it.  Keep it in the glove box for easy access, and it’s easier to plug in your phone while you are driving.

Umbrella.
An umbrella in the trunk isn’t going to help you if it’s pouring when you get out of your car – keeping it in the glove box will at least keep your hair from being completely ruined.

Small First Aid Kit.
Again – a full size first aid kit is great to keep in the trunk. But sometimes you need something from it in a hurry. Keep the important stuff that may be needed right away; such as band aids, tissues, pain relievers, etc.

Window Breaker.
Breaking your car window isn’t something someone plans to do – but it’s nice to have if there is an emergency like having an accident and getting into a body of water. Having that tool handy could actually save your life.
They say that if your car ends up in water you should quickly roll down your windows and swim to safety, but if you can’t (sometimes water can short out the electric windows) you’ll need to shatter them. It’s a lot easier said than done, so they make tools specifically for this purpose. There are ones that include a blade to cut jammed seat belts, and metal head to break the window. Sure it’s probably not likely – but accidents are just that (accidents) so it’s always a good idea to be prepared.

Pepper Spray.  
If you don’t have a conceal and carry, go for the next best option – pepper spray. Keep it close enough to get to in case there is an attacker and you can grab it in a hurry.

GPS /Map. 
I say have both – as great as GPS’s are, sometimes they don’t work if you are out in the middle of nowhere. A good old fashioned map will at least help get you to a main road, or get ‘un-lost’.

A lot of us spend as much time in our car each week as we do our living rooms -running errands, driving to work, running kids around- but do we keep them as organized and clean? There are some ways you can improve and keep your car clean and efficient for your daily life.

Running errands don’t have to exhaust you – take these few tips to help make them a bit more bearable:

This post is sponsored by Neuwirth Motors.

*Put together a list of all your errands before leaving – just a few minutes of planning ahead can help you avoid backtracking and save you time and money.
*Keep some reusable grocery shopping bags in your car all the time – if you include some insulated bags, you can run your other errands without worrying about melting or spoiling groceries.
*If you are running errands for birthdays, redecorating, or other events, be sure to keep a list of everything you need, colors, measurements, etc so that you have the information that you need if you find something you’ve been looking for.

Always Try to be Prepared

*Keep a small plastic folio (similar to what people use to keep coupons in) to use as an organizer for your vehicle. Keep your insurance card, registration information so it’s protected and easy to find. You can also keep your manual, warranty info, and any receipts for repairs that you’ve made so it’s all in one easy to find place (like the glove compartment).
*We’ve talked about it before, but your emergency kit is important to have as well. The biggest things to have is a First Aid Kit, jumper cables, flares, fix-a-flat, gloves, tire gauge, flashlight, batteries and a multipurpose tool. Keep them in your truck area in an organized bin or tote so you can easily find them.
*Keep a thick blanket in the trunk as well – in case of an emergency, but also to use for a picnic, sporting event, or protect your car seats if you are picking up something could damage your seats.
*Emergency Money is always a good idea to keep hidden in your car too – I normally keep some cash as well as an old change purse with quarters for parking meters or even tolls as I travel.
*A backseat car organizer is one of the best accessories you can have – you can fasten it to the back of your front seat which will give you pockets for toys, tissues, garage bags, paper, pencils and whatever else you may need. You could buy one for each seat for each kid to use individually if needed.

Keep at It.

The biggest part of keeping your car organized and clean – is to keep at it. Just like cleaning your home, you need to continue to do things on a regular basis. If you can start a regular routine, it’ll be easier to keep up.
Each time you get gas – make sure you get rid of all the trash in your vehicle. There are always trash cans next to the gas pumps, so take time to remove ALL garbage while you wait for the tank to fill. (Remember to check the backseat as well!)
Even if you keep a nice tote in the trunk, or car organizer on the back of your seat, or a folder of info in your glove box – you have to be sure to make a habit of clearing out any extra items that were left behind. Kids have a tendency to leave extra toys and books and such behind – and even as adults we may put receipts or paperwork ‘until later’ and forget. Just be sure to keep up with it, so it doesn’t get out of hand again.

Most of us probably don’t give a second thought to what or how we wash our cars – we just need to get the dirty and grime off right? But there are a lot of myths regarding the best way to wash and care for your car, and if you aren’t careful it can actually be harmful. So I’ve put together a list of a few do’s and don’ts of proper car care.

This post is sponsored by Don Vance Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep & Ram.

Don’t Use Dishwasher/or Laundry Detergent. In essence soap is soap, and most will get the dirt and grime off of your vehicle, you could be removing an important protective coating off the paint surface and dry out your paint on your car! Dish soap and laundry detergent are counterproductive – it speeds up the oxidation process and shortens the life of your car paint. Ouch!

Don’t Use Leather Products on Your Dashboard! Leather products are NOT designed to be used on synthetic materials. This type of product could cause your dashboard to dry out and age faster, causing cracking, and overall ugliness. Be sure to use interior conditioners that are designed specifically for synthetic materials.

Do Get an Automatic Wash/Undercarriage Cleaning at the “Do it Yourself” Car Wash. The modern automated car wash (you know when you drive through or get out and do it yourself type of car washes) are a pretty great option for washing your car, especially for those who may not have access to a hose and driveway. it’s gentler on a car’s finish than hand washing, and it uses just the right amount of soap, washing method, water pressure and timing. While you are there, get the undercarriage wash – especially after bad weather. For example in winter salt and brine can build up and can be destructive to your car if you don’t take care of it. It also helps eliminate corrosion and rust

Do a Safety Check While You’re at it. Since you are up close and personal with your car as you are getting it clean, do some safety spot checks. Use a quarter to check the tire tread wear. Check your tire pressure (you should have one on hand!) Check your oil and other fluids and even your headlights to make sure they aren’t foggy or yellow – or dimming.

Do Make Sure to Wax.  Yes it’s time consuming -yes it’s kind of a pain. But waxing your car actually helps clean and protect the finish and acts like a barrier for everyday wear and tear. Waxing your car also makes it easier to wash because it prevents things from sticking to your paint!

Don’t Just Use Anything as a Cleaning Cloth. While cloths like t-shirts, paper towels or kitchen towels seem like they would be clean and absorb water, they actually can scratch the paint surface and damage your car. Invest in a premium terrycloth microfiber towel – it will help pick up leftover dirt and not scratch your car!