Winters can be tough on your vehicle – especially the brutal one we just put behind us. Now that warmer weather is finally here it’s the perfect time to get your car ready for summer driving. We always plan a few road trips each summer and really look forward to them. Last year our road trip included a drive to the Upper Peninsula and northern Minnesota.
The year before that we headed to Montreal and Quebec City and had a fabulous time.
We haven’t picked our destination but we’re thinking of heading west this time.
I have some tips to share on behalf of WaterSavers®, a consumer awareness campaign from the nonprofit International Carwash Association® (ICA) to help you gear up for your upcoming road trips and to take car of damage done by this year’ tough winter. WaterSavers has also been kind enough to also offer a fun giveaway – more on that later.
Here are four eco-friendly car tips to get you back on the road and to have a safe and fun journey:
1. Wash your car at a professional car wash. Winter months can be especially hard on your vehicle and washing your car is an easy first step to making your car feel new again. Using a professional car wash is a great way to protect the environment. According to the International Carwash Association, WaterSavers professional car washes use an average of 40 gallons of water or less per car while recycling and filtering their water to prevent harmful chemicals from going into our rivers and streams. Professional car washes also remove salt from the undercarriage of your vehicle, which is a must after a long winter. By comparison, the average home washing machine uses 41 gallons per cycle, and a garden hose uses 63 gallons of water in just five minutes. You can learn more, and find a WaterSavers wash at Washwithwatersavers.com.
2. Give the inside a deep clean. Winter’s elements are hard on the outside of your car, but many people forget the abuse the vehicle’s interior takes as well. Think of how many times you’ve crawled into your vehicle with dirty, snowy feet and you can begin to understand why cleaning the inside is necessary. Apply some baking soda and a rubber sponge to your floor mats for an environmentally friendly and efficient clean. Then, wipe down interior surfaces with a microfiber cloth and vacuum the fabric and floor to remove dirt, sand, salt and dust.
3. Don’t forget the maintenance check. Winter is finally over, but that doesn’t mean your vehicle can skip an overall maintenance check, especially if you want to save energy. Make sure to have your oil changed and give your vehicle an once-over. Check the fluid levels as well. The more efficiently your vehicle runs, the more gas you’ll save.
4. How’s your tire pressure and alignment? Low tire pressure will cause your vehicle to overexert itself and waste gas so make sure your tires are up to the task. Your tires list their recommended pressure on the side. If you can’t find it, you can find the recommended tire pressure in your owner’s manual. It is also a good idea to have a certified technician conduct an alignment test since it could have been thrown off by driving over pot holes during the winter months.
You can connect with WaterSavers in the following ways:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ICA.WaterSavers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Water_Savers
Now for the Giveaway!
One lucky Detroit Mommies reader will win a WaterSavers Prize Pack that includes the following items::
Gap Stick
A versatile auto accessory to help access the hard-to-reach areas of a vehicle. Designed with a strong magnetic hook, the gap stick can pick up a key ring, jewelry or anything else that has slipped between the seat and the center console.
Phone Caddy
- A plastic phone holder that clips to air vents in any vehicle to keep your phone in view for GPS usage and close to charging outlets.
Auto Trash Bag
- A sleekly designed bag with a bottom zippered compartment for extra garage bags or hand wipes.
$50 Visa Gift Card
Enter the contest by using the Rafflecopter form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
