Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 6:00 AM
Keeping cars clean is one of the biggest challenges many car owners face. But what if there was a simple product that you already have in your pantry that could keep your car clean? Turns out, there is! Vinegar’s good for so much more than salad dressing - it makes a great household and car cleaner. It’s gentle and all-natural, so you don’t have to worry about putting harsh chemicals into your car. Here are 11 ways you can use vinegar to clean your car:
- Keep car windows frost-free overnight in winter by coating them with a solution of 3 parts white distilled vinegar to 1 part water.
- Polish car chrome with full-strength white distilled vinegar on a soft cloth.
- Remove unwanted decals and bumper stickers by covering them with a cloth soaked in white distilled vinegar, or by repeatedly spraying them with full-strength white distilled vinegar. They should peel off in a couple of hours.
- Rid the windshield wipers of road grime by wiping them with a white distilled vinegar-soaked cloth.
- Remove the leftover odor after a rider has been carsick by leaving a bowl of white distilled vinegar overnight on the floor.
- Get rid of hard water stains on your car with a rinse made from 3 parts soft water to one part white distilled vinegar.
- Wipe vinyl upholstery with a mixture of equal parts white distilled vinegar and water.
- Remove winter road salt residue on car carpeting by spraying with a mixture of equal parts white distilled vinegar and water, then blot with a soft towel.
- Remove the hazy film that builds up on inside windows by spraying with white distilled vinegar.
- Remove dirt and stains from car carpeting with a mixture of half white distilled vinegar and half water.
- When doing car maintenance, soak rusty bolts and screws with white distilled vinegar to make them easier to remove.
Read more uses for vinegar in your car here: http://bit.ly/VMV3Xc
Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 6:36 AM
What’s the one word that scares most car owners? Rust. This pesky problem can not only be aesthetically unpleasing, it can also cause serious damage to your car. The term “rustbucket” refers to an undriveable old car, after all. Protecting your car from rust involves both watching and prevention. Why does rust form? Here’s a technical explanation for the curious:
Rust is iron oxide, a molecule consisting of two iron atoms and three oxygen atoms. It's the product of an electrochemical process called corrosion. To create rust, three factors must be present: an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte. An anode is a piece of metal that will readily release electrons under the right circumstances. Cathodes are metals that will accept electrons. Electrolytes are liquids that facilitate the movement of electrons.
As electrons flow from the anode to the cathode via the electrolyte, the anode metal corrodes. In the case of metals with iron in them, part of the anode metal becomes rust. As the metal corrodes, it weakens. That's not something you want to have happen to your vehicle.
There are several points on your car that are more susceptible to rust. For example, your car's engine, frame, chassis, exhaust system and trunk compartment can develop rust. Optional equipment, like trailer hitches, can also fall prey to corrosion. Rust can even attack painted surfaces on your car.
Getting rid of rust is challenging. It's easier to take steps to prevent rust than it is to eradicate it. In the case of rust, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Read the full article (and get some great rust prevention tips!) here: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/vehicle-maintenance/prevent-automotive-rust.htm
Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 8:34 AM
Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 7:02 AM
When you’re buying a new car, you’re probably going to focus on features first. But after that? It’s all about the color. Did you know that different colors give off different vibes? Here’s what the drivers around you could be thinking when they see the color of your car:
Gold: Warm, Intelligent, Glamorous
Gray: Neutral, Sober, Practical
Dark Green: Well-Balanced, Trustworthy, Traditional
Light Green: Organic, No-Fuss, Understated
Dark Blue: Confident, Credible, Authoritative
Light-Mid Blue: Calm, Faithful, True
Brown: Powerful, Unique
Beige: Natural, Down-To-Earth
Black: Powerful, Classic, Elegant
White: Pure, Pristine, Direct
Silver: Futuristic, Prestigious, Elegant
Red: Sensual, Dynamic, Outgoing
Learn about what other colors could say about you and read the original article here: http://bit.ly/Kqr9EV
Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 7:34 AM
What are you doing this New Year’s Eve? It’s not too late to get your buttons for Highmark First Night 2013! This cultural institution happens throughout downtown and is chock-full of musical performances, dance lessons, magicians and other fun, family-friendly activities. There’s even a parade and a fireworks show. Why plan a New Year’s Eve party when you could bring all your friends and family to Downtown Pittsburgh?
All events are free with the purchase of a button. You’ll need to make sure you display it prominently on your coat or outfit. Some events that have limited seating also require vouchers, but these are free. You simply need to register and print them online to get into the events. Each button-holder is entitled to four vouchers - make sure you get one for every member of your group.
Avoid this mess and stress that comes along with planning a party and head to Highmark First Night 2013 instead! Check out their website for more information about activities and to learn where to buy buttons.
Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 7:52 AM
Your blind spot can severely impair your ability to drive safely. While many car manufacturers are adding special gadgets to their vehicles to reduce this liability, there may be a low-tech method that can work just as well:
Passive blind spot warning systems involve -- surprise! -- a mirror. Talk about low tech! Many car manufacturers will offer you the alternative to put a special convex mirror in the corner of your current external rearview mirror that can see into areas where normal rearview mirrors cannot. And if you don't have one of these on your current car, you can probably walk into your local auto parts store, buy one, and install it yourself (though be warned that experts advise against self installation because the precise positioning of these mirrors is crucial). Amazingly, tests have shown these special mirrors, which are the cheapest form of blind-spot monitoring system imaginable, are every bit as effective as sophisticated (and expensive) radar-based systems. And surveys show that consumers who have used both actually prefer the mirror to the radar -- if only because the mirror doesn't blink annoying warning lights at you or make beeping noises. So it's possible that the best state-of-the-art blind spot monitoring system may be one that's been state-of-the-art since the ancient past.
Read the whole article over at How Stuff Works here: http://bit.ly/UKCukS
Posted by Monroeville Kia Mazda on 11:41 AM
Attention all good little boys and girls! Santa has asked for some help collecting letters for him. Santa "drop-off" boxes are located at the Monroeville Recreation Department and the Monroeville Public Library. The letters will be sent "Special Delivery" to the North Pole with Santa responding to each child's letter that he receives on or before Monday, December 10, 2012. Parents please be sure that the children's names and return mailing addresses are legible.
