The Dangers of Distracted Driving

Distracted driving can be dangerous for more than just your car. When you allow distractions to take you away from the process of driving, you can put yourself and your family at risk. Unfortunately, there are many things today that can cause distractions in the car, from cell phones and mp3 players to children and food. The next time you’re driving, make sure you avoid distracted driving by following these tips from eHow:

1. Avoid talking on your cell phone. Some states require you to pull over when using your cell phone while driving.
2. Never multi-task while driving. Do not do things like adjusting your radio, compact disc player or GPS unit.
3. Do not read while driving. When you need to read or use a map, pull off the road.
4. Avoid taking your coat off or changing clothes while driving.
5. Put makeup on, comb your hair and shave before leaving your house or office. These things should never be done while driving.
6. Avoid eating or drinking while driving.
7. Keep music at a reasonable level. Listening to music that is too loud or using headphones or earplugs while driving can be distracting and can prevent you from hearing emergency vehicles sharing the road with you.
8. Avoid lighting up or putting out cigarettes, or dealing with falling ashes while driving.

Read the entire article here: http://www.ehow.com/how_2043250_avoid-distractions-driving.html#ixzz2IGgJ0A1Tqx4M

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11 Fantastic Ways to Use Vinegar in Your Car

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:

1. Keep car windows frost-free overnight in winter by coating them with a solution of 3 parts white distilled vinegar to 1 part water.
2. Polish car chrome with full-strength white distilled vinegar on a soft cloth.
3. 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.
4. Rid the windshield wipers of road grime by wiping them with a white distilled vinegar-soaked cloth.
5. Remove the leftover odor after a rider has been carsick by leaving a bowl of white distilled vinegar overnight on the floor.
6. Get rid of hard water stains on your car with a rinse made from 3 parts soft water to one part white distilled vinegar.
7. Wipe vinyl upholstery with a mixture of equal parts white distilled vinegar and water.
8. 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.
9. Remove the hazy film that builds up on inside windows by spraying with white distilled vinegar.
10. Remove dirt and stains from car carpeting with a mixture of half white distilled vinegar and half water.
11. 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

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Why Do Cars Get Rust?

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

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