This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EarthDayDriveAway #CollectiveBias
Spring is finally around the corner and *hopefully* that means no more snow, ice and salt on the roads. That said, I am SO looking forward to doing a little spring cleaning on my vehicle. Maybe it’s the nesting going on with baby #2, but I am eager to get the winter grime build up off my floor mats, get car wash to get the salt residue off and do some maintenance so to keep it in top top shape.
So here’s this Mama’s vehicle spring cleaning checklist…
Maintenance
Oil changes.
I love hitting up Walmart for all those things on my list (because, let’s face it- they literally have everything)- from groceries to baby products to everything in between. But did you know some locations also have Auto Care Centers? I go there regularly for my oil changes. It’s so ideal to be able to drop off my car for an oil change while I get my shopping done- perfect for this multitasking Mama! I was just in last week and knocked that off my to do list, and it took no time at all. For this oil change, I opted for their Mobil 1™ synthetic oil, as not only protects more than just your engine but results in fewer oil changes and reduces oil consumption…all a win in my book. Not sure which kind is best for your vehicle? Use this oil selector tool.
What made it even better is their Earth Day Drive Away offer, which is exclusive to Walmart. Mobil 1™ is giving Walmart customers a chance to win a Chevy Equinox, plus $10 off their next Mobil 1™ purchase at Walmart. The promotion runs now through April 30, 2018.
Shoppers can enter for a chance to win a Chevy Equinox in two ways: by purchasing 5 quarts of Mobil 1™ in the store or a Mobil 1™ oil change at the Auto Care Center OR by recycling any used oil at an Auto Care Center.
And as a bonus, shoppers that purchase 5 quarts of Mobil 1™ synthetic oil or a Mobil 1™ synthetic oil change at the Auto Care Center are also eligible to receive a $10 Select Certificate valid on a future 5 quart Mobil 1™ purchase at Walmart! If you do, you can use your receipt to enter to win the Equinox and/or get the $10 Walmart Select Certificate at Earth Day Drive Away website. (Limit 2 entries in the sweeps per customer- 1 for purchasing, 1 for recycling).
Under the hood items.
Check engine parts for any issues, corrosion, etc. Check the air filter and refill windshield wiper fluid (I go through lots during the winter season!)
Wipers and tires.
Take a look at your windshield wiper blades and see if it’s time to have them replaced, and check your tire tread depth and tire pressure to make sure your tires are working as efficiently as possible. The temperatures really vary the pressure, so make sure it has the right amount by season.
Exterior
Car wash.
If you live in a climate were you get lots of snow each winter, you’re likely to have an accumulation of salt on and under, your car. And that buildup of road salt could cause corrosion, which can harm the car’s in a number of ways. So whether you do it yourself or go through a car wash (SUPER fun with toddlers, by the way)- get a good deep clean on the exterior and tires, and if you want extra protection, wax it!
Interior
Clean out the stuff.
Remove trash and unnecessary items from your car- from the cupholders to consoles to floors and the trunk. Replenish supplies as needed, like gum and mints and any toddler travel essentials, like a spare change of clothes, snacks, wipes, etc. I also keep blankets in the car for emergencies and for when our dog Izzy rides with us, so I give those a wash too, along with Bryce’s car seat liner. I also go through the glove compartment and storage pockets to remove old paperwork, coupons, and random things I don’t need.
Clean the dash.
How this accumulates so much dust, grime and crumbs, I will never know! But I love using microfiber cloths to clean the dashboard and other plastic surfaces. They don’t leave any residue like paper towels do.
Scrub the floor/trunk mats.
I have the custom fit plastic mats, so I scrub those with soap and water and let them air dry. Bryce is a good helper with this step too. With all that salt and snow slush residue from the winter, this is a task in itself. Makes a HUGE difference when it’s done though!
Vaccum!
Bust out the vacuum and go crazy- seats, mats, cupholders and trunk. (You’ll never know what kind of treasures you’ll find under your kiddo’s car seat, by the way.) We have a spot cleaner machine that we use on tough stains as needed too.
Wipe the windows/mirrors.
Use glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth to refresh the interior windows. Bye bye, dirt, tiny fingerprints and doggy nose prints!
For as much time as I spend in my car, it always feels so nice to have my vehicle decluttered, fresh and clean and performing at optimal condition, ready for spring (and baby #2!) When you are ready to do your vehicle spring cleaning, don’t forget to head to your local Walmart, check out the Auto Care Center and get an oil change or purchase Mobil 1™ motor oil and enter the Earth Day Drive Away sweepstakes!
What vehicle cleaning tips do you have? Post in the comments!
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Was just thinking about this today….great minds! I’m lucky that hubby does the maintenance part of the car, I just let him know when the time is getting close, and will make sure he has what he needs. I usually pick up the items on his list from Wal-Mart since they’re the only ones that carry the oil my car needs; if they don’t have what I need there, I stop at the dealer (super easy and on my way to/from work, I just call ahead and they have it all ready for me).
Since I travel ~25 miles to and from work a few times a week and the dog goes with me (for training and various outings with me, as I try to include him in our activities much as possible), I am in my car A LOT. I make it a habit to pick up everything that has accumulated in my car every night when I return home. Some days it feels like a lot of work, but having the car ready to go in the morning is such a great feeling and wonderful start to the day. Weekly, I remove the baby’s car seat and remove the pet car seat cover to throw that in the wash with the rest of the dog laundry (don’t want that dog smell!). I vacuum my car out while the cover and car seat are not in it and dust it also. I refill the Kleenex and make sure my post-it’s and pens are replenished too! I also rinse the car off once a week since I’m traveling on heavily salted roads, I hate that dingy look the car ends up with!
In the spring and the fall, I pick a day and detail my car myself. It takes about 4-5 hours, but I enjoy taking care of it. I deep clean it (dusting, window washing, vacuum, wash the weather mats, tires, etc), rinse the undercarriage wash it, apply touch up paint where needed and give it a good wax.