8 Household Products to Help Spring Clean Your Car

When you think about vehicle maintenance, your mind might go straight to things like oil changes, tire rotations, or brake pad replacements. You might not consider the upkeep of your vehicle's exterior to be maintenance. However, keeping the exterior clean can help your car look new and fight rust. Cleaning your car's exterior does not require a professional; it is a straightforward DIY project. However, before grabbing soap and a sponge, here are some car wash kit items to consider purchasing. They can help keep a vehicle looking newer longer. more 1. A Cleaning Agent Having a good cleaner designed specifically for cars is very important. A vehicle cleaning product helps remove dirt, grime, mud, bugs, and whatever else finds its way onto the body of the car. It can get rid of these difficult-to-remove impurities without damaging the paint, clear coat, or finish. Avoid using harsh detergents, such as dishwashing liquid. While some detergents can clean the exterior wheel well, they will make the paint look dull over time. Look for a car wash product that can lift dirt off the wax while maintaining its original shine. 2. Scrubber The tool you choose to scrub your car's exterior is just as important as the cleaner. While sponges effectively distribute water and soap over a large area, their porous texture might pick up stones and dirt in the process. These can create scratches on the car's finish as you scrub. The best tool to use for car-cleaning is a lambswool mitt. It is gentler than a sponge and still holds a lot of water and soap. This kind of mitt is easy to clean and far less likely to scratch the exterior finish. 3. A Wheel Cleaner Your car's wheels require just as much attention as the body. The wheels suffer much abuse from curb rash, heat, and brake dust. Because of this combination of harsh elements, you usually can't remove the dirt formed on wheels with the same cleaner used for car exteriors. You'll need something stronger. A wheel cleaner can get the job done. Make sure the cleaner you choose is made for the specific finish of your wheels. If you have chrome wheels, for instance, you should purchase a wheel cleaner formulated specifically for chrome surfaces. Once you've purchased a cleaner, wait until the wheels are cool to apply it. This is the optimal time to clean them. Use a bristled brush to work the soap in and remove unwanted grime without getting cleaner on the tires. 4. A Drying Cloth Drying a car will keep unsightly water spots from forming. This happens when water is allowed to evaporate on the vehicle. Use a water blade, chamois, or microfiber towel to dry your car effectively. Avoid using a household towel, because the fibers can harm the paint's finish. By keeping your car's paint and wheels in great condition, you can protect your vehicle and keep it looking like new for years to come. Image via Pixabay by JLMedia

One of the many perks of owning a Jeep Wrangler is the ability to go on exciting off-road adventures. Whether you're deep in the forest or cruising on the beach, you'll more than likely get some dirt and debris on your Jeep, but that's all part of the fun. However, if you want to keep it looking great for years to come, you should follow these simple guidelines. more Washing Your Jeep The first step to keeping your Wrangler looking like new is washing it regularly. Even if you don't venture off-road that often, a mixture of dirt, air pollutants, tree sap, insect remains, and pollen will build up on the vehicle's body and inner fenders, making the painted and chromed areas lose their shine. The good news is any local car wash will do a good job, no matter how dirty your Jeep gets, as washing a car is a fairly standard procedure. If, on the other hand, you prefer to wash your Jeep Wrangler yourself, you'll need the appropriate gear. Using a hose alone won't be effective, especially if the car's body is covered in mud and dirt. To generate enough pressure to remove all the debris, you'll need an electric pressure washer. Also, to be sure it does a good job, preclean the most affected areas with a separate brush. Cleaning Your Jeep's Windows If you choose to clean the Wrangler yourself, washing the windows with plain water won't be enough to get them crystal clear. The gear you'll need to get your windows looking spotless consists of a window-cleaning spray and a few window-cleaning cloths. After removing most of the dirt with the pressure washer, spray the windshield with the window cleaner, and fold your cloth twice so it becomes a square. Wipe the cleaner off thoroughly with one side of the cloth, making sure to get every corner of the windshield. When the windshield looks fairly clean, turn the cloth over to its dry side and wipe again to make it shine. You can repeat this step on the side and rear windows. Waxing Your Wrangler Cleaning your Jeep's body and its windows will make it look great, but waxing it will give it that extra shine and protection you're looking for. There are many types of wax, such as liquid, paste, or spray, with the latter being the easiest to apply correctly. Aside from the spray, all you need is a microfiber buffing towel, and you're good to go. With the spray can in one hand and the towel in the other, spray small areas and wipe them off one at a time. Make sure you wax every area of the car's body evenly. Keeping your Jeep Wrangler looking brand new is not only a good way to keep its resale value high, but it also brings you the joy of driving a great-looking car every day. Also, if done regularly, it can turn into an enjoyable weekend hobby. Looking for your own Wrangler to keep clean? Check out our inventory of the 2019 Jeep Wrangler for sale in Wichita. Image via Flickr by Petr Magera

Looking for some new additions to your book collection? Whether you’re a collector or just searching for your next good book, find it at a local Wichita bookstore. Here are five places to find the perfect book. more Watermark Books & Cafe For a truly local bookstore experience, be sure to visit Watermark Books and Cafe on East Douglas Ave. Open six days a week and closed on Sunday, the store offers a variety of books across many genres. With an excellent children's section, the store hosts many storytimes and author signing events to help encourage young readers. In addition, the bookstore publishes newsletters for kids, teachers, new releases, and seasoned readers. With a big focus on local and regional authors, you can find some Wichita gems at Watermark. The bookstore's cafe offers soups and a variety of pastries to enjoy with your book. F.C. Ziegler Co. Also located on East Douglas Ave., F.C. Ziegler Company is a small Catholic bookstore chain. Open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, they carry prayer books, devotionals, bibles, and gift items. You can find history books and commemorative edition books to celebrate special occasions such as baptisms and weddings. Book-a-holic Book-a-holic is a wonderful independent used bookstore. With three locations in Wichita, all three are open seven days a week. Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The store allows you to buy, sell, or trade for your next great read in any genre from cooking to science-fiction and everything in between. Barnes & Noble Are you ready to explore a store with something for everyone? Stop by Barnes and Noble on North Rock Road. Free WiFi means you can escape the daily grind to study or work while enjoying a Starbucks coffee in the on-site cafe. You can also relax and disconnect in many of the welcoming seating areas located throughout the store. With weekly storytimes (featuring free cafe items and giveaways for the kids), author events, book release parties, Barnes & Noble is a great weekly stop for the kids. In addition to their events and extensive periodical inventory, you can pick up special orders in-store. Al's Old & New Book Store LLC If you are looking for a new copy of an old book, head over to Al's Old and New Book Store on East William Street. The store focuses on carrying older titles that are hard to find in other locations, including classics and a variety of history books. If you are looking for a treasured book from years ago, ask them to show you the special research tools they have to help cut down your search time. Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to explore their more than 40,000 book inventory. With so many options, it will be fun and easy to find your next read at one of these Wichita bookstores. Make it a weekly after-school field trip with the kids or make it a date night stop to sip a cup of coffee and browse the extensive book selections at your favorite store. Image via Pixabay by geralt