I once had a colleague who treated his car better than he treated himself. “I’m a slave to my car”, he confessed. He was not exaggerating. He would spend his lunch break dusting and wiping down his car, swearing that he would break the fingers of those who left fingerprints on his windows. Grooming his car was an eight-hour process. I kid you not.
His vehicle interior was immaculate, to say the least. The first time I rode in his car, I even asked him if I had to put my shoes in a plastic bag before I even got in. I had a feeling this was something his wife had to do.
Now, few people would go to such extremes for their pride and joy. Most of us treat our cars like an extension of our closets, placing extra shoes, shirts and jackets in the cabin. The boot functions as a storage locker of sorts. After all, keeping your sports equipment in the boot means you’ll never have to worry about forgetting to bring your tennis rackets or golf clubs.
However, leaving all this clutter in your car is not only unsightly – clutter also adds weight and could potentially attract pests.
A car’s power-to-weight ratio affects its performance and fuel consumption. More weight slows you down and increases the engine’s thirst for unleaded.
If you’re willing to leave stuff lying around in your car, there’s a high chance you’ll be okay with leaving empty food containers inside as well. Once that happens, ants and cockroaches will make your vehicle their new home.
A dirty exterior is one thing, but a messy interior should be a no-no. If there’s one car tip you should follow (apart from servicing your vehicle regularly), it should be decluttering your car on a regular basis.
You’ll enjoy a nicer, pest-free drive. And if you’re still single, a clean interior is a sure way to impress your date.
