Just like your living room rug, your car’s carpeting needs a thorough vacuuming now and then.

You Will Need

* A garbage bag
* A vacuum cleaner, preferably with attachments
* A hand held vacuum (optional)

Throw away any trash : Throw any trash on the seats and floor of your car into a garbage bag.

Clear out the car’s interior and trunk : Clear out the car’s interior and trunk, and remove the floor mats.

Shake out and vacuum the mats : Shake out the mats, then vacuum them outside the car.

Go over the seats : If you have a hose attachment, use it to begin going over the seats, including the backs.It’s worth investing in a hand held vacuum made for cars, because it will provide the attachments you need to get into all the nooks and crannies.

Vacuum the floors : Vacuum the floors.

Go over the dashboard : Switch to a brush attachment and go over the dashboard.

Vacuum the floor of the trunk : Remove attachment and vacuum the floor of the trunk.

Return the floor mats : Return the floor mats, and enjoy your sweet, clean ride.

Leather seats are expensive. Keep them looking that way with a little cleaning and conditioning.

You Will Need

* A hand-held vacuum, or one with an attachment
* A bottle of leather cleaning solution
* A soft, dry sponge
* Clean dry cloths
* A spray bottle of water
* A bottle of leather conditioner with sunscreen
* Lemon juice (optional)
* Cream of tartar (optional)

Park in shady area : Park the car in a shady area.

Vacuum seats : Vacuum the seats thoroughly, making sure to remove all debris in the crevices.

Wipe w/ cleaning solution : Apply leather cleaning solution to a dry sponge, and wipe one seat with circular motions until it’s covered with cleaner.For stubborn stains, try mixing equal parts lemon juice and cream of tartar and rub the paste into the spot—just make sure to test it on an inconspicuous place first.

Dry seat w/ cloth : Dry the seat with a cloth.

Repeat on other seats : Repeat with the other seats one at a time, rubbing the cleaning solution on with a sponge and then drying with a cloth.

Apply conditioner w/ cloth : When all the seats are clean and dry, apply leather conditioner to a clean cotton cloth. To protect leather from the sun, use one that contains sunscreen.For quick clean-ups, use leather wipes, sold in auto parts stores, that contain both cleaner and conditioner.

Wipe seats w/ conditioner : Wipe down the seats with the conditioner.

Let seats dry : Let the seats dry for at least an hour. They should now be as clean and soft as when the car rolled out of the factory.

 

Anyone can take their vehicle to the car wash, but sometimes your ride need a little TLC—or a just good old-fashioned scrubbing!

You Will Need

* A water hose
* A spray bottle of tire cleaner
* A brush with soft bristles, a wash mitt, or a rag
* A bottle of car washing liquid
* And a chamois

Park in shady area : Park your car in a shady area. Rinse tires : Rinse the tires with the water hose.

Spray tire w/ cleaner : Spray a tire with the whitewall cleaner and let it seep in for about 10 seconds.

Scrub tire : Scrub the whitewall and the entire wheel cover with your brush, wash mitt, or rag.

Hose tire off & repeat : Hose the tire off, and then repeat this process on the remaining three tires.

Spray entire exterior : Spray the entire exterior of the car with the hose to wash away any visible grime.ray the entire exterior of the car with the hose to wash away any visible grime.Scrubbing before rinsing could accidentally scratch the finish with caked-on dirt.

Spray roof : Spray the roof thoroughly with the car wash and give it a good rub down.Don’t use dishwashing detergent in place of products that are formulated for cars, or you’ll risk stripping the wax finish off your vehicle.

Hose roof & continue washing : Hose the soap off the roof and then continue soaping, scrubbing, and rinsing the trunk, then the hood, and finally each side of the car.Spray the soap off as soon after scrubbing as possible to prevent residue from sticking to the car.

Dry w/ chamois : Dry the entire vehicle with a chamois for a spotless shine.

 

It won’t be a bargain if you have to spend a ton of money on repairs, so learn how to spot a lemon.

You Will Need

* Time
* Patience
* And due diligence

Figure out how much you can spend : Figure out how much you can spend—either in cash or in monthly loan payments.Don’t forget about the costs of owning a car, like insurance and maintenance.

Research models : Research the models you’re considering. Car information websites will help you compare both the performance and long-term reliability of various cars.

Locate car : Locate a car that you want to check out. Search used car lots, classified ads, car dealerships that sell pre-owned vehicles, and special used-car publications and websites.

Ask seller about condition : Ask the seller about the general condition of the car, including mileage, extra features, and whether service records are available.If you’re buying the car from an individual, ask if he or she is the original owner and the reason for selling the car.

Inspect & test-drive : Inspect the car and test-drive it. You want to make sure that it performs well, runs smoothly, and feels right.Don’t let the seller rush you through the test-drive.

Find out if warranty included : Find out if the car comes with a warranty.If a warranty isn’t included, have a mechanic inspect the car for you. Let the seller know that the sale is contingent on a professional inspection.

Get vehicle history report : Get a vehicle history report from one of the companies that sell them online. See if the vehicle has been damaged in an accident or flood—and if the odometer may have been rolled back.

Find out worth : Find out how much the car is worth by consulting online used car guides or visiting the library.

Negotiate : Negotiate. Using the market value of the car as a guide, make an offer on the low end. Don’t be afraid to walk away.If you’re trading in your car or having a dealership arrange financing, negotiate the price of the car before you discuss trade-in value and financing to assure you get the best deal.

Close the deal : Close the deal. If you’re buying from a private seller, make sure you get the title. Register your new vehicle with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.If you’re buying from a dealership, they will handle most of the paperwork for you. Just make sure you read any contracts or paperwork carefully.

Drive home : Drive home in your swank new ride.
Used Cars Buying Tips You Can Use Now

Finding good used cars can be a frustrating, especially if you are not familiar with auto-mechanics. Where do you go to first? Do you go to a used car garage? Look through the want ads? Explore by word of mouth? Search the World Wide Web?Firstly, when looking to buy used cars, I suggest that you get an idea of what you want. I once asked a car mechanic what he will suggest, and he said that Honda Civics and Toyota Carollas are what he recommends. Everyone has his or her different idea what they like for a good used car. So you must decide what type of car you want. Narrow it down to at least four types.Armed with the highest amount you can spend, and as clear an idea as possible of what kind of used car you want, and what the blue book values are, it is time to begin your search.