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There are many ways to clean and organize your car, but all of them start with some good, old-fashioned spring cleaning. Here are our 5 steps to de-cluttering your car!

1. Cleaning. Yes, it’s the top of the list. Vacuuming the seats and floors, wiping down the dash and console, vacuuming the floor mats, washing your vehicle, and protecting it with wax or a sealant. All these regular cleaning tasks may be chores, but it’s the best place to start when tidying and sorting out the goodies from the trash in your car.
2. Next, consider what you really need to have in your car. Return your mugs and water bottles, and miscellaneous containers to their rightful place indoors for a good wash.
3. It would also do some good to go through your glove box, center console, and other storage compartments in your car. Do you really need every single paper evidencing your car’s SMOG from 2003 until now? Keep the necessary paperwork, and store or shred the rest.
4. Tackle the trunk. If de-cluttering your vehicle is on your to-do list, this will likely be the most time-consuming part. We tend to toss trash, leave our spare blankets, and abandon our long-forgotten purchases back here. After all, out of sight, out of mind, right? Well, not for spring cleaning! Just as with the clutter in the cabin of your car, spend some time returning your things to their places inside. If you have a spare tire underneath the floor of your trunk, lift up the floor and check it out- dirt, grime, and clutter accumulate down there too! Once you’ve cleaned, organized, and decluttered, vacuum out the trunk and return your safety supplies like jumper cables, spare tire, and glow sticks to the trunk.
5. Do one more sweep of the car, making sure you’ve gotten all the garbage and that you’ve returned all your emergency supplies to your car as well.

A road trip with your best friend! Your best furry friend, that is. Nothing can top the utter, childlike joy of a dog’s smiling face out the window as you drive along. As much as driving your beloved pet around with you can be fun for them and sometimes necessary (visiting the vet, the groomer, moving, etc.) it can become very dangerous, very easily. We’re going to let you in on a few safety tips for your canine companion, for puppies and for full grown dogs alike.

1. Bring Supplies

Regardless of whether you’re going for a long trip or a short run to the groomer and back, make sure you have everything you need for your dog, especially puppies! Collars, ID tags with a current phone number/address, water, doggie bags, and even some kibble and treats. Puppies can’t exactly “hold it.” You never know if you’ll be in an accident or delayed in another way, so be prepared. If something does happen with and your dog is with you, it’s one less thing to worry about- and a potential liability will turn into your dependable companion instead.

2. Kennels

As much as we know you’d love to cuddle the whole trip there and back, the safest place for a larger dog is actually in a kennel. Although they may not appreciate the confinement themselves, an appropriately sized kennel is often the safest option for long distance travel. And don’t forget to buckle down that crate! If it’s for a smaller dog in the back seat, buckle in the kennel. For the back of a truck and for larger dogs, try securing the kennel with bungee cords or purchase a kennel with its own features to tie it down.

3. Seatbelts

If you haven’t the size or space for a crate, e.g., a big dog and a tiny car, looking into dog seat belts is another option. It may sound silly, but it’s safer. There are different belts out there that vary based on the size and strength of your dog, and also the size of your car.

4. Help Them Calm Down

Kennels and seatbelts are significantly safer, but if you are in a situation where you’ve got somewhere to go, for example, in a friend’s care with no special belts or buckles, your dog’s temperament is everything. It serves you many purposes to teach your dog to stay calm in the car, as exciting as the prospect is for most puppies. Some may happily nap on the floor, others sit up anxiously or wiggle excitedly the whole trip. You can begin to train your puppy or dog to have “car manners,” but know it’s a two person job. One to drive, and one to sit with your pup in the back to give them treats, cuddles, or other rewards anytime they sit down on their own, accompanied by cue words. Eventually, your smart pup will associate laying down with treats and cues, just as any other dog trick works, and you have your safety protocol set! This may take more or less time depending on your furry friend’s temperament, but they’ll learn eventually with loving patience and persistence from their owners.

May and June is the time of year where high school students celebrate by attending proms and graduation parties. As these times of celebration near, it provides a great opportunity for families to have conversations about celebrating safe as their teen drivers get behind the wheel.

Automobile crashes continue to be the leading cause of death among teenagers. With May being Global Youth Traffic Safety Month, this time of year provides a great opportunity for families to talk about the following tips for being safe on the roadways.

Parents:

• Connect with other parents- Speak directly with any parents supervising after parties your teen will attend since some parents may allow underage drinking.
• Talk about NOT drinking/doing drugs- 74% of kids turn to their parents for guidance on drinking. Talk to your teen about dealing with peer pressure, the dangers/repercussions of underage drinking and driving, using illegal substances, and contacting you for a ride in situations involving drugs and alcohol.
• Offer options for rides- If a group insists on traveling together to prom and numerous graduation parties, talk to other parents about hiring a limo. That way no one gets behind the wheel. If a limo is not in the budget, offer to drive them yourself, or research other transportation options in your community.
• Have the party come to you- Plan your own, adult-supervised, drug/alcohol free after-party at your house, school or local community center.
• Set the example- You can’t always be in the car, but you can keep safety top-of-mind by demonstrating and enforcing habits like wearing a seat belt, not using cell phones while driving, following the speed limit and driving 2N2 (2 eyes on the road and 2 hands on the wheel).

Teens:

• Groom before you zoom- Before it’s time to go, take one last look in the mirror and make sure you’re looking good so nothing takes tour focus off the road while driving.
• Get your beauty rest- Since many parties last until early morning, make sure you get plenty of sleep, or ask your parents to pick you up so you and your friends don’t have to drive tired.
• Set limits- Put a limit on the number of friends you ride with. The risk of fatal crashes increases with each passenger. And if riding with friends, remind them to put their phones away and turn the music down.
• Don’t drink/do drugs and drive- Drinking before the age 21 is illegal, and alcohol and driving should never mix no matter your age. This goes for using drugs and other illegal substances as well.
• Seatbelts are the perfect accessory- A little wrinkle in your dress, tux or graduation gown is hardly worth not buckling up for. Buckling your seatbelt can save your life and keep you from getting seriously injured. Plus, It’s the law.

A teen driver is most likely to crash in the first six months after receiving a license. That’s why it’s wise to increase driving privileges gradually.

Work with your teen to set clear rules for driving without adult supervision. Be sure to discuss how your teen can demonstrate experience and maturity to earn new privileges.  Let him or her know the consequences of not following the rules.

Fatalities and Facts:

• Moto vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death among teens in the U.S.
• The fatality rate for drivers age 16-19 is four times that of the drivers age 25-69 years.
• The crash fatality rate is highest for 16-17 year olds within the first six months after getting their license – and remains high through age 24.
• The top three predictors for fatality are non-use of seat belts, teen drivers, and roads with speed limits of 45 mph or higher.
• Approximately two-thirds of teem passenger deaths (ages 13-19) occur when other teenagers are driving.

Set permanent driving safety rules:

• Use seat belt on every trip – driver and all passengers.
• Don’t use cell phones or other electronic devices while driving.
• Follow all driving laws.
• Don’t drive while impaired (drugged, drowsy, or drunk) or ride as a passenger with an impaired driver.
• Don’t ride with an unlicensed or inexperienced teen driver.

Set limits to driving privileges:

• No peer passengers
  • Start: Only adult passengers
  • Include siblings as passengers after six months of responsible driving.

• No nighttime driving
  • Start: Only in daytime
  • Gradually increase driving curfew after practicing driving at night with your teen, obeying your State’s time requirement.

• No high speed roads
  • Start: Only on low volume, low speed familiar roads.
  • Gradually add more difficult roads after practicing together.

• No driving in bad weather
  • Start: Only in fair weather driving conditions.
  • Gradually allow driving in conditions such as light rain or snow after practicing with your teen.

• Control the keys
  • Start: Make your teen ask for the keys.
  • Gradually increase amount teen can drive after first six months of driving responsibility.

• Other tips
  • Pay attention. Keep the lines of communication open.  Know where they are going and why.
  • It’s about safety, not control. Make sure your teen understands that these rules come from love.
  • Lead by example.

WARNING!  If you have been in an accident and there was a car seat, booster seat, or any other kind of child safety seat in your vehicle, your insurance company is responsible for replacing it.  Whether it was secured in the seat, in the trunk, or anywhere in the vehicle during the incident it doesn’t matter…it is NO good!

Ted and Rick are hard at work getting this 1970 Chevelle back into tip top shape!

 

We all know that sun exposure can harm our skin, but did you know the sun’s rays can also damage your car? When you leave your car in the sun for extended periods of time, the temperature inside can reach as high as 145 degree Fahrenheit, while the surface of the car’s exterior can reach much higher – up to nearly 200 degrees Fahrenheit!

Your car is not immune to negative effects caused by such heat. Here are 10 simple ways to protect your vehicle from sun damage.

1. Regularly check your fluid levels: When it’s hot outside, the fluids in your car can get used up more quickly than under normal circumstances.
2. Have your battery tested once or twice each summer: When it’s hot outside, there is often a higher load placed on your car’s battery from running systems like the air conditioning.
3. Get the air filters checked: There is typically more dust and debris circulating in the air during the warmer months, and this can clog the air filters in your car. This could have an effect on your gas mileage, and it could even damage your mass air flow sensor.
4. Use reflectorized sun panels on your front and rear dashes: While it may seem like a hassle to whip these fold-out panels out every time you go to the store, it pays off in the long run. These panels greatly reduce the overall temperature inside your car, which you’ll appreciate when you return, and need to use less air conditioning to cool the car. They also help to prevent the bleaching effect the sun has on your interior surfaces and upholstery, which can lower the value of your car should you wish to sell it.
5. Perform tire pressure checks monthly: Extreme heat, trapped air, and rubber can be a volatile combination.       Underinflated tires are more likely to blow out in high temperatures, so prevent accidents (and poor gas mileage) by checking your tire pressure at least once a month.       Do this as early in the day as possible when the temperatures are coolest for the most accurate pressure readings.
6. Park smart: If you have the choice between parking your car in the middle of a blazing parking lot or under a broad tree, opt for the shade.
7. Regularly clean your car’s interior: The pairing of dust and hot sun can wreak havoc on your interior. Just be sure to use cleaners intended for automobile use to avoid stains and unnecessarily drying out materials at risk of cracking.
8. Wash and hand dry your car often: Just as dust and debris can cake onto your interior surfaces when exposed to high temperatures, your exterior paint can suffer in the summer sun.       Frequently wash your vehicle to keep the surface clean, and dry it thoroughly by hand with a soft cloth, so bits of minerals and grime don’t stick to the residual moisture after a rinse.
9. Use a protective wax: It’s not enough just to clean your car from time to time; you should wax it at least twice a year to lock in the natural oils in the exterior paint and provide a payer of protection not just from grimy bits that can scratch the surface, but also from the sun’s rays.
10. Consider paint protection film: If you truly want to be vigilant against potential sun damage to your car, you may want to invest in a paint protection film kit. If you adopt some or all of these simple tips to provide protection from the hot sun, your car will age more gracefully, much like your skin will with the regular application of sunscreen.       They don’t take much effort to implement, and these small actions can save a lot of money down the road and help retain your car’s value over time.