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Momma Told Me: Take care of nice things if you want them to last!
There are few areas of my life I feel like I have complete control over. As a busy millennial running a household, juggling creative ambitions, and working full time I rarely have time to counteract the tornado that is my family and tenants. Contrary to what you may think, my home is not picture ready 24/7, and I frequently get an anxiety attack just looking at the living room. I demand one place in my life that is crisp, organized, and running like a well oiled machine. Okay, it is a well oiled machine- my car, a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Turbo Charged is my little purple people mover. Not only is she the first newer car I've ever owned (let's not revisit my super sexy 1991 LeBaron,) but her leather interior proves the perfect stress free oasis. When I am in my car everything is exactly as it should be at all times.
So it's easy to convey how important taking care of my car is to me. This pretty purple people mover is something I take pride in keeping clean and running well. I want her to be around for many years to come, so the first of the year marks a series of regular maintenance and check ups. Just like my home, I don't always have as much time as I'd like to focus on keeping up with these chores, so I choose to take my Purple PT to Walmart's Automotive Center where I can easily shop for the weekly groceries, pick up my prescriptions, and even grab that last minute birthday gift while my baby receives a fresh injection of 'sludge lesser' Pennzoil oil.
I used to spend hours sitting around in the mechanic's waiting room at the big name oil change centers watching tele-novellas as I nodded off. Getting my car cleaned up and refreshed used to be a 2-day process. This year I was able to get all of my checklist cleared, and more, in just an afternoon. But first I had to swing by the local car wash- Here in SoCal we were asked to NOT wash our cars through the Summer and Fall, as we have been in a severe drought. Local car washes provide a more environmentally safe option to washing one's car with the use of advanced recycled and reclaimed water systems. Next it was time to head to Walmart where I can always drop my car off for one of several trusted Pennzoil Oil Change Services without an appointment. Choosing Pennzoil means more friction protection for my engine and a chance to drive up to 550 more miles annually between changes. Being able to #DropShopAndOil all at the same also location means I don't waste valuable time twiddling my thumbs waiting for my car to hit the rack. Not only are the services more than competitive in pricing, but the automotive associate even handed us a car claim slip we could scan, at price checkers throughout the store, to follow the status of our car while shopping! And shop we did- just check out some of the affordable and quick hacks I was able to put together with items found at Walmart.
1. Reusable Bags- If you're like me, remembering to grab reusable bags when you head out the door has as good a probability as remembering whether you plugged your phone in before bed last night. And then there are the times when you decide to 'just stop in' at a store for 'one quick thing,' and end up walking out juggling a handful of items because you felt guilty about using plastic bags. Keeping a stash of reusable totes and bags on hand in your car is a must. We use the side storage in our doors, but you may also find a small plastic tub, or even a 'bag bag' will work fine in the trunk.
2. Combination Charger Cable And Trash Bag Station- This one looks advanced but it's really quite cheap and installs in minutes. Invest in a twin pack of Command sticky hooks and a decorative small gift bag. I grabbed both at Walmart for under $6. Clean off a smooth, relatively flat, surface along your center console with quick swipe of rubbing alcohol. Install the top hook traditionally, and the bottom hook upside down. Use the hooks to wrap up all those stray cellphone charger cables, and place your gift bag in front, viola, combination charger cable and trash bag station! Place a plastic bag liner in your gift bag if your car trash tends to be sticky or wet.
3. The Purse Organizer Storage System.I always seem to have a handful of 'necessities' rolling around my car. There's the pop up dog water bowl, super glue, tire pressure gauge, tissues, hand lotion, sunscreen, emergency water, band aids and more. A $6 in-purse organizer sleeve keeps all these things neatly tucked away and organized in door (or behind a seat, in the trunk shelf, etc.) If you're a bit more heavy duty, you can find larger purse organizers for a few dollars more and easily adapt those with additional 'emergency' tools.
4. Silicone Baking Cup Catch-Alls.One of the first places to get visibly dirty in my car is always the cup holders. Somehow every piece of lint, dust, french fry crumbs, and loose change all end up sliding around those plastic cut-outs. For $3 in the baking department at Walmart I scored a 5 pack of silicone baking cups that were perfect to line my cup holders. Not only do these easily bend to accommodate beverages and cups, but I can take these out and wash them ANY time, no more digging around with damp clothes and vacuum hoses! And how great is that purple color? These match my car perfectly!
By the time my baby was ready for pick-up I was excited to integrate all of my new-found car hacks into it's overhaul for the new year. My car truly is my sanctuary and the convenience of an oil change service is only paralleled by the piece of mind knowing that my Pennzoil High Mileage service helps to reduce leaks and oil consumption in worn or higher mileage
engines. It's a motor oil that is specifically designed for new or late
model vehicles with over 75,000 miles, to help keep the engines running
clean and going strong for a long time so I can get back to what really matters- cranking up the stereo and cruising the Pacific Coast Highway!
Drive into any Walmart Automitive Center today, no appointment needed, and give your car a fresh start for 2015! Pennzoil also offers a free warranty that covers 15 engine parts that
may fail due to engine wear or which experience abnormal wear due to
friction. (For more information, check out the Pennzoil Warranty Site.) What could you get done while waiting to get your oil changed at Walmart?
What Daughter Says: My car is my rolling sanctuary- I treat it like a temple inside and out!
Great tips for keeping your car organized and clean. I need to remember to get my reusable bags back in my car. Love the convenience of getting an oil change at Walmart.
The hubby is one of those "do it yourself" guys when it comes to oil changes. He has always done them. When I could drive I would take mine to a customer's garage. I like your hacks - heaven knows the hubby's car is a mess and could use some of them. The convenience of being able to shop while your oil is being changed is really wonderful.
Love this post and I agree, we take care of our vehicles. You have some great tips here, I need to re-look at the organization in mine, or lack thereof!
A silicone baking cup in my cars cup holders is a great idea! I hate trying to get all of the dirt and grime out of them when it is time to clean out my car. I will be trying that little trick!
These are awesome ideas, and I'm going to implement several of them. I hate to say it, but my car usually looks like the Tasmanian Devil got trapped inside it.
These are all great tips, but what I really want to comment on is your car. I love that you have that "Cars" sun blocker, and Animal on the antenna is THE BEST!
OMGOSH - I could live in your car! Brilliant tips. I love having the car serviced at Walmart for the same reasons that you mentioned....being able to shop (and sometimes eat). while my car is getting taking care of. They usually clean her up a bit too, which is great!
Hahaha...I love that you called your car a rolling sanctuary! I'm also digging the Animal that you have hanging out on your antenna. These are some solid car tips, too...thanks for sharing! #client
Replacing those rubber inserts for your cup holders & door handles with factory originals is very expensive. A cheaper alternative is to use the ones you have as templates to cut new ones from a computer mouse pad. If you are one of the few people that does not have an old one laying around, you can pick them up for almost nothing as most thrift shops.
What a great tip- we also have an older car in the family and it does need some TLC like this. IT can be hard to find parts for upkeep and projects, this is genius!
I am looking to get a new car this year and want to keep it bright and shiny. I am going to have to save some of these tips such as the one with the baking cups!
Hello Jenna! It was really pleasure to read your post. I wounder how you manage all these in your busy schedule life. Your car is looking just of few days old, totally new. The interior of it is quite clean and well arrange. You have placed everything at its right place. You're just too much conscious for your car and its maintenance. You have added multiple bags so that there won't be any garbage in the car, it's really a good idea. Thanks for sharing.
While removing the old speakers in your car make a note of the positive and negative terminals. Connect the wires to the new speakers and if necessary tuck slightly the connectors to see that you get a secure and solid connection. 6.5 inch car speaker
A couple of fenced in areas are retailed independently, so it is workable for you to are allowed to choose the sort of subwoofer you would need for the walled in area that you have at the top of the priority list.Sound experts
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Great tips for keeping your car organized and clean. I need to remember to get my reusable bags back in my car. Love the convenience of getting an oil change at Walmart.
ReplyDeletePretty purple car! And good tips. I just bought my first car and I treat it well too :).
ReplyDeleteThose are all awesome ideas! I just need a new car in general, so that is my plan for this year.
ReplyDeleteThe hubby is one of those "do it yourself" guys when it comes to oil changes. He has always done them. When I could drive I would take mine to a customer's garage. I like your hacks - heaven knows the hubby's car is a mess and could use some of them. The convenience of being able to shop while your oil is being changed is really wonderful.
ReplyDeleteLove this post and I agree, we take care of our vehicles. You have some great tips here, I need to re-look at the organization in mine, or lack thereof!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE the idea of baking cups in the cup holders! I have to try that!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips - Hubs need organization in his car! Nice that you can shop while getting your oil changed.
ReplyDeleteOh my heck the purse organizer is brilliant! I do not own a car, so I do not need to worry about keeping it clean lol
ReplyDeleteA silicone baking cup in my cars cup holders is a great idea! I hate trying to get all of the dirt and grime out of them when it is time to clean out my car. I will be trying that little trick!
ReplyDeleteThese are awesome ideas, and I'm going to implement several of them. I hate to say it, but my car usually looks like the Tasmanian Devil got trapped inside it.
ReplyDeleteThese are all great tips, but what I really want to comment on is your car. I love that you have that "Cars" sun blocker, and Animal on the antenna is THE BEST!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure my Walmart has the oil change yet. Silcone baking cup is rocking my world!
ReplyDeleteThis was a really great read. I really liked the idea of using the silicone baking cup as a catch-all :)
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips. We always get our cars checked regularly so that we don't run into surprise issues.
ReplyDeleteI really need to give my car a fresh start for 2015. I need to wash it. Great hacks!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with your mom. The better you take care of something, the more likely it is to last a long, long time.
ReplyDeleteputting the baking cups in the cup holders is fantastic! that always gets NASTY great tips!
ReplyDeleteLove your photos! I love that I can shop and get my oil changed at the same time!! WOOT!
ReplyDeleteOMGOSH - I could live in your car! Brilliant tips. I love having the car serviced at Walmart for the same reasons that you mentioned....being able to shop (and sometimes eat). while my car is getting taking care of. They usually clean her up a bit too, which is great!
ReplyDeleteVery nice pictures to go with this post! You'd freak if you saw just how messy my car truly was!
ReplyDeleteGreat hacks. I am so doing a few of them, esp the cord holder....brilliant!! Love your purple people mover and that it is a well-Pennzoiled machine!!!
ReplyDeleteHahaha...I love that you called your car a rolling sanctuary! I'm also digging the Animal that you have hanging out on your antenna. These are some solid car tips, too...thanks for sharing! #client
ReplyDeleteReplacing those rubber inserts for your cup holders & door handles with factory originals is very expensive. A cheaper alternative is to use the ones you have as templates to cut new ones from a computer mouse pad. If you are one of the few people that does not have an old one laying around, you can pick them up for almost nothing as most thrift shops.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great tip- we also have an older car in the family and it does need some TLC like this. IT can be hard to find parts for upkeep and projects, this is genius!
DeleteI am looking to get a new car this year and want to keep it bright and shiny. I am going to have to save some of these tips such as the one with the baking cups!
ReplyDeleteHello Jenna! It was really pleasure to read your post. I wounder how you manage all these in your busy schedule life. Your car is looking just of few days old, totally new. The interior of it is quite clean and well arrange. You have placed everything at its right place. You're just too much conscious for your car and its maintenance. You have added multiple bags so that there won't be any garbage in the car, it's really a good idea. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhile removing the old speakers in your car make a note of the positive and negative terminals. Connect the wires to the new speakers and if necessary tuck slightly the connectors to see that you get a secure and solid connection. 6.5 inch car speaker
ReplyDeleteA couple of fenced in areas are retailed independently, so it is workable for you to are allowed to choose the sort of subwoofer you would need for the walled in area that you have at the top of the priority list.Sound experts
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this interesting blog with us.My pleasure to being here on your blog..I wanna come beck here for new post from your site. https://storify.com/ampleom/basics-of-car-audio-speakers-and-subwoofers#publicize
ReplyDeleteYou make so many great points here that I read your article a couple of times. Your views are in accordance with my own for the most part. This is great content for your readers. Best Dashboard Camera under 50$
ReplyDelete