Posted by James in Guide, car detailing, maintenance, organizing car, tips

You have a vacuum alright, and you know how to operate it, but you know the proper way to vacuum your car that will eat up only a minute of your time? Of course you don’t have to be a genius to know this but additional tips are surely useful to those who wanted to find ways how to keep anything at ease including me. You also know that a vacuum has a crevice attachment and a dust brush attach to it; if your vacuum missed any of this part then you need to replace it.

Moreover, the crevice should be made from plastic or that it doesn’t have any damage on its tips otherwise it will scratch or wound your vehicles metal panels as well as your leather and vinyl upholstery. It also recommended that the vacuum you will use in your car has a long and small crevice since it will be more effective when reaching deep consoles, under seats, seams, crannies and nooks including the areas around the seat beads.

When reaching behind the pedals and other tight or deep areas, a nice fitting crevice will help you clean it. You may also need a brush to use before and after you vacuum especially on your carpets. Here is one give away tip in vacuuming your carpet, beat your carpet or lift the section where you will point your vacuum hose or crevice. This way, the dirt accumulated in the thrust of the carpet will fall down or would come loose.

 Proper Way to Vacuum:

• The proper way to vacuum you car’s interior is to know where to start. This way, you will not repeat the process again and again. Start from the rear upholstery and carpet by pushing the front seats forward. With the crevice, vacuum the cracks and in between spaces of the seats and carpet areas. You have to use the dust brush for the door panels since vacuuming it will not enough. After brushing it, vacuum it again to ensure all dust and dirt are removed.
• You have to pull out your floor mats and liners before you vacuum the inside of your car since this is typically made from rubber. Rubber and vacuum don’t go together. Floor mats and liners should be washed or brushed off when cleaning although you could vacuum it as well using a 4 inches crevice.
• After vacuuming the rear section, push the seats back on its proper arrangement or you could also push it backward on the rear‘s direction. Like the way you vacuumed in the back, do it as well on the front section targeting the areas and crack of the seats and the surface behind the carpeted areas and seats. Vacuum the gas and brake pedals including the gear shifts and dashboards. Use brush when vacuuming console, door panels and vents to loose all the dirt accumulation.
• For the fabric upholstery, use the round brush attachment also when vacuuming it, but make sure to be gentle and not to rub it off heavily, you can would or destroy the fiber on your fabric upholstery.

Using a vacuum properly will make cleaning your car’s interior and upholstery easier and faster. If you follow this proper way to vacuum your car, it will make your cleaning double easier and faster!

Wait for my next post about detailing your car’s upholstery be it a vinyl, leather or even fabric. Like me, I; sure you always want your car especially its interior to be always looking new and smelling fresh. Who doesn’t anyways, right? Good Day!

Posted by James in Guide, car detailing, maintenance, organizing car, tips

So, when is the perfect time to clean your car’s interior? Let me help you to determine a systematic way of cleaning your car’s interior from a weekly to a monthly routine. There are also parts in your interior that only demands at least four times a year to be cleaned. Knowing this method, you will surely save yourself from overdoing it.

For a Weekly Routine

You will just need a damp cloth or a micro fiber towel to clean you car’s interior, Washing would be just enough to keep your car clean on a weekly basis. This is to prevent dirt and dust accumulation that if not controlled would lead to bigger problem of cleaning your car.

Here are the things you can do to in cleaning your car weekly:

• Wipe all your vinyl and upholstery except the fabric ones with a damp cloth or using a micro fiber towel. Micro fiber towel is more effective in wiping off dirt and dust fast.
• Wash your floor mats like an ordinary laundry by pulling it out and brushing and hosing off the dirt.
• Wipe your door handles, jambs and sills with damp towel as well. Include your window switches or handles.
• Be sure to pick up all trashes and dirt on your vehicle especially in the back seat where you consider sometimes as your large waste basket. Paper, peels, candy wrappers or any thrash you happen to throw inside your car.
• Wipe your window glass, mirrors, windshield, door glass and rear window glass with damp towel as well. But make sure that it will not leave any splotches of water residues on the glass. You may need a dry cloth to avoid this.

***If you take at least five minutes out of your time to do this weekly routine, cleaning the full interior of your car on a monthly or quarterly basis will be less daunting and bickering.

 

For a Monthly Routine

Your may need vacuum and towel during a monthly routine of detailing your car. This is basically a follow to your weekly routine. On the other hand, if your periodically had the time to do the weekly routine for cleaning your car’s interior, you can skip doing this monthly routine aside from vacuuming the carpets and seats.

Here are the things you can do to in cleaning your car monthly:

• Provided that you maintain the weekly routine, you don’t have to wash your upholsteries and glasses of your car. You can directly grab your vacuum and vacuum the dirt off your interior carpets and console. Vacuuming is very effective way to completely get rid of any dust and dirt on your car.
•  Applying any car protectants should also be done monthly. This way, you will continuously protect your car and at the same time protecting from early wear and fades. If you do this on a weekly basis, it will also fade your car’s upholstery especially the vinyl and leather. Apply protectants on areas that is most exposed to sun. UV rays radically damage your car’s surface including your car’s interior.

 
For a Car Detailing Routine (Every 4 months is recommended)

You may need to visit your local auto shop and car wash to do this. There are also car detailing professionals that are experts in detailing cars. But you can also do it by yourself provided that the stains over your carpets and upholsteries are easy to remove otherwise you really need someone to do it. This time, you have to clean your seals, trunks, cargo areas as well as your other accessories like seatbelts and consoled. During this routine, you also have to get your dashboard detailed.

 

Posted by James in Guide, car cleaners, car detailing, car ideas, car's paint, just anything, organizing car, tips, tools

When you say car detailing, it entails a systematic way, steps or manner in taking care of your car. Taking care also includes the protection you could give and that daily maintenance you do to keep your car clean and shine. I’ve search over the net to find all the possible detailing tools that can be use in cleaning cars, thoroughly. That’s it, not the expensive types use in auto shops like carpet extractor, gas pressure washer, generators, air compressors, electric pressure washer and well, you get my point. What I am referring to are those tools that our pockets could afford and that we can use it right in our house vicinity.

So here are the tools I found that you could use at home:

• Polishing pads
• Brushes
• Vacuum or blowers
• Drying tools
• Sponges & mitts
• Spray
• Buckets
• Hose and water jet nozzle
• Dusters
• Microfiber products

The interior of your car should be spotlessly clean and mould-free smell. You could do a regular vacuum to prevent accumulation of sand, dust, salt and other grimes that will damage the floor panels, carpets or liners. Wiping off the dirt from the dashboards, seats and parcel shelf should be included.

On the other hand, the exterior should also be well maintained since the first impression of a properly maintained car is seen here. It also defines the resale value of the car. You must take car detailing seriously on your exterior especially if you live in coastal places where salt presence is high. Regular car detailing and servicing is the key to achieve total maintenance and protection.

Friendly and Useful Tips in doing a DIY car detailing at Home:

- If you are a smoker, try not to smoke inside your car. The nicotine and smoke sticks to the glass applications in your car which are too hard way to remove. Also, the smell sticks heavily especially if you have a fabric seats.

- Try to choose the best air freshener that will compliment your car and especially yours. Some air freshener’s causes dizziness and that it also sticks its fragrance to your car’s upholstery so better choose the one you best like.

- Keep a weekly maintenance routine to keep the color of your car crisp and sparkly.

- Avoid using streak towels since it causes damage to your paint.

- Sponge is the one of the best tool you can use to wash your car. It allows a rich lather while it ensures a smooth and non-abrasive texture.

- Shampoo or hair shampoos are a good and cheap solution you can use to wash your car. It comes economical and easier to find that other washing liquids.

- Why did I include micro fiber cloth because of its capacity to dry clean your car fast and smooth after washing. Be sure to stock enough of this in your garage.

- Make sure to wipe your car immediately after you drove it under heavy rain. The dirt accumulated during the rain if left to dry will de difficult to remove so better wipe it off before its dries.

- Cotton cloths are the safest and most effective tool to clean your windshields and windows off.

- If you don’t regularly use your car, make sure to at least switch the ignition on for at least five minutes to ensure its engine will not rust into decay for not being used.

- Since summer time is here, one good tip to keep your car shiny and maintain its paint quality is to immediately wash it off after you have gone to the beach. As I said, salt is the number cause of rusting in your car.

Posted by James in Guide, car ideas, maintenance, organizing car, tips, tools

Really, giving your car seats with seat cover is like dressing it up – for good, until it is bound for yet another replacement. The leather car seat cover comes as the most popular choice of seat covers since it goes smooth with your body, just like taking your living room cushion inside your car

Here is an effective instruction in maintaining the quality condition of your leather seat cover,

 What you will need:

•  Vacuum                       
• Washing cloth
• Dry Towel
• Brush
• Leather Cleaner
• Water
• Detergent soap or laundry soap
• Leather conditioner

 

• Vacuum your seat covers in all its areas including the crevices and seams to completely free it from any cruds, loose stands or any materials. You may lay the front seats down and you can also pull the rear seat to thoroughly vacuum it.
• To be sure, check on it again for crud remains. If there is still cruds, use a brush (any kind of bush just as long it fits on the seams or crevices)  to brush it off. But don’t over do it, you may scratch the leather off along with the cruds.
• After brushing, vacuum it again to clean it from the brushed crud remains or pulps.
• Be sure to start on the top most section, doing it from bottom to top will surely make a never ending vacuuming and brushing. Work in one section at time. Do the bottoms last.
• It’s much easier if you work on a small section at a time. Start off with the backrest portion first, and then take care of the bottom cushion.
• Dip the washcloth in warm water. Squeeze all the possible water until it becomes damp enough before applying leather cleaner on it.
• Use this cloth with the leather cleaner to wash the seatback, crevices and seams. Do it fast making sure that it does not saturate in the seat cover. If the leather cleaner drenched in the leathers, it will be harder for you to rinse and even dry it up.
• With the same wash cloth, rinse in the warm water and squeeze the excess water out. Clean the seat with it.
• After rubbing the seat cover with the damp washcloth, dry it using the dry towel
• Do this process for all your car seats. If desired, you can do this repeatedly to be sure that it is completely wash off.
• When finished, get your leather conditioner and apply it on the seat cover surface using another dampen cloth. Apply it to the first seat you started.
• Do the rubbing in a circular uniformed motion and with equal amount of leather condition for all its section to avoid an uneven look. A good tip for making sure that an even application is achieve is to apply little by little just like applying a primer before painting. This is more effective way than applying a thick conditioner at once.
• Let the conditioner sink in for at least half an hour. After ensuring that enough conditioner has been absorbed, use another dry towel (or the dry towel you have used earlier) to wipe the excess conditioner that has bubbled or pooled up on the leather surface.
• After doing this, leave the leather car seat covers for at least a couple of hours to let it “breathe” before sitting on it. It will also dry the conditioner completely to avoid getting it on your pants or shirt.

 

What if you have a car seat cover made from a fabric?
Just be sure not to use harmful concentrated that can bleach and fade its design or color. It may even be ruined or holed if it’s too strong for the fabric. You may need also a laundry cleaner, brush and hot water.

 

Posted by James in Guide, maintenance, organizing car, solutions, tips

When cleaning your car’s interior, the seatbelts always come as a negligible part that escapes your clean streak eyes. Yeah, you may be nodding now since seatbelts comes as a tiny strip of leather or fabric material as compared to the seats and carpets that is always on the top of your list when it comes to detailing your car. Is the beige seatbelts of your car that had come as a package when you purchased your beloved ride colored black now? Or are you bothered by mould smell inside your car when you run out of air freshener above your dashboard? If you answer yes for both questions, its time to play hero and save your seatbelts that loyally affixed there to keep your driving always at safe.

 

There is no further explanation how important seatbelts are, to our safety. Your wife or girlfriend needs a seatbelt when they want to a hitch a ride with you, of your own kids when you want to have a ride with you. Don’t you know that pets have their own kind of seatbelts too? But whoever that will use the seatbelts of your car, cleaning it is a must to avoid early damage of its buckle, brittleness of its strap and of course the smell and cleanness of it when you use. Imagine how confident and groovy you feel with the new polo you wear and just suddenly in split second ruined by a stain when you put on that dirty seatbelts on your body. Bad thought, isn’t it?

 

Well, this may sound complicated but cleaning seatbelts is way toooooo easy. You just need time, effort, cleaner, water, detergent and then soak and rinse. Finish!

 

Here’s the step:

1. Unbolt the belts from your car. But first, you must know what type of seatbelts you have to know the way you are going to unbolt it. If the buckle of your bolts already shouts how rusty and dirty he is, use a tap and die solution. Look for the cross-pins, if it can easily be remove be glad but if not, you have no choice but to clean your seatbelts by moving the buckles up and down when cleaning.
2. After unbolting, prepare a good hot soapy water solution using a detergent where you are going to soak the seatbelts in until the water becomes gray or black. That’s a good sign that dirt has been removed from your seatbelts.
3. Prepare another clean bath but this time with warm water only. If the previous solution is now dingy; dump it and soak the seatbelts again to another clean bath you made.
4. Get the seatbelts out of the water and brush it carefully not to destroy its fiber. The secret is to follow the grain of the seatbelt’s webbing.
5. Once done, rinse the belts into flowing water until that soapy froth is gone.
6. If there are still grimes and the areas that you think a good old soak can pull, re-brush the areas with a household degreaser or grease spray** that is formulated for grease and stain removal. Use this grease spray to clean the hard-plastics and buckles of the seatbelts.
7. After cleaning, hang dry the belts. Make sure that the belts do not retract when you hang it to dry it fast. If the seatbelts are not properly died, it would leave a mould smell. Clip both side of the belt to keep it stretch.
8.  If discoloration is noticeable, you can use spray aerosol paint that matches the color of your seatbelts.
9. Reinstall the freshly cleaned and revived seatbelt to you car.

 ***seatbelts material is quite sensitive to concentrated cleaner solution. It is best to choose mild and solvent based cleaners.

Posted by James in Guide, car problems, just anything, organizing car, tips, tools

Thieves, rejoice now for my title. But let’s just be practical and a little less hysterical for paranoid car owners out there. You see, being forgetful is an incurable disease we all sometimes have. There’s a moment we locked our keys inside the car, or that unlucky times our door locks hang up to us. If not, hurry, come out in the open and share you luck if you haven’t experience, or nearly experience any of this. Now here’s the situation;

“What will you do if you locked yourself OUTSIDE your car?

Exempt yourself with this question if you have a car that has a warning device that would warn you if you happen to leave your keys still in the ignition keys. But if your car doesn’t have a feature like this, answer with me this question of how are you going to get inside your car in case you are locked outside? Just pray this would not happen to you in the middle of the night, or in a hot sunny day. I could imagine how frustrated and annoyed one could get.

Here’s some tips.

Spare Keys. Maybe you were an active Boys Scout of America back when you were a kid, always prepared for no matter what contingencies may arise. But hey, carrying your spare keys can save yourself immediately from this scenario. Spare key will take just a little space from your wallet since wallet is carry-around stuff so you would never be in panic where to find it in case. Yeah, wallet is a good choice rather than putting it on your car’s underbody. It’s like giving your car to thieves’ altogether.

911 or SOS. Really, if you don’t want to try this, call the help of an expert instead. After all, why tire yourself if some professional locksmith can do the job for you without causing trouble too your car. If you have extra budget with you, then this option should be your only option. Just don’t leave an impression that you don’t own that car, locksmith would definitely ask/investigate you if the car is really yours.

Lock pick. Technically a lock out tool or in parlance term, a Slim Jim. This is a thin strip of metal usually 60cm long that will work perfectly with older model of cars with button type pf door locks. Carefully insert the slim jim right between the weatherstrip of your car’s door and slowly pull and unhook the locking mechanism of your door. Although this will be hard and quite complicated, observe patience and you can do this. But if you feel you can’t use this as option, just try another way to unlock your car.

Tennis balls. Yeah, this is a popular trick in opening your car. Click on that link for the video of how the Blondie chic unlocks her door using tennis balls. I have not tried this trick if this is legit but I will write a follow up if I’ve got the time to try this. What I gather from the video is that punching some hole through the tennis ball just through middle and not goes to the other side. Press the ball with the keyhole facing the car’s lock and force the ball to excrete enough air to push the car’s lock. Read additional information here.

Fisticuff. If you have talents/powers like chuck Norris. (Haha) But there is hammer, or stone or any hard things that could break open your window glass. This most likely your last resort or initial reaction of stupidity in event of emergency. Just protect yourself from the broken pieces of glass it could cut you hands out. K?

Posted by James in Guide, Mazda Miata MX, organizing car, solutions

Mine’s a convertible (un Miata Mx5 de Mazda señor y señora), so here is my personal tip to keep your convertible clean and function well. Take advantage of the spring season and fold down that convertible top and breathe some fresh air and temperate weather while driving.

• Polished your levers and rods operating mechanism with lubricating oil of your convertible top by keeping it free from rust. But be careful about spilling some oil on your fabric.
• Check on the top fabric and make sure that it doesn’t get away with the operating mechanism. Keep it intact.
• Keep your convertible top free from dust since its folds in well. You probably don’t want the dust to settle with the top into the well.
• Fix immediately any sign or early damage or weak spot before it opens out or else it will become worse.
• Always clean your top as frequent as possible. Dirt accumulation could wreck the fabric of your top. Use a vacuum or broom if necessary.
• Store a vinyl repair kit so you can immediately apply some on holes and other imperfection on your top’s surface. You can get one at $9 so store one. Read the instruction and label first before using.
• Along with the vinyl repair kit, store also a colour spray for parts of your convertible top that is already fading. Before spraying, cover first the surface that is doesn’t spraying yet.

So while you have already a schedule for spring cleaning, include your convertible top in your routine.

Posted by James in Guide, Specs, just anything, organizing car

Let me show you a disassembled car.

See that? Amazing isn’t it?

Can you imagine yourself knowing all this parts or components of a car?

Most importantly, in case you need some parts to be replaced, you must know first what to buy before heading to get that specified part for your car.

Here is some guide to know that what you are going to purchase exactly matched your car’s specifications.

Basically, these are what you should know about your car before getting any car parts replacement and even accessories. Of course by knowing this, you wouldn’t have to worry about the size of certain car parts like tires or fenders, the design and style like with bumpers or grills since these parts are commonly distinct to a particular vehicle make model and year.

1. vehicle make ( Mazda, Toyota, Chevy, Dodge, Nissan, Land Rover and the list go on, just know what is the make of your car.

2. Vehicle model (of course when it comes to model it must be of the vehicle make it is from. Like with Mazda; the model could be miata. For Toyota, corolla, vios, and so on.

3. Manufacture year (This is important since some parts are exclusive for a particular model year. For instance, a particular headlight is made only for a 1995 manufacture year and these 1995 taillights cannot fit for a 1994 and down models.)

                    With engine parts and other fuel system parts, here is information you need know about your car:

4. Type of transmission ( Manual or automatic)

5. Fuel system ( By use of carburetor or fuel injector)

6. Cylinders number and alignment. (Know if your car has a V6 engine, or a flat type with only 4 cylinders, v8, or in-line type)

7. Engine displacement (Basically the total volume of combustion capacity of the engine, expresses in cc or cubic inches)

For now, these are the general information you should start knowing when it comes to your car. This are just enough for you not to make a mistake in getting for a replacement especially if you are doing the repair or replacement by yourself.

Posted by James in Guide, maintenance, organizing car, solutions, tools

Morning rush! Really the time of cramming to the extent of having our breakfast inside the car, familiar scenario right? Quite familiar that many of us including myself have mastered to drive safely even one of our hands is holding a cup of coffee just to start our day without an empty stomach. As much as we mastered driving while drinking coffee, we just can’t steer clear from having our coffee spilled. It would be fortunate if it didn’t spill on our clothes because that’s another problem. So, most of us fling our coffee on the car’s floor and on the seats. But, although it saves our clothes from being stained with spilled coffee, our carpets or seats cannot.

Removing coffee stains would be easy if we clean the stain before it even dries up but most of the times we just cant do it. If you are lucky to stop and the coffee stain does not dry up already, here are some tips and home made remedies you can do.

What you will need:

• Sponge
• Paper Towels
• White Vinegar (If you don’t have a carpet cleaner)
• Vacuum cleaner
• Warm Water
• Dishwashing detergent
• Stain repellant (if you have any)

Here’s what you will do:

** To create a carpet cleaner, Mix 1 quart of water, ½ tsp. of detergent and 1 tbsp of white vinegar.

• Get your paper towels or a towel and blot the stains as if you are absorbing the stains up. Then rub it off and remove as much of the coffee stain as possible. Soak up any residues until it looks like nothings left to blot.
• After blotting, clean the surface with a carpet cleaner or the home-made mixture/alternative carpet cleaner. Apply some more and leave it at least 10-15 more minutes.
• After letting in the solution or carpet cleaner to be absorbed by the carpet, clean it with towel soaked in warm water to completely remove the mixture.
• Let it dry completely.
• Apply a stain repellant to protect your carpet again from future stains.
• After it naturally dry up, dry it again with vacuum to remove the dirt as well.

IF after following this steps and the stains are still there, then its time for you to call expertly detailed by a professional. After all, auto shop uses expensive and specialized stain cleaner that can effectively removed the stains in just a minute. This, or don’t take your breakfast in your car again. Hehe

Posted by James in Guide, Smart Driving, maintenance, organizing car, solutions

Spring season has already started and another two more months then it’s summer time already. It’s time to keep your winter clothing at your closet and snow boots away from your daily attire. But don’t you know that during spring is the best time you can properly and actually tune your cars up? Because of the temperate climate, setting up your car or planning for a maintenance routine would have a greater chance of being easily and properly done. Well, it is just logical since at winter season, your car is sure to succumb early wear and tear and also, winter season can make your car filthy with road grimes.

Of course you can call professionals to do regular maintenance and cleaning up the car for you, but if you have just ample free time in your hands, you could even do the cleaning by yourself. This way, you didn’t just save some bucks but you also have some good “bonding” moment with your car. I’m sure you will agree on me with this one.

So you are heading for cleaning your car first, what is there to clean by the way? All of it anyways, from the exterior to interior parts, you should clean it all over. Since during winter, the road is washed with a salt solution that is very damaging to your car. So this spring time, you really have to wash your car from top to bottom.

Focus your cleaning more on the following:

1. Engines. Check on the engine oil and fluid levels. During winter season this may have been dry up or frozen down so you better check on this immediately.
   
   
2. Wiper Blades. Replace your wiper blades since it had to be replaced every six month anyways. After winter, your wiper blade is sure to be left brittle and ready to retire. Your tires as well
3. Tires. Inspect your tire pressure if it’s still sufficient. If not, top it up to keep your tires from tire wear. Do also the same with your spare tires.
4. Brakes. Also, check on the brake fluid as well as the all the components of your brake system.
5. Filters. Change all your filters. (oil, fuel, air, APV) Winter season can brittle up your filters.
6. Interiors. Spring time is the perfect time to vacuum off the dirt from your carpets, floor liners that have built up during the winter.
7. A/C system. Obviously, you didn’t regularly used this during the cold season but in spring time where you are blessed with only temperate weather, check on your air conditioning system in preparation for the hot hot summer.

This are just some tips that can help you. As I said, you can just directly visit your service mechanic to do check the car for you. But if you are a Do-it-Yourself buff like me, feel free to follow this tips I’m sharing. Happy Spring Time !!