With spring, finally, here we are ready to get out and enjoy the weather – sunshine beaming through the windows, wind blowing through our hair, and the radio playing our favorite tunes. One thing is inevitable though, those pesky springtime allergies. This week’s blog will give you some tips to help minimize those allergy symptoms and keep you happy and healthy on those road trips you plan to take this summer!  

First things first, it’s important to keep up with regular maintenance – especially when the seasons are changing. This will ensure a smooth, secure and comfortable ride for you along with all your passengers.

‘Tis The De-Clutter Season

Springtime is one of the most popular cleaning seasons – your car should be included in this. Get rid of any trash within your car or items that you don’t need anymore. Vacuum your seats, carpets, and floorboards – this will get rid of dust, dirt, and anything that’s built up over the winter months. Use a cleaner to give your mats a good scrub, floor mats are a breeding ground for mold spores due to moisture from shoes. Invest in plastic floor mats, they are easier to clean and don’t harbor moisture. Dust that dash! Don’t forget about your dashboard – give it a good wipe down with a cleaner and a microfiber cloth. An exterior wash can cut down on pollen that enters your car through air filters.

No One Likes Dirty Filters

Changing air filters is a huge step in ensuring you’re not breathing in pollen, dust, and other irritants while you’re in your vehicle. Your owner’s manual can help you determine when and how often you’ll need to change your air filter. If you can’t determine when you need a new filter, it’s a good idea to change every 12,000 to 15,000 miles. Our service department has all the tools to help you switch out your old filter for a new one that will cut down on irritants. To ensure a better breathing environment for you and your passengers, you can invest in special pollen filters.

Not only is it a good idea to change your filter for breathing purposes but it will ensure your HVAC system stays clean and working properly. Not only do you want to avoid inhaling debris, dust, pollen, or harmful contaminants, a clogged filter can create problems for your system which could be a costly repair. Swap out your air filter as recommended.

Take Precautions

You should never drive with your windows down during peak allergy season. However, irritants, pollen, and dust will find their way into your vehicle one way or another if your windows aren’t properly sealed. Be sure to check for cracks or gaps in your windows or that your weather stripping is still intact on your vehicle. During these times, use your air conditioning but keep it on the recirculation setting to ensure that your system isn’t intaking a lot of air from outside.