Car Kit Essentials: Basic to Advanced

Have you ever driven a car and wished you had something with you, but didn’t? Here are some basic car-kit essentials people should keep in their car to help ensure that they are prepared for the unexpected.  

Basic Car Kit must-haves: 

·     Insurance card, state registration, roadside assistance card, owner’s Manuel, vehicle maintenance checklist, car accident information gathering checklist 

·     Pen, small notepad, and paper atlas

·     USB cell phone car charger adapter and cable, or a portable charger/aux cord.

·     Car Cell phone holder

·     Jumper cables

·     Spare tire and jack

·     Tire pressure gauge

·     Reflective triangles/vest

·     Multifiber cloth

·     Flashlight with a long-lasting LED light

·     Ice scraper and snow chains

·     Standard First aid kit -- Alcohol pads, triple antibiotic ointment/Neosporin, Band-Aid, Tylenol/Ibuprofen, gauze, tape, small scissors

·     Simple tool kit -- Multitool or small knife, adjustable wrench, needle nose pliers with a cutting edge, screwdriver with multiple bits

·     20$ Cash and quarters

 

Advanced Car Kit must-haves:

·     Wet wipes, and kleenex

·     Sun screen, bug spray

·     Hand sanitizer

·     Umbrella, or poncho

·     Sunglasses

·     Picnic blanket

·     Bags

·     Air freshener

·     Mint, or Gum

·     Bottled water

·     Car Coffee mug

·     Car trunk organizer, or Utility tote for your specific lifestyle necessities; i.e., yoga mat, hiking backpack, child provisions etc.

 Personal touch-up Car Kit must haves:  

·     Lint roller

·     Mirror and hair compact, and/or comb

·     Chap stick and flosser picks 

·     Lotion 

·     Small deodorant stick and mini perfume bottle

·     Nail clipper, and Tweezers 

·     Mascara

·     Extra hair ties, and bobby pins

·     Feminine products—pads/tampons

·     Extra shoes— Comfy flats, flip flops

 

 

What essentials do you keep in your car? 

 

 

 

Photo source: autoquarterly.com

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Simple steps to clean your car & DIY car cleaning solutions

Depending on how dirty your car is, it is recommended to deep clean your car every month, or at least every six months. Here are simple steps to help make the process of cleaning your car easier, along with environmentally friendly DIY cleaning solutions. Make sure you set aside ~1 hour to clean your car. 

 

1.    Remove all items from your car. Use two bags: one for garbage to throw things away, and the other for miscellaneous items to sort and put back later. 

·     Remove the floor mats, and carseats as well.

2.    Vacuum the seats and floors in the back seat, then move towards doing the same in the front and the trunk. Remember to work from top to bottom. 

·     Ensure your vacuum has a strong suction, and don’t be afraid to use different vacuum attachments to help you get in between the crevices better.   

3.    Wipe the hard and then soft surfaces down such as dashboard, console, steering wheel, doors etc. with a microfiber cloth. Always do a spot test when using different cleaning solutions. 

·     Use a toothbrush to help scrub grime away. 

·     Use wet wipes to wipe surfaces down, including windows.

 ·     DIY Leather/Vinyl/plastic/Upholstery stain remover — Mix a few drops of liquid dish soap + water, or equal parts vinegar + water in a spray bottle in a spray bottle. 

·     DIY Upholstery stain remover— Mix equal parts rubbing alcohol + water in a spray bottle for stubborn stains. Avoid use on leather, since alkalotic solutions can cause leather to dry, crack and dull. 

·     DIY Carpet stain remover — Mix 1/3 hydrogen peroxide + 2/3 water + 5 drops of lemon essential oil to help remove carpet stains. Alternatively, you can use a pre-made carpet stain remover like, Resolve. 

·     DIY interior car polish — Apply vaseline, coconut oil, or olive oil to a separate clean/dry cloth and buff surface in a circular motion to add some shine. Remember to apply after you have cleaned the surface, and to wipe off excess solution so it doesn’t collect dust. 

4.    Wash the outside of the car with some soap and water using a microfiber mitt to hand-wash your car.

·     DIY Tire and hubcap shine — Mix ½ cup baking soda, 1 tbsp dish soap, and 2 cups of warm water in a bowl, and use a towel to gently scrub it onto the tires. Alternatively, you can use a pre-made tire shine spray. 

·     DIY exterior car polish — Mix ½ cup of hair conditioner with lanolin + 2 cups water to give the car a waxy finish 

·     Wash the floor mats with a soapy water and scrub brush, and let dry in sun.

 

5.    Place only necessary items back, in an organized way.

·     Depending on your lifestyle, create a snack basket, car kit etc., or get a trunk/back seat organizer to keep things organized. 

·     DIY trash container—Use a cereal container to collect trash in the car.

·     DIY air freshener — Place 5-10 drops of essential oil on a wooden clothespin and attach it to your cars air vent to help the car smell good.

 

6.    Ensure your car maintenance are up to date. For example, when did you last change your cabin air filter, transmission oil, windshield wipers, or add coolant, brake/Power-Steering/windshield wiper fluid?  In addition, check your tire quality, alignment, and pressure?

·     DIY windshield fluid— Mix 1 cup rubbing alcohol >90%, 1 tbsp liquid dish soap, and 1 gallon of water. To ensure it doesn’t freeze, let the solution sit out overnight before adding it. If the solution freezes overnight, you might need to add more alcohol for your climate.

 

 

What is your favorite car cleaning solution?

Photo source: www.rd.com

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