Yay! Spring is here, which means lots of rain showers to usher in beautiful flowers, and of course, spring cleaning season. Recently, I shared on Instagram an image of my clean and neatly organized trunk. I’m a Virgo, which means I like my things in order, especially when it comes to my car because it is where I spend a lot of my time. In honor of spring, I would like to share some spring cleaning tips for your car that have helped me keep my car road trip ready.
Clean the Interior
Remove odor from car mats
Although we didn’t have a snow-filled winter, it was rainy. Lots of wet leaves and muddy shoes were in and out of my car, leaving it, especially the carpets smelling damp. In order to get your car smelling fresh again, vacuum the car mats first, and then clean with a carpet cleaner, and let air dry.
I have a hand vacuum that I leave in my car to clean dirt or crumbs left by my daughter. It is great to have on-hand in between car detailing. I also keep wipes on-hand to clean up any messes before they become too hard to clean later on. A smelly, unclean car is not a road trip ready car.
Clean the Console
I store a lot of things in the console of my Murano like extra pairs of sunglasses, perfume, hand cream, and receipts. Over time, the console can look like a cluttered mess, especially as gas receipts stack up.
Spring is the perfect time to re-organize the console and clean out the cup holders that may have drops of spilled coffee or another beverage. Also, wipe down the dashboard to clean off any dust.
Clean Out the Trunk
Make sure you remove any winter-related items from your trunk. Also, use this time to check your spare tires and emergency kits.
Take Care of Your Car’s Exterior
Check Windshield Wipers
Winter can be hard on wipers from coming into contact with snow and ice. To make sure your car is ready for all of these spring showers, make sure your wipers are good because wiper blades in bad condition are not safe. Speaking from experience, changing your windshield wiper blades is relatively easy.
Check Tires
Changes in temperature can affect the pressure in your car’s tires. Once the weather changes, be sure to measure the pressure in your tires to make sure that they meet the requirements for your vehicle.
My Nissan Murano makes it easy for me to check the tire pressure with a click of a button. Because I am anal, and I don’t like wasting money on gas, I tend to check my tire pressure often, at least once a month. Driving on tires with low tire pressure can reduce your gas mileage and pose a hazard to your safety. In addition to making sure the tire pressure is correct, it is also important to rotate tires every 5,000 miles or so.
Make Sure Things Are Good Under the Hood
Change the Air Filter
A dirty air filter can mean a sluggish car. I don’t know about you, but I love a smooth acceleration allowing me to move through traffic easily. Car air filters should be changed after every 12,000 miles or every 12 months – whichever comes first. I learned that after taking my car for an oil change.
Check Car Fluids
In addition to making sure your car filters are clean, it is also good to make sure the fluids in your car are not low. There are seven (7) car fluids that need to be checked regularly:
- Windshield Washer Fluid
- Air Conditioning Coolant
- Transmission Fluid
- Brake Fluid
- Power Steering Fluid
- Oil
- Radiator fluid
Note: Always refer to your cars’ owners manual for a comprehensive list of car maintenance schedules.