Get Your Car Ready for Summer Travel with WaterSavers {$50 Visa Gift Card Prize Pack Giveaway!}

 

Now that winter is finally over here in the Midwest (I just jinxed it, didn't I?), people everywhere are throwing open their windows, packing up their down jackets and turning their faces to the sky to enjoy the long-awaited sunshine.

However, while our homes and closets are often high on the list for a spring-inspired overhaul, it is just as important to remember that our vehicles also benefit from revitalization as the seasons change.

You put your vehicle through a lot this winter, so it's time to turn to WaterSavers, a consumer awareness campaign from the International Carwash Association (ICA), for all of their great tips to take care of any damage done by this year's harsh winter and keep your car in optimal shape for summer.

WaterSavers is committed to promoting the importance of using eco-friendly car washes that use less fresh water and return clean water back into the environment. Who doesn't want to support that?

No matter if you live in an area that had a mild winter or you experienced the deep freeze and snow like we did, here are WaterSavers' eco-friendly car tips to get you back on the road this spring:

Wash your car at a professional car wash. Winter months can be especially hard on your vehicle and washing your car is an easy first step to making your car feel new again.

Using a professional car wash is a great way to protect the environment. According to the International Carwash Association, WaterSavers professional car washes use an average of 40 gallons of water or less per car while recycling and filtering their water to prevent harmful chemicals from going into our rivers and streams. Professional car washes also remove salt from the undercarriage of your vehicle, which is a must after a long winter.

By comparison, the average home washing machine uses 41 gallons per cycle, and a garden hose uses 63 gallons of water in just five minutes. You can learn more, and find a WaterSavers wash at Washwithwatersavers.com.

Give the inside a deep clean. Winter's elements are hard on the outside of your car, but many people forget the abuse the vehicle's interior takes as well. Think of how many times you've crawled into your vehicle with dirty, snowy feet and you can begin to understand why cleaning the inside is necessary.

Apply some baking soda and a rubber sponge to your floor mats for an environmentally friendly and efficient clean. Then, wipe down interior surfaces with a microfiber cloth and vacuum the fabric and floor to remove dirt, sand, salt and dust.

Don't forget the maintenance check. Winter is finally over, but that doesn’t mean your vehicle can skip an overall maintenance check, especially if you want to save energy. Make sure to have your oil changed and give your vehicle an once-over. Check the fluid levels as well. The more efficiently your vehicle runs, the more gas you'll save.

How's your tire pressure and alignment? Low tire pressure will cause your vehicle to overexert itself and waste gas so make sure your tires are up to the task.

Your tires list their recommended pressure on the side (if you can't find it, you can find the recommended tire pressure in your owner's manual as well). It is also a good idea to have a certified technician conduct an alignment test since it could have been thrown off by driving over pot holes during the winter months.

For much more great information and tips on how to take care of your vehicle, conserve water, and more visit WashWithWaterSavers.com and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will be even more prepared to be eco-friendly in and out of their car this month and beyond, because...

One lucky person will win a WaterSavers Prize Pack*!

*Prize Pack includes (1) $50 Visa gift card, (1) Gap Stick, a versatile auto accessory to help access the hard-to-reach areas of a vehicle by using a strong magnetic hook, (1) Phone Caddy to keep your phone in view and easily accessible, and (1) Auto Trash Bag, a sturdy fabric bag with a bottom zippered compartment for extra garage bags or hand wipes.

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I am working with the International Carwash Association to share these tips. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.