What good is a speeding roadster, a luxurious sedan, or a powerful SUV if the inside of it smells like death? Sure you’ve got all that power under the hood, but if a nasty smell hangs inside the cabin, would you even get inside to drive? Maybe in certain circumstances when you’ve no choice, you’d still drive in a nasty-smelling vehicle. But the thing is: you don’t have to suffer through that.

Lots of stuff can be done in order to prevent and even completely get rid of any and all nasty odors haunting the inside of your cabin. In fact, here’s a short list of how to do just that:

1) Lock those windows and doors, preventing rain, bugs, small critters, and whatever
else from leaving a nasty surprise in your car. Rainwater seeping into the
windows means the smell of fresh mildew in the morning. Likewise, dead bugs and
small animal droppings can really “freshen” up the cabin. So, never ever forget
to close your windows all the way and lock your doors before leaving your car
alone.

2) Open the windows if you smoke in your car as cigarette smoke is notorious for
clinging onto soft, cottony fabrics—which is what basically covers most of your
car’s interior.

3) Make sure you always leave your interior clean and free from anything perishable. A
piece of pizza or a donut can easily transform into a small ecosystem if left
overnight in the right conditions. If you forget to take note of this, you
won’t soon forget the odor it’ll leave in your cabin.

It’s just a matter of basic hygiene and responsible car ownership. Keep your car clean and you won’t be bothered by any odors. But if we’re pass that and you’re now forced to deal with these nasty odors, here are some quick and cheap remedies you can do to fix the situation:

1) Baking soda isn’t just for baking. Take a small to medium sized box of it, open it,
and leave it in the car overnight. It’ll suck the odors right out of your car.
If you’re willing to clean up the mess afterwards, you can even spread the
baking soda around a bit, making the process even more effective.

2) Charcoal is another effective solution. Take a medium-sized basin and fill it in with
different sizes of charcoal—from nearly powdered to almost rock-like. Like the
baking soda, the charcoal will slowly siphon in the offending odors.

If all else fails, turn-over the inside of your cabin. Have the seat covers cleaned, the floors swept, and the seats vacuumed. If that doesn’t do the trick, we suggest seeing a professional.

The ‘trick’ here is to just keep your car clean. Basic car hygiene goes a long way in preventing bad odors from causing bad driving experiences. So don’t just worry about what’s under the hood: follow our tips to keep your car fresh and healthy both inside and outside.

Safety should always be every car enthusiast’s priority—that’s a universal rule that we all should adhere to. Why? Simple: because statistically, automobiles are one of the most dangerous machines on the planet. There are more deaths and accidents caused by land-based automobile transportation than anywhere else in the transportation industry; so we have to at least do our part to keep our roads the safest they can be. Remember: children, families, mothers, teachers, and a lot of good people use those roads; keep that in mind the next time you’re off for a drive.

But don’t worry too much. Recent innovations have made the modern automobile a lot safer than it used to be. There’s the common seatbelt that’s repeatedly been proven to be able to save lives, even through the most terrible crashes. Add the air bag to that and you’re pretty much looking at the safest car on the road—for its drivers and passengers at least. So yes, while the modern car is already a relatively safe machine, there are a couple more things you can do to make it even safer. Here’s how:

1) If you haven’t already done so, install side marker safety lights. Armed with some bolts, wrenches, and your own owner’s manual (for the electronic connections), you can easily install these lights to the side of your car. What they’ll do is improve your car’s road visibility by informing nearby pedestrians and fellow motorists of your position, direction, and size—allowing them to better avoid any collision with you.

2) Get some motion sensors installed. Through beeping noises (and flashing lights for some models), these motion sensors can warn you when your car’s already too close for comfort against any obstacle, be it another car, a wall, the curb, or a pedestrian.

3) Make sure your tires are still treaded properly. Tire treads are designed to wave off moisture, giving your car a better grip on the road. Today, most modern tires come with markers that are positioned under and perpendicular to the treads. When your treads have worn out to the point that they’re already at the same level as the markers, then you either need to buy new tires or have your old ones retreaded.

With all that said, we can finally end with the best piece of advice we can give you regarding road safety: drive defensively. Not only will that make you a safer driver, it’ll even reduce the undue wear-and-tear of your brake calipers, engine, and other important car components. So remember: when you’re on the road, think and drive safely—not just for your sake, but for everyone else who uses our roads.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tread

There’s one hassle about driving in the city that we can’t change: the various mandatory windshield stickers that not only hampers your view of the road, but can also derail a car’s overall look and style. Whether it’s for a parking or entry permit at school, work, or home, windshield stickers are here to stay. And since these stickers aren’t designed to be permanent, there’s the added hassle of having to replace them regularly, risking damage to your windshield. So if you’re stuck with stickers that need to be removed, read on.

The main problem with removing these things is that they’re designed for semi-permanent use; their adhesives should be powerful enough to keep the sticker on the windshield for a year or two without peeling off. And industrial strength adhesives are no joke. That being said, here’s the proper procedure to follow for removing windshield stickers:

1) Find some vinegar and paper towels. The vinegar should be the strongest one you can find. Why? Because for this procedure, we’ll be counting on the acidity of the vinegar to loosen the sticker’s adhesives. For the paper towels: any thick, rather tough brand will do the trick. And while not completely necessary for the job, a rubber squeegee for window cleaning or t-shirt printing will help you later on.

2) Now lay two pieces of the paper towel down on the offending sticker, soaking the entire area covered by the paper with the vinegar. Take a break; let it sit for 10 minutes or so.

3) Remove the paper towel. Push and pull on the surface of the sticker to see if it’s loosened up. If it has, use a fingernail to slowly peel off the sticker from one side, being careful to not rip anything off. If it hasn’t loosened completely, repeat step 2. Otherwise, continue.

4) If the sticker’s still difficult to remove, here’s when the rubber squeegee will come in handy. Use its “sharp” edge to poke at the adhesive part of the offending sticker. If it’s still difficult, apply vinegar to the sticker as you poke with the squeegee.

That wasn’t so bad now was it? And it only cost you some paper towels and vinegar (plus the rubber squeegee if you needed it). Now it’s just a matter of getting whatever new sticker you need to get. Should you need to repeat this job in the future, just check back with us if you’ve forgotten a couple steps.

Sources:

http://www.ehow.com/how_6693245_remove-stickers-windshields.html

A specter is haunting America, a silent killer which, given the right circumstances, can kill an engine. In the old days, auto engineers gave this specter the moniker “Black Death”, and for good reasons. We’re talking about the specter of car cholesterol in your engine oil. Also known as sludge, the Black Death is the buildup of overused and overheated lubricating oil that’s circulating your engine. In the same way rising cholesterol levels are slowly clogging American hearts, improper oil use in internal-combustion engines are really doing a number on American cars.

If left unchecked, rising levels of sludge can seep into every part of your engine, acting as a rubber-like substance that goes anywhere it can—rendering an engine unable to move and useless. This kind of condition can only be fixed by an overhaul. And as we all know, an engine overhaul isn’t just daunting, it’s also way expensive. So to prevent that from happening, here are a couple things to remember when dealing with the Black Death:

1) Never lose your owner’s manual. If you’ve lost it already, order a new one. Your manual won’t just tell you how much oil you need to put in your engine, it’ll tell you exactly what kind of oil your engine needs in order to perform at optimum condition. Having the wrong type or amount of oil in your engine is a leading cause of sludge buildup.

2) There’s also the case of not knowing when to change engine oil on time. Some experts suggest that changing oil every 3,000 miles is enough to prevent sludge; but really, it depends on the make and model of your vehicle as well as how you use it. So to find out exactly when you need to change engine oil, consult your manual.

3) And even if you’re unassisted by your own car’s technical manual, there’s still something you can do: watch out for the early warning signs of sludge buildup. Look to your oil pan, a sump for the oil to collect in when not in use. If sludge, and not oil, is the first thing to pour out once you take off the oil pan’s drain plug, that’s a definite sign that you should have your engine checked.

4) Finally, you can always “listen-in” on your engine’s vibrations. Sludge causes blockages, and these blockages can and will cause strange, irregular rumblings in your engine. Try doing step 4 if you’re experiencing this.

While auto maintenance is no picnic, there are many things we can do to make the job easier. Remember: prevention is always better than a cure. So if your car’s showing signs of sludge buildup, immediately get it checked out by a professional. You don’t want the Black Death claiming another victim, especially if it’s your own car.

Sources:

http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Prevent_oil_sludge

Two years ago, those flame decals on your fenders and windshield must’ve looked awesome. But we’re guessing that due to harsh road conditions as well as unfavorable weather, nature might’ve already done a number on a couple parts of those decals—leaving your car stuck with weathered old stickers that just make it look tacky. Before you head on to your local auto-repair shop to have the problem resolved, why not take a shot at it first?

Removing any sticker from your car can be tricky. But by following these few easy steps, you’ll be able to remove not just those weathered down designer decals and brand-name stickers; you can even use this method to peel off an expired parking or car registration windshield sticker.

See, what all these stickers on your car have in common is that they’re applied with an industrial adhesive that’s designed to keep the stickers in place for years. What we’re going to learn today is how to break down or dissolve these adhesives in order to properly and easily remove any sticker without damage to the surface it’s stuck on.

First off, there’s a number of dissolving agents you can use to do the job, some of which might already be in your own kitchen or garage. The strongest vinegar you can find is one. You’ll also need a window cleaning agent. For the tools, you’ll just need some paper towels and a window cleaner with a rubber squeegee. And finally, if you have any olive or canola oil, it’ll be useful later.

Now, with your fingernails, start peeling off one part of the decal or sticker you want to remove. Peel as slowly and as steadily as you can until a part of the decal rips. Once that happens, cover the entire area with a paper towel that’s soaked with vinegar. Now sit it out for 10 minutes to let the vinegar work its magic.

Remove the paper towel and again, try to peel off the decal with your fingers. Once the decal is raised high enough, apply window cleaner on the adhesive surface to make the peeling even easier. Use the rubber squeegee to slowly scrape the decal off; do this while constantly making sure that the area is wet with window cleaner. Why use a rubber squeegee in place of a knife? Simple: to avoid any surface damage to the area.

Once you remove the decal, some residue from the adhesive might still be left on the area. This is where the olive or canola oil comes in. Simply soak a paper towel and rub the offending area in even, circular motions until free of residue. You can even use lighter fluid if you’ve no cooking oil to spare.

It’s as easy at that. And it’ll only cost you a few minutes of your time plus a couple easy-to-find household items. Remember these procedures and you’ll be able to remove any decal or sticker right in the comfort of your own garage.

Ah—the smell of fresh air in the morning. There’s really nothing quite like it. It’s an early Monday and you’ve just gotten out of the house, quite early for work. With a mild smirk that comes with starting a good day, you insert your keys into the car door, looking forward to the easy-breezy drive you’ll be taking to work today. “Life is sometimes good.” you even think to yourself.

But, surprise. You open the car excitedly only to be greeted by the smell of death. Apparently, you’ve left one of your windows partially open, and last night’s rainstorm managed to seep into your car’s cabin. That, my friend, is the smell of mildew. More than just a hassle, constant exposure to it might even lead to lung problems. But today, you simply have no choice: so you suck it up, get in the car, and drive—a good start to the day ruined by what could’ve been an easily preventable mildew problem.

Don’t let instances like this ruin your driving experience again. Lots of things can be done to prevent the build-up of nauseating and sometimes toxic odors in your car. In fact, here’s a short list of what you can do:

1) Whenever and wherever you park your car, ensure that all your doors and windows are closed. This’ll prevent rainwater, dust, as well as small bugs and animals from getting in your car and cooking up a nasty surprise for you in the morning.

2) Don’t leave anything perishable in your car. A piece of pizza left overnight in a locked vehicle is a potential ecosystem the morning after.

3) If you smoke in your car, open the windows. Cigarette smoke easily clings to soft fabrics—which is what most cars’ interior cabin is covered in. So if you have to smoke in the car, leave a window or two open.

And finally, whenever you’re about to leave and lock your car, take a moment to look around. Take out anything that’s perishable or might leave a noxious odor. If you can, wipe down any wet surfaces. Prevent ever having to drive to work smelling like mildew or some other nasty odor again—keep your car smelling as fresh as the day you bought it. It’s just a matter of basic hygiene.

While some may argue that there’s nothing better than stock cabin design—the prefabricated factory-designed interior your cabin is fitted with—we beg to disagree. Yes, today’s modern automobile almost always comes with an equally modern, streamlined cabin that’s good enough for its purposes. But there’s a lot more you can do to improve that interior, and not just for vanity’s sake either.

A lot of today’s interior cabin accessories are made for more than just good looks. Take the simple floor mat; its purpose is to protect the floor of your cabin from any dirt that might’ve stuck on your shoes before getting in the car—making clean-up easier.

There’s also the steering wheel and shift-stick cover. Usually made from either plastic, rubber, or a combination of both, these accessories are designed to increase the surface friction of the components. The idea is to give you a much better grip on the steering wheel and shift-stick, leading to improved driving. Also, if you choose covers with bright, distinct colors, it’ll be easier to spot them during the night or in low-light conditions.

Now let’s talk about aftermarket seats and seat covers. First thing to consider is the material you want for the covers. Leather will be easy to clean as it is water-proof and quite resistant to minor scratches and damages; but in the summer, it’s a material that can get quite hot. Cotton on the other hand, lets your seats breathe for a cooler ride; but being made from soft, absorbent materials, it can be a hassle to clean up. Or you can go all out and replace your driver’s seat with one that’s specially made for comfort, making those long drives a lot easier by letting you sit in the best possible posture for optimum driving.

See, if you’re thinking about accenting the inside of your cabin, you have to go beyond looks and think about function. Think about the accessories’ effects on your car in the long run. How will it affect you? How will it affect your driving? Is the accessory really necessary? Remember that aftermarket accents, even if they’re just for the interior of your cabin, do cost money—money you might need for other more important car maintenance issues. Plus, whatever you put in your car can and will affect its resell-value. So before you go all out and ‘pimp-your-ride’, sit down. Take a minute to decide what you need and want for a better driving experience.

Sunny and windy Sunday mornings shouldn’t be wasted on just bumming around the house, sitting on your favorite couch as you mindlessly surf the channels on TV. Forget the idea of a lazy Sunday for a minute. Get off that bum and make something out of a good weekend—why not give your car a good washing?

The first thing to remember about car washing is the amount of water you’ll need. 20 years ago, this would not have been a problem. But since the threat of dwindling fresh water supplies all over the world is increasing, it’s our responsibility to keep our water consumption in check. Set aside the amount of water you’re going to need; don’t be wasteful, but don’t be too stingy either. Depending on your vehicle’s make, model, and how and where you use it, you’re probably going to need a couple buckets of water to do the job right.

Now park your car on a flat, level spot that’s shaded from the sun; this’ll make the job easier for you. Next, make sure that you use the proper kind of soaping agent—some service shops use a combination of shampoo and water to create the perfect, softest lather for car washing. You can use that option to save on a couple bucks. But if you can afford it, find some soap that’s specially designed for the job. Don’t ever use detergent soap as it may contain scrubbing granules that might damage your paint job.

Next, you’re going to need some clean rags to wipe that car down. We suggest starting from the roof, working your way down to the sides and eventually to the tires. Lather up and wipe in even, circular motions. If your arms are getting tired, alternate wiping between both hands. Think of the calories you’ll be burning. That’s two birds with one stone: a good car wash as well as a good workout.

If you encounter any hard spots of concentrated grime, make sure to water them down first before wiping with a lathered-up rag—this’ll reduce the risk of hard, stuck-up dirt from accidentally scratching your car as you wipe. Some paint removers can help in breaking down these spots, but be careful with the amount you’re using to avoid chemical damage.

Before washing the windshields, raise the wipers to get them out of the way. If you’ve a set of window cleaners, make the same even, circular wiping motions to lather up one side of your windshield. With a cleaning squeegee, wipe off the lathered area towards whichever side of the windshield you’re working on. Then simply repeat this process on the other side of the windshield to get it completely clean and clear.

Now get down and dirty by brushing those tires clean with a durable brush and the same lather you’re already using. After that, it’s just a matter of rinsing the entire car off and letting it dry. Have fun!

In a world that’s sometimes all about appearances, having a good-looking car can make all the difference. And how do you make even an old, restored car look good? Simple: shine it, and know how to keep it as shiny as possible. This is one of the easiest DIY maintenance jobs you can perform, so don’t worry—just read on for instructions:

1) First of all, wash your car with regard to your immediate environment. If you live in a dusty area, then maybe a weekly washing and waxing might be necessary. If you live in a place with a fairly cleaner atmosphere, then just do it monthly. It depends on you and your surroundings, really.

2) The fact is, wax doesn’t really do anything to make your car’s colors really pop-out. It’s more of a final protective touch, so let’s leave out wax for the moment. Whether you drive an old or new model, you should use high-quality paint cleaner—but only after washing and drying your car. This way, you’ll get all the surface dirt off. This’ll help in ensuring a perfect finish later on, especially if you live and drive in a rather messy environment.

3) Find the best car polish you can afford. This is best applied with the softest cloth you can find. Micro-fiber cloths are the best; if you really want a good, bright shine, use only this kind of cloths for your exterior.

4) Once all that’s dried, now’s the time to break out the wax. Make sure you wax your car in the shade as not to bake your car in the heat of the sun, causing even more surface nicks and scratches. Again, apply and remove all these products with micro-fiber cloths, ensuring a perfect, car-show finish.

Having the perfect, protected shine on your car’s exterior won’t just give you confidence. If need be, it can even raise your car’s re-sell value. So go ahead and don’t be stingy. Treat the outside of your car like the way you treat its inside—keep that car looking great and make your impression on the road.

Source: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080902123131AAljQK1

For all the dog and cat lovers out there, this article is for you. Depending on how your pet behaves or how you want your pet to behave in your car, you can install a variety of products to keep your pet safe and comfortable while avoiding the natural hassles that come with giving your pets a ride-along. Here’s a quick rundown of some pet-friendly products for your car:

1) There’s always the traditional cage or kennel wherein you can keep your pet. If your dog or cat isn’t very well-behaved, we suggest this option as it’ll keep any mess to a minimum. Plus this’ll make it even easier to carry your pet around. Just lay down some old newspapers on the bottom of the cage for easier clean-ups.

2) In the backseat of your car, you can even install an auto zip-line that limits the movement of your faithful companion to just the extent of the zip-line. This’ll allow free movement in the backseat while safely restraining the pet with a comfy vest.

3) Another option to keeping that feisty feline or K-9 in the backseat is the backseat barrier. This’ll keep your pet from moving to the front of your cabin, ensuring a hassle-free and safe driving experience.

4) For the carefree, all-around puppy or kitten, there’s the backseat-bridge. This handy device can make a level ground off of your backseat, giving your pet a lot more room to move around. This gives him a feeling of safety and comfort, and might even improve his behavior while riding along in your car.

Of all these devices, perhaps what’s most important are the water-proof seat covers you can buy almost anywhere. Because however you control or discipline your pet, you never know when they’ll decide to drop a load anywhere, anytime. Remember: prevention is always better than a cure. In this case, that means covering up parts of your car that are prone to little cat or doggy messes.

Install any or even all of these devices and enjoy a more relaxing, comfy ride with your favorite pet!

Source:

http://www.things4yourdog.com/pet-products-for-cars