All In A Days Work

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!

When you own a car there are times that you may need to do a few things yourself – simple things that can be done by reading a tutorial, or even watching a YouTube video. (Why pay someone a lot of money when you can save and do it yourself right?) Even for the most experienced or inexperienced, there are certain tools that you will need to have in order to complete the task at hand. Below is a list of the most needed tools that everyone car owner should have.

This post is sponsored by Bodwell Chrysler Jeep Dodge.

Jack and Jack Stand  
If you have to get under your vehicle at all – you need a safe way to get there. A quality jack and jack stand are important tools to make sure that you can safely lift and keep your vehicle supported while you are making repairs. Though most vehicles do come with a jack, I would definitely recommend buying a high quality one – they tend to be a lot more sturdy and definitely safer for you to use.

Lug Wrench
Often any type of work that you are going to do yourself will have something to do with your wheels and tires – or at least the need to remove them. Anytime you deal with brakes or suspension your wheels need removed – so making sure you have a quality lug wrench will make life a lot easier for you. A lot of times your car will already have one, and it will be somewhere near your spare tire. If you don’t – definitely get one.

Socket Set 
I never really realized how important it was to have a socket set with a variety of sizes. There are soo many different nuts and bolts on a vehicle that needs removed or tightened and you have to have a variety to make sure you have one to fix whatever you may need. Socket sets usually come with a ratcheting handle which helps a lot when you are in a tight spot and needing to remove something. If you get sets in 1/4 inch, 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch with extensions you should be able to tackle any issue that comes your way.

Wrench Set
Yes another ‘set’ but definitely a necessity when it comes to working on your vehicle. Ratchets and sockets may not always work – sometimes literally the only thing you can use to get done what you need done is a wrench. It’s good to get a set so you have a variety of sizes and styles for hard to reach places.

Screwdrivers
Yes, I said screwdrivers – with an ‘s’. The more tools you have to do the job, the better, and it’s very frustrating to only need a specific screwdriver and not have it. At the least you need a flat head and a Phillips. Having both of these in a lot of different sizes is a good idea too. Some also recommend a torx screwdriver too.

Head Light 
Not to be mistaken for the head light on your vehicle, but a head light for YOU. A lot of the places you try to reach or get to when fixing a vehicle are dark and hard to see. Having a head light (or head lamp) that you can wear helps make that issue a lot easier to deal with.

Code Reader
All vehicles 1996 and newer use the On Board Diagnostics (OBD) interface to help diagnose any problems your vehicle may be having. For example, if your check engine light comes on – it’s nice to have the code reader to tell you exactly what the problem is. 
Generally speaking they aren’t very expensive, and a lot of them will send the results directly to your phone! Just remember – there can be a variety of reasons why a code may appear – I had mine come on once because someone stole my gas cap! Use the code reader as an indicator for possibilities – a step in the right direction.