How to Take Care of Your Car's Paint Job

How a car looks is almost as important to some people as how it runs. Unfortunately though, there are many outside factors that can prevent us from having the squeaky clean car exterior we often wish for. Gravel can cause small scrapes and scratches and dirt and grime can take the shine away from our paint jobs. A simple car wash can't always do the trick to get our paint jobs looking like new again.

This article from cars.com has some great tips on how to maintain an aesthetically pleasing paint job on your car, even after all the grit, hot sun, bird poop and...well, you get the picture.

UV Protection 

Coatings that resist the dulling, chalking effects of sunlight have come a long way. Ultraviolet light still will oxidize a car's finish, but unless you are parking in a barren lot in the desert, the paint on recent models is going to last many years. Of course, you can buy one of those canvas booties that encase a car, but don't look at us when you're fighting the wind to put it on.

Cleaning 

The best advice is the simplest. Wash or at least rinse off dirt of any kind on your car ASAP. The longer it's on, the more likely that it will penetrate the paint. Cool your car in the shade on a shallow incline; the angle will help channel water drops to points where they fall off the car and onto the ground. 

Rinse before you wash because the mildest of car soaps and freshest of sponges — both of which you should use — won't help if there's sand between the sponge and the paint. 

Rather than dish detergent, use car soap, some of which is made to remove stuff like wax. When it comes to tools, you don't have to buy a sponge directly from the Mediterranean, but you definitely shouldn't use old underwear (too hard, no snap and … just don't). 

Wash and rinse one section at a time so you don't have water drying on the body. Don't scrub that strong-yet-delicate surface. Use long, light strokes that run along the length of your car. Scratches created with circular wiping leave marks that are more noticeable than straight ones. Rinse your chamois or sponge before dipping it back into the bucket to prevent grit from being reapplied to the car. 

Dry by blotting rather than wiping. Ignore memories of your dad or granddad who looked oddly happy to be driving away "to dry the car." They likely were sneaking off to a tavern, a game or to anyplace quieter than home. You'd probably have to drive at unsafe speeds to blow the water off a wet car — all the while accumulating new dirt. 

There's a class of cleaning product designed to be used after your car has dried and before you wax. Obviously, this is above-and-beyond detailing. Maybe it's even obsessive. But if you've got the money and ego to buy a jaw-dropping paint job, it makes sense to do everything possible to maintain the sheen. 

Wax On, Wax Off 

You shouldn't rush the rinse-wash-rinse-rewash process, but you're shooting yourself in the foot if you take shortcuts with the wax. This is the thin, invisible layer of material that not only deepens the beauty of good paint, but also is like diaper cream in that it keeps the bad stuff (including a significant portion of UV rays) from ever touching your baby. 

The gold standard is carnauba wax. It's expensive, but you'd be hard-pressed to find anything that brings out paint's richness better. Wipe it on and immediately wipe it off. 

You have to be careful, though. A lot of wax-makers say theirs is carnauba, but manufacturers can seemingly mix essence of carnauba in their waxes and claim it's the real thing. You want at least 20 percent carnauba in the can, preferably without any petroleum products mixed in. You'll get better results with natural oils. 

Polymer-based waxes are great, too, and worth their price, but they still can't equal the show that carnauba puts on. 

Car Washes — Even Evil Has a Place 

The less said here the better. As has been pointed out, if you're willing to go to a car wash that uses brushes, you probably aren't motivated to wash your car to begin with. 

But let's say you're on your way to pick up actress Natalie Portman for a date when a flock of geese off-load some dead weight onto the hood of your car. The best-case scenario is as follows:
Drive to a no-touch car wash that only sprays water and soap. Cut in line, saying you're late to your daughter's graduation from Brownies. Tip an employee to give the car a rinse before it rolls in. Run to the register and throw your platinum card at the cashier, but keep running to the wipe-down area. The wipe-down area is where everyone else stands around watching his or her car getting dried by hand. If the dryers don't do a good job, the driver stiffs them on the tip. Doofus move. Instead, walk up to the first dryer to touch your car and give him or her the largest bill in your pocket. Say these words: "Use the towels reserved for newborn infants accidentally delivered here." 

If the bill you hand over is $100 or greater, tell them about blotting, otherwise go get your credit card back. There's a high likelihood that the cashier's phone number will be on the receipt. That's just a bonus, and has nothing to do with getting the cleanest and least-damaging car wash. Pick up Natalie.

Click the link to read the full article from cars.com: http://bit.ly/17Hq0DR

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15 Minutes to Clean Your Car's Interior

We spend so much time in our cars that even the nicest vehicles can end up looking a little dirty on the inside. Usually though, we don't have hours to dedicate to vacuuming, shampooing or polishing our car's interior. The good news is with just a few household items and 15 minutes of your time you can have your car's interior looking like new again. This checklist from realsimple.com details the steps to take in what timeframe to speed-clean your car's interior.

Gather a few tools—a small plastic bin, garbage bags, glass cleaner, car cleaning wipes, air-conditioner treatment, a flat-head screwdriver, paper towels, and a hand vac—and get ready for your car to look fresh off the lot. 

Minute 1:
Toss items that shouldn’t be in the car into a small bin. Throw trash into a garbage bag. Spritz the cup holders with glass cleaner and let sit. 

Minutes 2 and 3:
Using the wipes, clean the dashboard, center console, inside door pockets, steering wheel, and gearshift. Spray air-conditioner treatment into the air vents below the windshield and let sit. 

Minutes 4 and 5:
Clean leather seats with a few wipes. (Seats that are upholstered will get vacuumed later.) 

Minutes 6 and 7:
Wrap a wipe around the end of a flat-head screwdriver, and run it along the buttons and switches on the dashboard. Wipe out the cup holders with paper towels. 

Minutes 8 through 10:
Spray glass cleaner on paper towels and wipe all the windows, including the windshield, sunroof, and rear window. 

Minute 11:
Remove the floor mats and whack them against each other to dislodge any dirt. 

Minutes 12 through 14:
On the driveway, vacuum the floor mats with the bare hose of a hand vac for maximum power (do not attach a tool). Vacuum the seat upholstery and foot wells, shifting the front seats fully forward, then back, to hit every spot. 

Minute 15:
Replace the mats and return the seats to their original positions. Open all the doors and let fresh air blow through.

Read the whole checklist at realsimple.com by clicking the link: http://bit.ly/dntdXi

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Tailgating Tips

It's that time of year...Football Season! That means many of us, whether we are actually going to the big game or not, will be driving out to meet family and friends to tailgate. In order to get the most out of your tailgating experience, you need to have a game plan. This article from howstuffworks.com is full of tips to help you have the best possible tailgating experience to cheer on your team to victory.

5. Show up early In order to get the full enjoyment out of tailgating, you need to make sure you leave yourself enough time before the game. You'll probably need to show up about 3 to 4 hours before the game to set up. That should give you plenty of time to cook the food, play some games and just hang out with your group. Don't forget to factor in some time to break everything down once you're done. 

For those die-hard tailgaters, there's always the option of coming back to the parking lot once the game is over to do some additional tailgating. This might save you some frustrating time in post-game traffic and give you the chance to celebrate a great victory -- or forget a horrible defeat. 

4. Find a Good Parking Spot

Finding the ideal spot for your tailgate party might not be the first thing that everyone thinks about, but it can make your party a little more fun if you can pick a prime location. If you can, look for a parking space right next to a grassy area so you'll have more space to spread out. This way you'll have one less car next to you and you might even score a tree to chill out under if it's a hot day. If you can't find a shady spot, bring along an extra tent or canopy to block out the mid-afternoon sunon those really hot days. 

Some areas may charge for prime parking locations -- and in some cases, that charge may be a little too much for your party budget. So if you have to make do with whatever spot you can find, be sure to make friends with the other football fans parked around you. Who knows? You might even decide to plan your next tailgate party with them. 

3. Know the Rules

The rule book makes football a lot more fun because everyone has to play hard within the confines of the agreed-upon terms. When you're tailgating, remember that the parking lot or facility where you're partying probably has rules, too. This could be simple things like making sure to clean up after you're done, no unattended grills or as on some college campus parking lots, the rules could entail no alcoholic beverages. 

Do a quick search online before you go tailgating or ask some friends if they know of any important rules to follow. Once you understand what you'll be working with, you'll know how to plan for your tailgating party and what you do or don't need to worry about. Finding out ahead of time may keep you from getting asked to leave because you unintentionally broke the rules. 

2. Plan Ahead

This is an obvious one, so let's take a look at what planning ahead for a tailgating party really entails. Of course, if you're in charge of cooking you'll need to bring the food and the grill and maybe even the drinks. But what about the utensils, plates, cups, garbage bags and so on? Try to think of everything you'll be doing when you're tailgating and make a list of everything you'll need. Once you've parked and started your tailgate party, you most likely won't be able to leave the lot to pick up anything you might have forgotten. 

Try to think of things that you'd need at home, and then bring them along. For some locations, this may mean planning ahead for extreme weather situations, like thunderstorms or even typical issues like using the bathroom. In fact, if there are no bathrooms available, it may even be necessary to rent a port-o-potty to make the afternoon a little more comfortable for everyone. 

1. Pack it up

When it comes to tearing down your tailgating site, apply the camping rule that says you should take out everything you bring in. You might be able to find some trash cans nearby, but then again, you might not. It's important to make sure you have everything with you to properly dispose of, or carry away, all of your trash. 

If you grill out using a charcoal grill, keep in mind the policies and rules for your tailgating area. Charcoal coals can stay hot for hours and they need to be disposed of properly. Using aluminum pans that you had the food in is a good way to discard the remaining charcoal. You can then use the melted ice in the cooler to pour over the coals if they're still hot. 

Whatever you do, don't leave trash, food or bottles laying around when you're done. It's in everyone's best interest to keep the place nice and neat so you'll have a premium spot to tailgate throughout the rest of the season.

Click the link to read the full article from howstuffworks.com: http://bit.ly/17OIIfi

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Finding the Correct Auto Insurance

If you're going to have a car, you're going to need insurance. But it isn't as cut and dry as having insurance or not. There are a few different kinds of coverage you can get. There are also a few other important considerations you should look at when looking for the correct coverage. Hopefully this blog will help put some of those different aspects of car insurance into perspective for you.

Three Types of Coverage

Although insurance policies and prices vary from company to company, there are three basic types of coverage you'll want to consider.

Liability: If an accident is your fault, the insurance company will usually cover the damage you caused, including bodily injury and property damage.

Collision: The insurance company will pay for repairs performed after an accident. Make sure you go to a repair shop approved by your agency. Otherwise, they may not pay for the work.

Comprehensive: Damage from vandalism, theft, floods, fires and other events is covered. Some insurance agencies don't cover certain kinds of mishaps, so make sure you know all the details — and exclusions — of your policy. Some insurers offer protection from uninsured drivers.

Other Important Considerations

Find out your auto lender's preferences
If you owe money on your car (through your loan), your lender may have some rules on the kinds and amounts of coverage you'll need. Most lenders want a comprehensive coverage package to protect the car in the event of an accident. However, if you own your car outright and have the title, you are free to select the insurance you feel most comfortable with, as long as you comply with state insurance requirements.

What's the smart amount of coverage for me?
Figuring out how much time you spend in your car and the number of hazards that your car faces on a regular basis (traffic, parking, etc.) can help you figure out the coverage you need. If your car is frequently exposed to hazardous conditions, you may want to consider adding more coverage. If you keep your car in a garage most of the time, you probably don't need as much coverage as someone who's parking on congested city streets every day.

Your insurance agent will ask you about your driving habits. Based on data from thousands of insured drivers, the agent can figure out the likelihood of you having an accident and offer a plan that is appropriate for you. Some insurance companies will reduce your payment if you drive less frequently, live close to work or if you drive a safer vehicle.

You should also consider where you live, work or go to school. Are you concerned that your car may get stolen or vandalized? Weigh all these things when choosing your insurance plan. You can easily increase your coverage if necessary.

Click the link to read the entire article from Cars.com: http://bit.ly/17YZhRO

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Sharing the Road

The road isn't only for drivers. You have to share with runners, cyclists and pedestrians. It's important that drivers know how to share the road the safest way possible. This article from ehow.com will give you some tips on how bikers and pedestrians can use the same road as motorists without conflict.

1 . Watch out for cyclists or runners wearing headphones. There is no way to know how loud their music is playing, so it may be possible they cannot hear the cars around them. Music seems to take us out of our environment as well, so runners and cyclists may not even be aware or paying attention to the environment around them.

2. Know the direction bicycles and cyclists should be traveling and be cautious about those who do not follow the rules. A bike is considered a vehicle and should travel in the same direction as regular traffic. Runners should travel in the opposite direction of vehicles.

3. Look carefully before making a right turn -- cyclists and runners may be crossing the street. For them, their straight path intersects with the spot where the turn will be made. The runner or cyclist may or may not stop, depending upon their awareness or whether they see a car in their peripheral vision waiting to make a right turn. Look out the passenger and backseat windows to make sure no one is coming up from behind to cross the turning path.

4. Do not get distracted. It is easy to look away for a moment to change the radio station, answer a phone call or look at another person in the car. Even though it is a small moment, a runner or cyclist could be along the road or in an area where they are prone to be hit. They may be listening to music, engaged in their own workout or concentrating on their own direction and not be able to react quickly to a distracted driver's mistake.

5. Stay out of the bike lane unless a state law allows temporary driving in it for certain reasons. Even then, look carefully before going into the bike lane, watch for cyclists and be ready to get back out quickly if needed. A car is moving faster than a bike, so someone riding a bike may appear very quickly.

6. Pass runners and cyclists with care when they are jogging beside the road. Slow down significantly before approach them, especially on narrow roads where there is little or no shoulder. Veer the car slightly to the left to keep a minimum 4 feet distance away from them while passing, and be sure to check for oncoming cars. Make sure cyclists and runners can be fully seen in the rear-view mirror before moving back to the right and speeding up.

7. Watch for children riding their bikes, walking or running. They may be tougher to see because of their height but can appear just as suddenly as adults. Children's behavior may be more unpredictable, so be ready for anything. Don't expect children to know traffic laws or follow the rules recommended for pedestrians and bikers.

8. Check for cyclists and runners before opening the car door. On roads with on-street parking, cyclists especially may unexpectedly and quickly ride past the car door, causing an accident if it is opened. Look forward and past the rear of the car before getting out. Urge other passengers, especially children, to do the same.

Click the link to read the full article from ehow.com:  http://www.ehow.com/how_12050328_share-road-cyclists-runners.html#ixzz2d6b9vLwS

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The Psychology of Merging

Merging may be one of this biggest stressors for drivers, especially on busy roads. Merging into heavy traffic can be a headache because sometimes other drivers won't let you in. And once you are in you have to worry about other merging drivers swooping into your lane. Sometimes drivers don't merge soon enough, or else there are those drivers that just make it impossible for anyone else to merge because they refuse to leave a space open.

But why does merging make us so angry? And why can people never seem to figure it out? This article from Edmunds.com explains the psychology of merging, and even tells you how and when to merge without losing your cool.

Why Late Merging Ticks Us Off
Merging is only one of a long list of driving situations that stir deep emotions. Yet, when best-selling author Tom Vanderbilt began his 400-page book Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (And What It Says About Us), he zeroed in on merging as a universal measure of a driver's personality. The prologue of his book is titled "Why I Became a Late Merger (and Why You Should, Too)."

Vanderbilt suggests that a driver's merging style reveals his personality. There's an old cliché in driving studies," he says: "'A man drives as he lives.'" New York Times columnist Cynthia Gorney boiled the debate down to two main driving personalities: "lineuppers," who take their turn, and "sidezoomers," who race to the head of the line and dart into an opening at the last second. This is maddening to the well-behaved lineuppers. In fact, a Minnesota Department of Transportation study revealed that 15 percent of drivers actually admitted to straddling lanes to block late mergers in construction zones.

Gorney finds her description of sidezoomers gets a spirited response from everyone she questions. "When I raised [this] with my father, who is 83, he startled me by suggesting a longer label that included more bad words than I believe I have ever heard him use at one time." She even found a University of Washington engineer who had his own name for the two main merging personality types: cheaters and vigilantes.

Leon James, a.k.a. "Dr. Driving," whose Web site has a string of articles under the heading "The Great Merging Debate," says merging areas are especially challenging because there are basically two styles of merging that are often incompatible. When early mergers see the late mergers zip by, "most drivers feel irritated, some angry and roadrageous," he says. Trying to block them is "dangerous, illegal and begging for a confrontation."

James sees a connection between the different merging styles and a driver's personality. "Motorists who are less aggressive and more accommodating tend to be early mergers," James says. "They are more community-spirited drivers." On the other hand, late mergers are "more aggressive and opportunistic." And they don't necessarily think of themselves as an exclusive club, either.

"They feel that everybody can be a late merger, and if they choose not to be, it's their choice," James says.

The Case for Late Merging
When you apply the term "sidezooming" to late merging, it conjures up all kinds of negative images. But there is an argument for late merging: It's a more efficient use of the road.

Highway lanes offer a limited amount of space and, because of the volume of traffic, that space is becoming increasingly restricted. So the question becomes this: How can the maximum number of cars quickly move through a set space as that space narrows? Traffic engineers sometimes equate this situation to grains of rice flowing through a funnel. The analogy breaks down, however, when you realize that the grains are touching and sliding against each other as they move — we obviously don't want that with cars. But the comparison is still relevant.

High accident rates in construction zones triggered the Minnesota merger study, says William Servatius, construction programs coordinator in the Minnesota Department of Transportation's Office of Construction. He adds that when drivers are instructed to merge at construction areas: "Many times crashes occur due to aggressive driving, abrupt lane changes or sudden stops."

Using speed-sensing devices that display different messages depending on the speed of traffic, Minnesota DOT engineers developed what they call a "zipper," which meshes cars quickly. Signs advise drivers of the upcoming lane closure, tell them to use both lanes up to a point and then direct them to take turns merging. When traffic is flowing, drivers merge early to avoid unsafe maneuvers. But when traffic is congested, motorists make full use of both lanes. The data revealed that the change reduced traffic lines by 35 percent and also brought down "lane changing conflicts," says Craig Mittelstadt, Minnesota DOT's work zone safety specialist.

But most highways' merging zones don't display friendly signs that tell drivers it's OK to merge late. And so the conflicts continue. And along with the conflicts comes the inevitable finger-pointing (or finger-giving, in many cases).

Kinder, Gentler Merging
The morning after reading these merging studies, I decided to create a third category of driver for myself. I would be neither a lineupper nor a sidezoomer. Instead, I would be a "sidesignaler," politely cruising along by about a quarter-mile of stopped traffic with my turn signal on, requesting an opening. Sure enough, I reached the zipper and saw a gap between cars. In fact, it was a huge gap. I slid into the opening and held my breath. No blaring horns, flashing lights or angry shouts followed my maneuver. I risked a look in the rearview mirror and saw why. The driver was on a cell phone.

Click the link to read the full article from Edmunds.com: http://edmu.in/GM4Aos

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Tips For Washing Your Car That You Wouldn't Normally Think Of

With all the muck and grime on the roads, washing your car is a necessary evil. But sometimes we don't always want to pay for a fancy car wash. Here are some tips and tricks most people wouldn't think of that are cheaper and will actually keep your car cleaner for a longer period of time.

Hair conditioner for shine
Wash your car with a hair conditioner containing lanolin. You'll become a believer when you see the freshly waxed look, and when you find that the surface will repel rain.

Fizz windshields clean with cola
When it rains after a long dry spell, a dirty windshield turns into one big mess. Get rid of streaks and blotches by pouring cola over the glass. (Stretch a towel along the bottom of the windshield to protect hood paint.) The bubbles in the cola will fizz away the grime. Just be sure to wash the sticky cola off thoroughly or your cleaning efforts will end up attracting dust

A one-step window cleaner
Clean your windshield and car windows by rubbing them with baby wipes stored in your glove compartment. What could be easier?

Baking-soda car cleaner
Pour 1/4 cup baking soda into a gallon-sized jug, then add 1/4 cup dishwashing liquid and enough water to fill the jug almost to the top. Screw on the cap, shake well, and store the concentrate for later use. When it comes time to wash the car, shake the jug vigorously and then pour 1 cup of cleaner base into a 2-gallon water pail. Fill the pail with warm water, stir to mix, and your homemade cleaner is ready to use.

Avoid air drying
Also according to Consumer Reports, air drying your car—or driving it around while it's wet—after washing can leave unsightly watermarks on its exterior. Use a chamois or a soft terry cloth, plus a squeegee to soak excess water up—just make sure it doesn't pick up dirt that can scratch the vehicle.

Click the link to read the full article and learn even more weird tips to keep your car clean: http://bit.ly/Kz661P

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