By Pearce Hungate
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. —Welcome back to Hogs at Home, the University of Arkansas’ own quarantine survival handbook. Today we’re heading out to your car to freshen things up.
All too often we find ourselves too busy to do even the slightest bit of interior care to our vehicles, but with all the time afforded to us by the quarantine, there’s no excuse anymore. So while we can’t return that new car smell, (without a few air fresheners) we can at least return some of that new car look.
Entering and exiting your car tracks in grass, dirt, and gravel. Eating in your car leaves crumbs. Taking your dog to the vet, park, or just for a ride is going to leave your seats covered in shed fur. Therefore, the first thing you should do while maintaining your car is give it a good vacuuming. A Shop-Vac is your best bet, not being as temperamental about pet hair as some household vacuums are, but a regular vacuum can work just fine if you’re careful. Also an option are the vacuums you can find at most car washes. These you have to pay for, but oftentimes have a lot more power and can suck up even the most stuck-in pet hair, dirt, or other detritus.
Make sure to remove the floormats and vacuum the carpet underneath. While the floormats are out, stretch them over a railing or hold them up to beat them. Dirt can get worn in far deeper than even the best vacuum can reach and giving your floormats a good wallop is the best (and sometimes only) way to get them clean.
Now that the car is free of dirt, you can turn your attention to the clutter. Good things to leave in your car are napkins, pens and pencils, coins, and a spare set of clothes. Bad things to leave in your car are receipts, fast food wrappers, trash, five sets of spare clothes, and old water bottles beneath the seats. Obviously, what might be a necessity in one car might not be in another, so readers should clean their car according to their own needs and preferences. Except for the fast food wrappers. You’ve gotta get rid of those.
What you do leave in your car should be organized. Keep the spare set of clothes, but fold it and leave it neatly in your trunk. Keep the change for parking meters, but try to organize it, since many cars have small places to put spare coins according to denomination. It’s also a good idea to determine just how much you need of an essential item. A few dollars in change is perfectly normal. Five pounds of quarters is not.
Car cleaned and decluttered, you should turn your attention to the exterior of your car. Car soap is cheap, sponges are cheaper, the weather is nice, and you’ve got plenty of time. If you don’t have the space or the garden hose, then a commercial car wash is an option as well. Plus, they have the rainbow soap there, and that’s always a ton of fun. Maybe you spring for the optional wax, maybe you don’t, what matters now is that you have a car that’s clean on the inside and out.
We’re not done just yet though, because likelier than not you haven’t been keeping up on your maintenance. Nothing wrong with that, we’re busy most of the time, and most cars these days are reliable enough not to need too much. Now though, the excuse of not having the time doesn’t apply anymore.
Both your manual and the little sticker in the driver’s door well will advise you on how much pressure you should have in your tires. Note that this is often different for winter and summer, since your car will have a much easier time maintaining traction in the warmer months than for colder months. Using a pressure gauge, ensure that all the tires are aired-up according to their requirements. Air compressors can be found at most gas stations if you don’t own one of your own. If you have aftermarket tires, then the sticker or owner’s manual might not be accurate to that specific brand. One should then do their own research to find the right pressure in that case.
Three months or three thousand miles is generally accepted as the rule for oil changes. Any sooner is a waste of perfectly clean oil, and any later and you run the risk of doing damage to your vehicle. All the different makes and models of automobile are different enough to where this article can’t give specific directions on how to change the oil on any specific model, but your owner’s manual should be enough to get you through the ordeal, and if you need visual help, then there exists a YouTube video showing how to change the oil of most cars out there.
While you’re reading through your manual, look for your maintenance schedule. Most car manufacturers recommend specific maintenance on a basis of car mileage, and it’s likely you might have missed one. Oftentimes these maintenance items are fairly easy, such as changing serpentine belts or spark plugs. If you don’t already know how to do these, once again, YouTube is your friend.
It depends state-to-state whether or not your local mechanics are open, but to flatten the curve, it’s generally better to stay at home, especially if your maintenance isn’t serious or can be done with a basic set of handtools and internet instruction.
When the quarantine blows over and you’re driving around in your clean, well-maintained car, you’ll be glad for all the work you finally didn’t have an excuse for putting off. Tune in Mondays and Wednesdays for more tips from Hogs at Home.