October 28, 2022
5 Simple Maintenance Checks You Can Do to Get Your Car Ready for Winter
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Now that summer has come to a close, it’s time to get your vehicle all prepped up for the colder months. With fall having weather that’s not too hot nor too cold, it’s the best time to give your car a good cleaning. It’s also a great time to stock it with all the essentials for winter — ice scraper, blanket, gloves, and the like.
To help you get your ride in tip-top shape, Veteran Car Donations lists five simple maintenance checks below. Make sure to follow them:
- Clean your headlights.
As your car ages, its headlights tend to get hazy or cloudy, especially if you often park it outside. Cloudy headlights aren’t just a cosmetic problem; they can pose a major threat to safety by reducing their effectiveness, thus compromising your night vision.
That’s why you need to get them cleaned by your mechanic. You can also do the cleaning yourself with the use of a restoration kit or household products like baking soda and toothpaste. You’ll be saving a lot of money this way.
- Wash and wax.
Fall is the perfect time to wash your car so that winter’s mess won’t land on top of summer’s tree sap, bird droppings, and dead bugs. Use car wax to protect and beautify your ride. Do it as thoroughly as possible to the extent that people would think it’s brand new.
- Clean the interior areas.
The cold seasons can take a toll on car interior areas. Mud and dry leaves can litter your floor mats, and fingerprints can pile up on the dash. Start the interior cleaning process by removing the trash inside your car. Then, vacuum the tiny debris and dust stuck in the surfaces. Finish it by cleaning the steering wheel, dashboard, and other surfaces with a microfiber cloth.
- Consider replacing your wipers.
You know your wipers are about to give up on you if they’re leaving streaks of water on your windshield. Since they can easily deteriorate, experts usually recommend changing them every six to 12 months. However, if you notice your wipers seemingly degrading quicker than the suggested timespan, clean the blade with a paper towel and glass cleaner first. They might still work.
- Inspect under the hood.
Open the hood of your car and check for leaves, dirt, and debris. Lightly mist it with water to eliminate any loose dirt, and then wipe all components using a degreaser, followed by a quick rinse. Once your engine is completely dry, apply protective finishes to any rubber, plastic, or silicon parts.
Is Your Car Having Serious Issues? Here’s a Solution
After you’ve finished fall cleaning your vehicle, it’s a good idea to take it to your local auto service center for further examination. If the mechanic discovers that certain vital parts have become defective and need to be replaced, but without any guarantee that the costly service would restore your car to full working order, you may be better off disposing of it and buying a new one.
You can still make good use of that timeworn car though. When you donate it to us at Veteran Car Donations, we’ll convert it into a powerful tool for transforming the lives of the disadvantaged and neglected veterans in your local community.
We’ll put your vehicle up for auction, with the proceeds going to our veteran-focused nonprofit partners. These IRS-certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations cater to former U.S. service members who are grappling with poverty, homelessness, chronic unemployment, service-connected disabilities, and serious illnesses, including mental health disorders.
Our charity partners use the funding we give them to provide deserving veterans with housing and financial assistance, employment and livelihood opportunities, family support, free quality health care and medical treatment, psychotherapy services, and other services meant to improve their living conditions.
Your act of charity will allow you to dispose of an unwanted vehicle at no cost to you. We’ll provide you with our free professional towing service wherever you are in the country.
Moreover, your gift will entitle you to receive the maximum tax deduction in the next tax season.
Best of all, you’ll get to experience the priceless satisfaction of helping our nation’s heroes live the decent and satisfying life they fully deserve.
We accept almost all types of vehicles whatever their ages or conditions.
For more information about our vehicle donation program, including our quick and easy donation process, head over to our FAQs page. Call us anytime through our toll-free hotline at 877-594-5822 or write to us here should you have any questions or concerns that you’d like us to address.
Uplift the Lives of Our Hurting Heroes Today!
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Your no-longer-wanted vehicle can help veterans transition their way back to civilian life with ease. You have nothing to lose but your unwanted beater and all to gain with your auto donation. Call Veteran Car Donations at 877-594-5822 or fill out our secure online donation form to get the process going now!
Last Updated: August 23rd, 2023