For most people, spring generally brings a rush of excitement. Why? Because the weather starts to change for the better and it means that summer is just around the corner. With summer comes days at the beach, family vacations and smokey BBQ dinners. It’s no secret that summer is an adored season, but what a lot of people tend to forget is that before we can stretch out and enjoy all of the fun in the sun, we usually have to get started on our “spring cleaning.”
Cleaning the house in the beginning of spring is something that just seems natural. The air is getting warmer and for the first time of the year you can actually open up all of your windows and let the fresh spring air flow through your home. Winter tends to bring on an accumulation of dust and all that time being spent inside can create a large mess that warrants your intense spring cleaning.
So your house is getting cleaned, but what about your car? In fact, your car probably needs more care and attention as the winter weans than your home. This is especially true if you reside in the northern states where winters are harsh and taxing on your vehicle. Think of all the wear and tear your tires faced as you trudged through the snow each day and night. On top of that, your windshield wipers likely need to be replaced, and the fluids being used to run your car are most likely depleted.
These may not be the first things on your mind as the sun begins to shine a little brighter, but they are certainly very important. In fact, as a car shipping company it is very important to be sure that all of our trucks and trucking supplies are up-to-par before the summer months come into full bloom. To help you get started on your “auto spring cleaning” we have created a list of the most important things to check on your car before you start heading to the beach in all your summer glory.
Auto Spring Cleaning Checklist
- Car Tires As mentioned above, your vehicle’s tires have probably taken the brunt of the winter weather. The first thing you will want to check is tire pressure. It’s so easy to forget about this, and some drivers don’t think about it at all. However, not having enough pressure in your tires can be really dangerous. On top of that, it can decrease the MPG your car gets. With gas prices as high as they are right now, most people really can’t afford this, so be sure to check the tire pressure and see if it is where it needs to be.The other thing you need to check your tires for is wear and tear. If you are a responsible car owner, then this may seem silly, but there are tons of drivers that cruise around on bald tires and don’t realize it until it is too late. Make sure your tires are in good condition, and if they need to be rotated you can do it yourself or take it into your local mechanic to have them do it for you.
- Air Conditioning – It may not be full-blown summer just yet, but the hot weather will be here before you know it and you want to be sure that you have a working air condition system in your vehicle. First, turn on your air conditioning to see if it is still functioning. Then, be sure to check the compressor belt for cracks or wear and tear.
- Fluid Levels – Next up, you want to be sure that all of your car’s fluids are at the correct level. With the warm weather approaching you want to be sure that your coolant levels are up-to-par. You will also want to check the oil level if you did not recently change your oil.
- Battery – Your auto’s battery is extremely important, and it can get really corroded over the winter months. This may not be an issue for newer cars, but drivers with older cars want to be especially mindful of their battery. As a vehicle owner myself, I can tell you I have had many battery issues and you want to be 100 percent sure that your battery is up-to-par before you start happily cruising around in the summer months. You can never be too safe!
- Spring Cleaning – We talked about how we clean all of the clutter and dust out of the house, but the same cleaning should apply for our automobiles as well. Over the winter tons of salt can build-up around the tires, and snow and slush can really make a mess. Furthermore, winter follows autumn and during the months of autumn thousands of dead, dried leaves cover the ground. If you don’t steadily clean your vehicle, you may be surprised at how many dead leaves pile up under your hood along the edges as well as in the crevices of your trunk.Be sure to wash the undercarriage of your vehicle and clean all of the build-up out of hidden areas. It may sound like a lot of work on top of cleaning your home for spring, but auto spring cleaning is just as important- perhaps more. Go through this list when you are ready to spring-clean your vehicle and safely cruise into the hot, summer months. And be happy you don’t have to check and clean a huge commercial truck before the summer months. Now that would take you quite some time!
