Hey everyone! Enjoy the end of summer and have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend!

Steve J. is a former professional detailer who is passionate about cleaning cars and driving in style. In this 4-minute video clip, Steve quickly and enthusiastically tells you how you can wash your car like the professionals do, but in ONLY an hour’s time!

To wash your car like the experts, Steve says you will need several tools. One of these tools is an extendable head brush, which you can use to clean the hard-to-reach areas of the car like the roof. You will also need a smaller brush for cleaning tight areas in the car like the tires. A double-sided mitt is the third cleaning tool Steve recommends you get. This will be used to wipe down the body of the car. Lastly you will need any large bucket in which you will fill with water and your preferred brand of car wash soap.

Paying a professional to detail your car can be expensive. To wash your car like the experts, follow the simple and easy tips that Steve recommends in this video.

It is not often that you find someone whose trusted mechanic is associated with an auto dealership. The person you usually trust your vehicle maintenance to is the mechanic from the local garage, the same garage you’re father and grandfather took their cars to.

Even if trust wasn’t the issue, price would be. Dealerships tend to be more expensive in labor costs than independent garages. This can make a big difference when performing maintenance required to keep your warranty valid. Because you have to take your car to the dealership to keep that warranty intact…right?

Good information to keep in mind whether you are have a new car with a factory warranty or protecting your investment with an extended auto warranty from CARCHEX.

Do I have to take my car to a dealership to keep my warranty valid?

So you just bought a new car. Do you have to take it back to the dealer to have your preventative maintenance done to keep the warranty in force? Absolutely not. What you do have to do though is you have to keep good records to show that you have done all of the service that is required. Now on a used car and on extended auto warranty, well the same thing applies. You can take the car to your trusted technician for preventive maintenance service.

It might have been a mild winter, but that doesn’t mean that your vehicle doesn’t need a good Spring Cleaning, inside and out.

Some areas of cleaning are obvious. You vacuum the floor mats to clean of dirt, mud, and salt residue. The ice scraper, shovel, and kitty litter you kept in the trunk can be swapped out for a windshield reflector, umbrella, and extra coolant. Under the hood, basics like an oil change, battery check, and hose and belt inspections will help your car drive its best during the summer.

But what about the areas of the car you can’t see. What damage has the winter weather and roads done to the underside of your vehicle? Pat Goss explains how using a common gardening tool can help save your undercarriage from deterioration, rust, and corrosion.

A simple, easy trick to clean the hard to reach places of your vehicle, and hopefully ward off future repair costs.

Now that winter is gone, how can I “spring clean” my car?

Even though it’s been a mild winter, most areas of the country have had some indication that they might get snow. That means in most areas they used a chemical pre-treatment on the road. Didn’t need it as it worked out, but that chemical pre-treatment some of it got up underneath your car and the very best thing you can do is get rid of every last bit of it, and one way to do that is to take a lawn sprinkler and place it under the front of the car. Let it sit there and work for, oh roughly two or three hours then move it to the middle of the car, then another two or three hours, and then to the back of the car. This constant motion, and the ones that spin are better, this constant motion will rinse that horrific chemical off of the underneath of your car.

You’re thinking about getting an extended auto warranty but are super busy. It’s almost tax day and you are rushing to file on time. Baseball season is starting and the warmer and longer days are welcome distractions. So you decide to rush through the process and go with the first auto warranty you come across.

While doing so might save you time and hassle now, what will happen down the road when you need to file a claim? How reliable is the warranty provider you chose? Do you know exactly what your warranty covers? Can you contact the company directly if you have a complaint?

Pat Goss explains that when choosing an auto warranty, an little time spent in the beginning can save you major headaches down the road.

Research, read, and reach out directly. Three “Rs” that will keep your vehicle on the road and your piece of mind intact. And if you ever have an issue with your CARCHEX policy, click here to visit the CARCHEX Complaints website.

You have questions, Pat Goss has answers.

What are some ways that I can avoid issues with my auto warranty?

How do you avoid issues with your auto warranty? Well that’s pretty simple, you do research and look for companies that are established and have a good rating like CARCHEX. The only other thing you do to prevent problems with your auto warranty is to read the actual policy. Know what it covers and what it doesn’t cover so you don’t have false expectations. That way you know exactly what you have and you won’t have any surprises. Finally if you have any issues, contact the warranty supplier directly and with CARCHEX for instance, they’ve made it a lot easier then ever with CARCHEXcomplaints.com .