Did you know “the average American spends 18 days driving per year, with an average of eight hours and 22 minutes per week, a OnePoll study conducted on behalf of Cooper Tire found” (Szymkowski, 2019)? During this time, it is common for both the interior and exterior of your car to slowly become cluttered and/or dirty. To most people, cleaning your car is not a priority, but you will be shocked once you realize how damaging a dirty car could be. If you are wondering, what could be so important that I should stop my busy daily routine to clean my car? Consider these four points:
- Prevents Expensive Repairs: Many people believe washing and waxing a car is a luxury rather than a necessity. It is crucial to regularly maintain the exterior of your car to preserve it and more importantly, extend the life of it. Did you know that dirt, salt, bugs, tar, bird droppings, and even sand (from all those summer trips down the shore) are all natural things that eat away at not only your car’s paint, but also the metal? Yes, some damage to a car’s exterior could be a simple repair, but most times, exterior filth on a car leads to irreversible damage that will need a complete replacement which could be extremely expensive. Not to mention, if your car is constantly dirty, this will cause parts to rust and corrode, leading to a lower resale value when it comes to selling your car. Remember, a properly cared for vehicle, whether its interior or exterior, will help hold the vehicles value and give you a reliable, enjoyable ride!
- Fuel Efficiency: “Myth Busters measured the difference in fuel economy and found that a clean car got two more miles per gallon of fuel than a dirty one. This may not seem like a big difference, but over the lifetime of your car it can add up. If you drive 15,000 miles a year, you could pay over $100 a year more for your gas if your car gets 24 mpg than if it gets 26 mpg. Over ten years, you’d save over $1,000 just by keeping your car clean” (Fox, 2019)
- Avoid Health Issues: Cleaning the interior of your car regularly eliminates harmful bacteria that will build up over time. An unclean, closed area is the ideal environment for bacteria to thrive. Also dust and dirt create poor air quality inside of your car making it more common to catch a cold, develop possible allergies, or even create an unpleasant smell. Keep in mind that cleaning the parts of your car you touch the most such as your steering wheel, dashboard, door handles, and the gear shift is important also!
- Increase Driving Safety: Contrary to popular belief, many people get into accidents every year because of a dirty window, windshield, or side mirror reducing visibility. Cars already come equipped with several blind spots, add in clutter blocking your sight or even the path from your foot to the gas/brake pedals, and it can be catastrophic.
Whether thinking of fuel economy, safety, your health, or even saving money, there are an abundance of reasons to keep your car clean. Not only should you try to de-clutter, dust, sanitize, and vacuum your car, but you should schedule routine car washes. Take pride in your vehicle, keep it clean, then bring it down to Luke’s Auto Service in Verona, NJ so we can handle all your routine maintenance needs to keep your vehicle at its peak performance! Remember: keeping both the interior and exterior of your car in well-kept condition is just as important as keeping up on proper maintenance!
Info credit: TheCarConnection & TheEliteProduct
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