Disclosure: This post is brought to you in partnership with WaterSavers.
The harsh winter is finally over, and the warmer weather has arrived. I’m not a big fan of driving during cold snowy days and don’t venture out much during the winter, but I’ll take a road trip in the spring or summer with no problem. We spend a lot of time in the vehicles during the warmer moths, we’re always visiting amusement parks, taking trips to the lakehouse, and exploring new family friendly events.
When planning upcoming road trips it’s important to take care of any damage done by this year’s harsh winter. Just this past week we had to replace the tires on our SUV, the harsh winter took it’s toll with all of the salt, plus we found out the alignment was slightly off after hitting all of those pot holes.
WaterSavers®, a consumer awareness campaign from the International Carwash Association® (ICA) has four eco-friendly car tips to get you back on the road this spring.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Do you perform any yearly maintenance n your vehicles after the winter months? Check the tires? Get an oil change or a car wash?
Prize Pack Giveaway:
One lucky winner will receive a WaterSavers prize package. To enter, simply fill out the form below.
- 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
a Rafflecopter giveaway
By entering this giveaway you agree to the Giveaway Rules. This giveaway will end on June 6, 2014 at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter. The winner will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected. You must be 18 years or older. Open to U.S. residents. No P.O. Boxes. Information, product, and giveaway prize provided by sponsor.
