Hey you - I know your trunk is messy. No? Are you sure… there might be a mess back there that you don’t want to admit to but that is okay, your secret is safe with me. I have some tips for tackling that mess and how to avoid the mess creeping back into your life. Let's go! Number 1: Your trunk is meant for storage, it is not a closet or a garbage can. Remove all items from your trunk and decide whether you are keeping the items or it is time for them to be canned, trash canned that is. Don’t forget to recycle those items that are plastic! Remove everything, your trunk should be empty. Number 2: So, your trunk is empty but is it clean? Give your trunk mat a good once, or twice, over with the vacuum. If your mat has mud or any stains use a cleaning solution or scrub it down with the proper carpet cleaning tools. Let your mat dry completely before adding your belongings back in. Number 3: Organizers will work wonders. If you tend to carry items like car fluids, use a shower caddy to keep those bottles from rolling around your trunk and possibly opening up. You should designate a place for those items that you do plan to keep in the trunk. Also, secure items that have a tendency to roll around, this will reduce loud banging noises while you are driving and can cause damage to your vehicle if not secured. Number 4: Make things easier for yourself, if your trunk is clean, clear, and organized, you will be able to use it more often for those big items you purchased or shopping trips. Plus, in the event of a flat tire, your spare will be easier to access if your trunk is organized and not a black hole of who knows what in there. Number 5: Keep it out of the trunk, if your items don’t live in your car they should not be in there. Keep your trunk for items that you would need in case of an emergency. Keep things like your purse, plastic shopping bags, really anything with a handle should be kept up front with you. This will help prevent bags from tipping over and spilling your items all over the trunk. Use hooks that slip over your headrest to hold onto your bags! New Cars = Clean Trunks

Spring is here and that means one thing - it’s time to spring clean. Yup, whether it is your house, the backyard, or your desk at work - everything could use some TLC cleaning. Your vehicle is just another item to add to the list during your spring cleaning extravaganza. Dedicate some time to show your vehicle the love it deserves, after all, you did pay a pretty penny for it. This week, I have some tips to ensure your vehicle gets clean and you have fun doing it! I like to start out any cleaning party with some tunes, grab a radio and turn on some music that will make your cleaning a little more fun! Now, for the cleaning. Start by removing any garbage, unnecessary items, or things that simply don’t belong in your car. Your vehicle is meant to get you from point A to B, it is not a black hole for things to be sucked into! Next, remove your floor mats from the inside of your vehicle. If you have carpet floor mats use a carpet cleaner to rid your mats of any dirt or debris. Rinse and lay flat to dry. If you have all-weather mats, soap and water will get the job done, dry them using a microfiber towel and place them to the side. Vacuum up any dirt, dust, or french-fries that you may have dropped. Don’t forget about the cracks in your seats or your trunk. Be sure to get underneath your front seats by moving them both forward and back. Next, move onto your upholstery. Use a damp microfiber towel to wipe down your seats, center console, dashboard, and door frames. I like to use an all-purpose cleaner with no harsh chemicals for my car’s interior! Avoid getting any electrical connections wet. Don’t forget about those cupholders - I always do! I also like to give my steering wheel an extra pass over to rid any germs that may have built up. Your air vents are known for having grimy, debris build up. Try vacuuming out the dirt first, then if you can see leftover debris, use a foam paint brush. The brush will get into nooks and crannies that your vacuum couldn’t reach plus you can toss it out when you are finished. I like to use my all-purpose cleaner here to, give your vents a quick wash-down using your cleaner and microfiber towel. For a clean, fresh smell, add an air freshener to your vehicle. Next time you hop in, it will smell like a brand new car! Lastly, give your windows some attention. The winter can dull your windows and now that it is springtime, they should be shining like new! Clean both inside and out with a window cleaner and a microfiber towel. Don’t forget about your mirrors, give them the same TLC! Spring Clean A New VW

If you are a person who has a sensitive nose, you might dread the wintertime when you can’t avoid any kind of bad smells in your air system by rolling down your windows and hoping for the best. Thankfully, we have some sensitive sniffers on our team as well, and we’ve had them put together some foolproof tips for cleaning out your air vents and eliminating unsavory lingering odors in your car! First of all, get some Q-tips, some cleaning solution, paper towels, a microfiber cleaning cloth, and a vacuum. Yeah, you’ll need all this. Oh! And some air freshener spray (i.e. Febreze). The first thing you’re going to do is vacuum out all your vents. All of them! Don’t forget the ones near the ground or the one right up against your windshield. Vacuum all your vents then just give your seats and rugs a nice vacuum as well, just for good measure. Next, get those Q-tips and cleaning solution and get into the nooks and crannies of all your air vents. Clean them out really well. Then get your paper towels and clean off all the surfaces of your car. If the smell still lingers from your air system, drive for a little bit to a nice parking area (the driving is to warm up your engine) and then put your air on full blast. This should dry up the tubes and pipes and get rid of any mold or other nastiness that’s been hanging on. If there is STILL a smell, come talk to us at Fiore VW and have us take a look at your cabin air filter. The final step is to give everything a final rub down with a microfiber cloth and spray some of that Febreze. Now you’ve got a nice-smelling AND dust free car! No allergies or bad stenches. Win-win!...Or Just Get Some New Car Smell