Motoring … MUST HAVES
DRIVE
LARA WILDE Wilde Drive
Life in the tropics is wonderful . Great beaches , fantastic roads winding along coastlines and through mountains , countless villages offering a selection of local produce and gourmet feasts and for the most part , magic weather all year round .
Of course , as most of the world prepares for snow and the southern parts of Australia prepare themselves for stinking hot days that could make their world catch fire at the slightest provocation , we in the North prepare for the wet season .
Here are some of my best ideas to care for your car this wet season .
Be prepared . I always carry an umbrella , a chamois and a pair of thongs in the car . The umbrella is obvious but make sure you shake off as much water as you can before you pack it away . A chamois is a great option to soak up any water that makes it into your car . And the thongs are so that if I have to leap across puddles to get out , my good heels don ’ t get soaked and slippery . Do not ever drive in your thongs though , they are very dangerous .
Car storage . Do not store your car under a car cover . The cover , especially in the humidity , will sit against the paint and sweat . The sweat will leave tiny little bubbles in your paint work and ruin it . If you absolutely must put a cover on , try to find an inflatable one that sits off the car .
Moisture absorber . If your car is parked for a while ( this may be a pain in a daily driver ) then sit a moisture box in the cab . I always put mine on the driver ’ s side so I won ’ t forget it and drive off sloshing water everywhere . You can buy these and the refillable beads fairly cheaply from most supermarkets and hardware stores . Check on the containers regularly so that when they fill up with water you can refresh them with new beads .
Mould inhibitor . After living in Northern Australia for many years , I have finally found a product that works in the battle against mould . If your car is parked for any length of time it is invaluable . The jar is left in the car and will kill any mould spores before they grow . It even has a pleasant minty smell .
Mothballs . If you are parking your car for more than a week , mice will look at it like it is a 5 star resort . They will chew out wiring and upholstery not to mention leave your car smelling like dirty mice . The best way to keep mice at bay is old school Naphthalene flakes or mothballs . They are sold in convenient little 3 ball hangers . I hang them throughout the car and engine bay , and in my sedans I put one in the boot . The smell is horrible so you probably won ’ t drive off and forget about it but it will keep the mice out .
Let Nature do her thing . On those lovely days when the sun is out and shining bright take advantage . Park out in the yard with all of the windows down or go for a drive in the sun with the windows down and let the fresh air and sunlight blast the mould and mustiness away .
MUST HAVES
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