Day Forty-Two. Car Care.

Early in 2011, a big (for Atlanta) snow storm hit the city and stranded us in our house for three days. On the fourth day, I attempted to drive the forty miles up I-85 to work, and wrecked my lovely 2000 Honda Accord. I was trying to change lanes to get away from the snow and ice packed on the highway and instead spiraled out of control, turning one way to face oncoming traffic then back around full circle, my back passenger wheel crashing into the median. It was probably my lack of skill at driving in such conditions that caused me to total my car. I was completely fine, apart from the embarrassment of not knowing how to drive that hung over me like a raincloud.

So, for the first time ever, I went shopping for a new (to me) car. I finally settled on a cute red 2007 Honda Civic that an old friend of my dad had for sale at his dealership a hundred miles away. I love it. The color probably wouldn’t be my first choice, but it is very much a “Laura” car. And on Day Forty-Two, for the first time, I properly cleaned it.

The car (I named her Lucy, but sort of forgot about that until writing this) was not in super pristine condition when I purchased it. It ran well and everything, but the interior cleaning job was lacking. And the car smelled funny when the AC or heater was on. This, I found out was due to a disgustingly unclean air filter behind the glove compartment that had probably never been changed. So I got an oil change, new filter, and stopped off to purchase some generic floor mats that did not come included with the vehicle purchase.

Then I took Lucy to the new car wash down the street from my house. I didn’t skimp; I got the $14 automatic rub down instead of the one for five. I’m still not sure what the difference would actually be, but the tires did look nice. Then I thoroughly vacuumed her, and attempted to install the floor mats. They didn’t fit. So that was a bust, but I vowed to try again soon.

I shined the interior surfaces and sprayed some febreeze, and the car was good as new. Better even. So until the pollen coats everything again, I have the cleanest car on my street!