12 Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Garage and Your Chevy

Now that spring is here, it’s time to tackle that time-honored and cherished tradition: Spring Cleaning. And what better place to start than with your garage? Oh joy.

Photo Credit: Elisa Self (Flickr)

If you open your garage door and face an apocalypse of junk that’s piled up over the years, like that old “faux leather” recliner your brother-in-law told you would look much better in your “man cave” than in his living room. Or those piles of LIFE magazines you are convinced will someday fetch a fortune on “Antiques Roadshow.” We can understand why the mere thought of tackling that Mount Doom of mess in your garage leaves you with a desire to binge-watch episodes of “Duck Dynasty” and “American Pickers” on the History Channel until the urge to clean goes away.

Believe it or not, you can make order out of that much chaos with a well-conceived plan of attack. Think of yourself as George S. Patton crossing the Rhine, or Luke Skywalker blowing up the Death Star. You can do this, with a little help from your friends.

That’s why we here at Dimmitt Chevrolet, the premier Chevrolet dealership in Tampa Bay, have put together the following game plan for turning that garage into a work of organized art. In fact, you may actually be able to park your Chevy in it after you’re all done (And, speaking of Chevys, we’ve also included some helpful tips on how to give your Chevrolet a spring cleaning of its own).

1. Remove all that you can from the garage – The first step in the process may be the hardest. Take everything out of your garage and pile it all up in your driveway or front lawn. Now you’ll actually be able to see what you’ve got, which takes us to step two.
2. Decide what to keep and what to get rid of – This will probably take the longest to accomplish, so don’t get discouraged. You may have to make some tough decisions. Have a garage sale, or donate unwanted items to your favorite charity. And be sure to properly dispose of any old paint or chemicals.
3. Give it a clean sweep – Clean out all the cobwebs, dust, and dirt and then give your garage a fresh coat of paint. Making it look shiny and new will inspire you to keep it clean.
4. Get things off the floor – Head down to your local hardware or home-improvement store and buy some heavy duty hooks and holders which are designed for brooms, rakes, mops, or anything with a handle. If you want to take it to the next level, consider installing ceiling-mounted, drop-down shelving which work great for larger, bulkier objects. While it’s easy to line up some wire shelves or bookcases along the wall, you’ll find that they will become junked up over time, which defeats the purpose. Consider using cabinets with doors on them for a clean, uncluttered look.
5. Organize, organize, organize – Group similar items together in the same area to make them easier to find, like household cleaners, paper towels, canned beverages, garden equipment, and so forth.
6. Get creative with your new-found space – There are lots of other things you can use your garage for other than parking a car in it. So use your imagination. From arts and crafts to woodworking, it opens up a new frontier of fun possibilities.
7. Mark it, label it, find it – Sturdy, stackable banker boxes work great for storing important paperwork, like tax returns. And plastic bins are perfect for organizing everything from nuts and bolts to yarn. But the key is to label everything. So get out that Sharpie and start writing! 

Whew! Well, now that we’ve got that out of the way, take a moment and pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Okay, that’s enough. It’s time to take on Project #2. Your Chevrolet vehicle is an investment, so it makes sense that you’ll want to keep it both looking and running great, no matter the season. So here are some helpful tips for giving your Chevy (or any other car for that matter) its own spring cleaning makeover:

1. Clean the engine compartment – No matter if your car is brand new or has a few miles on it, keeping the engine compartment free of grime, dirt, or grease will keep your engine running cooler. Consider getting it professionally steam cleaned. Or, if you plan on doing it yourself, remember to cover any electrical parts like the battery, fuse box, etc., with plastic. Wait until the engine is completely dry before starting it. 
2. Take a shine to your paint job – The bright Florida sun can eventually damage your paint, as well as deteriorate rubber and plastic. We recommend waxing it with a good quality paste or liquid wax. Or you can choose to have this professionally done at your favorite local carwash or contact a mobile detailing service to come to you. Check out our Chevrolet service department, where we stock an array of cleaners and other products especially designed for your vehicle.
3. Check your wiper blades – Visually inspect your windshield wiper blades for any signs of wear. It’s a good rule of thumb to replace wiper blades at least once, if not twice, a year. We stock the right wiper blades for your car here at Dimmitt Chevrolet, and we’ll be happy to install them for you.
4. Keep those big wheels turning – Tire pressure varies with changes in temperature, so you should check your tire pressure about once a month and inflate your tires to the correct pressure, which usually can be found on the inside of the driver’s side door. Also look for signs of uneven tread wear, or cracks/gouges in the sidewalls. Rotate your tires based on manufacturer’s recommendations found in your Chevy owner’s manual.
5. Visually inspect fluid levels – Clear plastic reservoirs for brake, power steering, and windshield washer fluids in today’s Chevys make it simple for you to check them. If you decide to add fluids yourself, always use a clean, unopened container to avoid contamination. Another important fluid to check is your coolant level. There’s usually no need to open the radiator cap itself. Rather, check the overflow reservoir and add the correct coolant that’s specified for your engine. It’s best to do this when the engine is cold. Most importantly, check your oil and transmission fluid regularly. Our certified Chevy service professionals will be happy to perform these maintenance items for you. And be sure to check out our service specials and money-saving coupons.

Take advantage of spring savings at Dimmitt Chevrolet
Spring into a brand-new 2015 Chevrolet car or truck at Dimmitt Chevrolet, where we have great deals on our huge inventory of new and certified pre-owned Chevy cars, trucks & SUVs. Stop by our showroom today at 25485 US Highway 19 North, Clearwater, FL 33763 and find out just how easy it is to put a new Chevy in that freshly cleaned garage. For sales, call 888-867-1203. For service, call 855-369-8091. Or call our main number at 727-791-1818.

Photo Credit: Elisa Self

Sources:
http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/03/21/spring-cleaning-your-car/ http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/698572/list/6-garage-organizing-tips-that-really-work