Recent studies have estimated that many Americans spend as much as three hours a day in their cars. Over the course of a typical week, that’s almost one entire day behind the wheel. That not only translates to lots of face time with your vehicle’s interior, but it also provides ample opportunities for the buildup of dirt, grime, coffee, and food stains that can leave a car’s interior appearing haggard and worn.

In addition to robbing a car’s interior of its aesthetic appeal, the buildup of

Maintenance applies to your vehicle’s interior too

dirt and grease can also cause the vehi -cle to degrade over time. Though it’s common to associate vehicle main -tenance with what’s under the hood,drivers should also make maintenance a

priority for the vehicle’s interior. When cleaning a car’s interior, address each and every nook and cranny.

Consoles & Cup HoldersPerhaps no part of a vehicle’s interior

is more susceptible to dirt and grease buildup than the center console, which is typically home to a vehicle’s cup hold -ers. Spilled coffee or soda is something every driver can relate to, and cleaning such spills is harder than it sounds. No Touch (R) Interior Detailing Mousse from Permatex, a leading innovator of auto maintenance, repair, and appearance products, is specially formulated to remove not only stubborn stains, but also older ones, making it ideal for tak -ing care of that long-ignored yet unsightly residue at the bottom of your cupholder.

Clean Under the CarpetsParticularly after a long winter, a vehi -

cle’s carpets can be a major eyesore.Remove the floor mats and thoroughlyvacuum any dirt buildup that might have multiplied with each winter snow-storm or spring shower.Your carpets will look better and last longer.

Dashboards & Door PanelsIn order to drive a vehicle, motorists

must look out over the dashboard.Despite that, dashboards are often over -looked when it comes to cleaning a car’s interior. No Touch (R) Interior Detailing Mousse is formulated to removeunsightly dirt or grease buildup from all interior surfaces, including plastic, rub -ber, vinyl, and leather, while drying to a satin sheen to minimize dashboard reflection on the windshield. What’s unique about No Touch (R) Interior Detailing Mousse is that it applies as a mousse, meaning there won’t be any of the messy overspray and seepage into components and vents that drivers typi -cally worry about when cleaning the dashboard and door panels.

Address the Upholstery When buying a new car, many auto

FALL CAR CAREFALL CAR CARE

buyers are concerned about the car’s potential resale value. That’s a genuine concern, as resale value is often influ -enced by more than just the number of miles on the odometer. Dirty upholstery is an instant turnoff for most used car buyers, so drivers should be diligent and clean their upholstery regularly,including immediately after any spills.Be careful when using water to clean the upholstery, as you don’t want any water getting into places that can damamge electrical components or create a moldy smell.

Practice Preventive CareMuch like humans, a car is susceptible to UV rays. Whereas a human would apply sunscreen to his or her skin to protect against sunburn, drivers can apply a UV-protectant product to their vehicle’s interior to guard against prob -lems that often result from overexpo -sure to the sun. No Touch (R) Interior Detailing Mousse is specially for -mulated to protect a vehicle against UV rays that typically lead to fading, crack-ing, and aging. What’s more, its non-greasy formula leaves surfaces with a film-free finish, ensuring the car’s inte -rior will look and feel like new without suffering any harmful side effects of sun exposure. No Touch (R) Interior Detailing Mousse also has an anti-static repellant,which helps keep the instrument panel free and clear of dust for safer and eas - ier navigation.

Overcome the OdorMasking odors is another concern for

many vehicle owners. While some spring days are ideal for rolling down the windows, spring showers are often a force to be reckoned with during the spring season. For drivers trapped inside a car with its own distinct odor, No Touch (R) Interior Detailing Mousse has a new car scent that ensures both driver and passenger won’t be stuck holding their noses on those long com -mutes to work.

For more information, visit: www.per - matex.com.

CITIZEN’S NEWS Friday, October 28, 201116

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FALL CAR CAREFALL CAR CARE

Stylish wheels have become standardequipment on a majority of today’s cars and trucks. But, if your rims are scratched or damaged, their appearance can be embarrassing and bring down the value of your vehicle. Regardless of where you drive and how careful you are, wheel dam -age is hard to avoid.Your wheels can easily suffer dings and scratches from stones,road debris and potholes, as well as dull -ing, pitting and corrosion from car wash chemicals and the effects of weather.

Fortunately, there is an easy solution to the problem, and you don’t have to lay out big bucks for new wheels or take your damaged ones to a repair shop.You can fix your wheels yourself to a “like new” con -dition and save hundreds of dollars in the process with an easy-to-use Wheel Restoration Kit developed by Permatex, a leading innovator of automotive repair and appearance products.

The Permatex Wheel Restoration Kit can help you fix the damaged surface on your

Relief for ragged rims

wheels and restore the original silver metallic finish and overall appearance. The kit comes with simple, step-by-step instructions and everything you need for a professional looking restoration, including a premium, high performance wheel paint.The finished repair is permanent and resistant to chemicals, brake dust, heat, and chipping.

Online video makes it a snapTo help ensure an easy, high quality

repair, Permatex has developed three demonstration videos in English and Spanish: Dents and Grooves; Curbside Rashes, Scuffs and Scratches; and Corrosion, Rust and Minor Scratches. Eachvideo covers the entire repair process, step by step. All of the videos are free, and can be viewed online at: www.permatexrepair.com.

Whether you’re a do-it-yourselfer or a pro, you can make wheels look new, with -out special tools or training. The kit works on all types of metal wheels, including alu -

minum, alloy, steel, and mixed metals. It’s not recommended for chrome wheels,plastic wheel covers, or structural damage.

You should be able to get Permatex’s Wheel Restoration Kit at leading auto parts stores for less than $25.00. If not, you can find your nearest retailer at www.per -matexrepair.com or by calling Permatex at 877-376-2839.

For the finishing touch, give your tires a high tech shine with No Touch Turbo Wet,a new shinier, longer lasting tire dressing,also from Permatex.

Certain myths about automobiles havebeen around as long as there have been cars on the road. Many drivers adhere to driving and repair theories out of sheer force of habit, without ever knowing if these strategies are legitimate. Here are some common myths revealed and debunked.

• High-octane gas improves perform -ance in all vehicles. Most cars will not get any added benefits from the use of high octane fuel, which is designed for higher-performance engines that burn hotter than those of most vehicles. Drivers will only waste their money putting in more expen -sive gas. Always use the fuel rec -ommended in the owner’s manual.

• Longer cars are more stable.Many believe the longer the wheelbase the more stable the car will be. But wheelbase is only one of the factors that determines a vehicle’s stability and reaction time.

• Four-wheel-drive vehicles are invin -cible in poor weather. Four-wheel-drivecapabilities may improve traction and handling when driving off-road or when the road conditions are not ideal. But no car is invincible when it comes to driving on snow and ice..

• Side mirrors are properly adjusted when you can see the side of the car in

Debunking popularautomotive myths

them. Actually, the mirrors should be adjusted so you can’t see the sides of the car. The mirrors work in concert to allow a panoramic view around the car. This elimi -nates the need to turn your head to check blind spots, which takes your eyes off the road.

• Automatic braking system (ABS) was designed to shorten stopping distances.ABS was created to give drivers the ability to steer around obstacles while braking instead of spinning out of control.

• Engine oil should be changed every 3,000 miles. There’s no need to change engine oil that frequently, as motor oils today are much more durable and protect engines for longer distances. Unleaded fuels and clean-burning engines typically require oil changes every 7,000 to 10,000 miles, but consult your owner’s manual.

• There is a 72-hour “cooling off period” offered on automotive sales in the U.S.There is no such provision for auto pur -chases, as there is for many consumer products and even home sale contracts.Once you buy a car, you’re stuck with it, no matter how quickly you begin to expe -rience buyer’s remorse.

Myths prevail in daily life and in the automotive realm as well. Know the facts to avoid losing money or being unsafe on the road.

CITIZEN’S NEWSFriday, October 28, 2011 17

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