Getting your vehicle geared up for spring is a highly anticipated yearly ritual for most drivers. However, during this era of social distancing, you have to get creative about taking care of your vehicle and adapting to the constant changes that come with living through a global pandemic.

Why not take advantage of this time to start a maintenance routine and create some good habits? Take care of your vehicle so that it takes care of you while out on the road. Here are a few tips to help you keep your vehicle in tiptop shape this spring!

Keep your vehicle looking and feeling its best (on and off the road)

1. Keep your battery fully charged

Your vehicle still needs a little TLC even if it’s taking a short break from the roads during the pandemic! The fact of the matter is that a battery that sits unused for a long period of time will eventually lose its charge. To prevent your battery from dying, we recommend starting your vehicle once every two weeks.

If this isn’t feasible, or if you just want to play it safe, you may want to consider buying a smart battery charger. This helpful gadget will keep your battery charged and ready to go so that you can hit the road whenever you want!!

2. Air things out

Fresh air is just as good for you as it is for your vehicle! It’s never a bad idea to air out the cab of your vehicle before letting it sit for a long period of time to get rid of any excess moisture. Here are a few ways to keep things fresh:

• Crack the windows on your vehicle when parking it inside a garage
• Leave the doors open for a few minutes every so often (don’t go inside and make yourself a cup of coffee while your vehicle is parked on the street with its doors wide open!)
• Open up the interior air vents all the way

3. Take your vehicle(s) out for a spin

If you own more than one vehicle, try and remember to take each one out for a spin at regular intervals. Allowing any vehicle to sit unused for an extended period of time can have nasty consequences. Switch things up and try not to always use the same vehicle for each outing. This will help you avoid any surprises when you decide to get back behind the wheel!!

Spring cleaning—it never really ends!

Spring cleaning is all that anyone can talk about once the weather starts warming up, but did you know, that also include your vehicle?

This year, we have put together some helpful tips and tricks to help you keep your vehicle looking and feeling brand new. Once all of the housekeeping and spring cleaning is done and dusted, it can be easy to let things slide back into disarray.

Stay ahead of the game. Your passengers and future self will thank you!

1– Establish a maintenance routine 

It’s easy to add these quick vehicle cleaning tasks to your list of weekly chores:

• Empty the small garbage bin and replace the bag
• Remove the carpets, shake them out and vacuum up any crumbs
• Vacuum off the seats and clean out any storage spaces
• Don’t let things pile up! Throw away old coffee cups and any other empty containers that are taking up space
• Dust and wipe down all surfaces with a cloth

2– Keep your vehicle’s body in shape 

We spend most of our time inside our vehicles, but that doesn’t mean that the outside doesn’t matter! Get into the habit of regularly bringing your vehicle to the car wash. Washing your vehicle often can prevent dirt and debris from building up and eating away at the finish and paint (which could end up damaging the metal underneath). It’s simple and super effective—you don’t even have to get out of your vehicle!

During spring, the streets can get pretty mucky. All of the dust, salt, calcium and grime from last winter can really do a number on the outside of your vehicle. Be prepared—melting snow, large puddles and heavy rainfall mean that your vehicle will get dirty more easily than at any other time of the year!

3– Make sure things are clean—even on the road! 

Now that keeping your vehicle clean inside and out is part of your new routine, it’s time to stock up on some cleaning essentials!

Before rushing online and buying up everything in sight, make a list of the most important items to have on hand. Cleaning wipes for plastic surfaces, as well as upholstery (fabric or leather) and window cleaner, should definitely be at the top of your list. You can keep these items handy in your home or garage.

You may also want to consider buying smaller travel size cleaning supplies that can easily fit inside of your glove compartment or trunk. You can never be too prepared! We recommend keeping these essentials at the ready when heading out for a drive:

• A box of cleaning wipes for plastic surfaces
• A small bottle of hand sanitizer (wash your hands after cleaning up a mess!)
• A small towel to soak up any liquids
• A small bottle of leather or fabric cleaner
• A box of tissues
• A small container for garbage (don’t forget the bag!)