While “Spring Cleaning” typically refers to your home, your car deserves some attention during this season too. It is not only the time when routine maintenance should be performed, but milder weather also presents the best opportunity to clean off all the junk that has accumulated on your car throughout the winter and to make sure that no other damage was sustained due to inclement conditions.
Boyd Dingman, owner of Dingman’s Collision Center, offers a few ways to “Spring Clean” your vehicle in order to preserve its condition. “Spring is the perfect time to clean your vehicle and get all of the winter salt off of it. Make sure to wash the underside of the vehicle and get the wheel wells, behind the bumpers, and under the doors. Check the wiper blades and replace if necessary so that you don’t scratch your windshield and to be prepared for spring rains. When doing your spring cleaning and maintenance, mark any spots you have concerns about and bring it to any Dingman’s location. There may be things that you can take care of on your own that we can advise you on, or some things that you may want us to take care of for you. Our technicians will assess your specific needs and concerns and from this information, we are able to provide you with options of how to handle anything from a small scratch to an insurance related type of repair. Dingman’s has been a family owned business for 70 years, and we are very involved at the national level with ongoing training which keeps us ahead of the learning curve. We also have the latest equipment to take care of the ever changing vehicle, from aluminum vehicles to electric vehicles. Our main focus is assisting our customers with protecting their investment.”
If the damage to your vehicle is isolated to your windshield, repair is always a consideration that should be evaluated before replacement. Boyd Baillie, owner of the local SuperGlass Windshield Repair franchise, explains, “Repairing your windshield instead of replacing it protects the integrity and safety functions of your original windshield. SuperGlass doesn’t replace windshields because you can never get the factory seal back once it is replaced. We do everything in our power to repair it, and we will come to you to get the job done. In fact, we are able to avoid replacement and repair 98% of damaged windshields and can easily fix rock chips, repair cracks and remove scratches from windshields. Moreover, most people don’t realize that rock damage is often covered by their insurance with no deductible or out-of-pocket costs to you. It is a free service most insurance companies provide to their customers. Repairing instead of replacing is also good for the environment – it keeps windshields out of our landfills! Windshields are not biodegradable due to the laminate plastic in the middle. Repairing not only saves you time, money and your factory seal, it makes you environmentally friendly as well. SuperGlass also offers headlight restoration, which makes your vehicle much safer with the added benefit of the headlights looking like new again. At SuperGlass Windshield Repair, we work hard to save our customers the cost of needless replacements and to restore windshields back to a safe driving condition, quickly and conveniently.
Regarding routine maintenance, Brett Wilson, co-owner of mobile oil change company My Oil Guy, says, “To keep your vehicle up and running you should have your vehicle inspected thoroughly at least two times a year. I would recommend once in April/May and then again in September/October because of Nebraska’s hot summers and cold winters. Furthermore, I highly recommend that you change your oil by the due dates, and replace the oil filter during each oil change. This will help make sure that your engine does not go through any unnecessary wear, and will also keep your engine cleaner and running smoother. A routine point inspection should be performed every time that your oil is changed that checks all fluids, belts and tire pressures.”
Co-owner Blaine Brown adds, “What separates My Oil Guy from any other company is the convenience factor–we will come to you to change your oil and oil filter. This will allow you to not have to worry about your vehicle while at work or most importantly in your down time. Personally, I always hated worrying about how I was going to incorporate getting my oil changed into my busy schedule. Every time that I got it changed it was on my own free time when I should have been spending that time with my family after a long work week. At My Oil Guy, we definitely understand how valuable your time is. During the oil change, we also do a fluid check and tire pressure check. If we see anything that alarms us we will bring it to your attention. The great thing about My Oil Guy is that we are not going to try and upsell you with the things that we bring to your attention. We just want you to be aware so you can get it taken care of before something bad happens.”
So whether you have the time to devote to your car and you just need a little advice, or you don’t have any time and would like a professional to make your life easier, “Spring Cleaning” and maintenance for your vehicle is sure to be a breeze this year!