Top summer driving tips

This year an estimated seven million Brits will use their cars to transport themselves on their annual summer holiday, and two million of those people will be taking them abroad.

"A lot of people don't realise that extended periods of intense heat and high levels of the sun's harmful UV light can do more damage to a car than freezing weather conditions, Joe Woodhouse from Scuffs 'N' Scratches warns ”The best thing to do before a summer holiday is to check your car is in good working order and ready for the long drive.”

There can be a lot to remember, so we’ve put together some top tips to help you stay safe on holiday this summer;

1.    Get your car ready– Make sure your car is ready for long journeys; get European breakdown cover, ensure your insurance covers you sufficiently, check your water, oil, tyres, engine, windscreen wipers and paintwork before you go. It’s normally best to get a service so you can be sure your car is in working order.

2.    Get yourself ready– You need to ensure you’re prepared for a long drive. The usual sensible driving rules apply; don’t drive when tired and make sure you have properly mapped out your journey before you leave. It’s also beneficial to keep a travel box with you, including blankets, water, snacks, sunglasses and a first aid kit.

3.    If you are driving abroad, familiarise yourself with local driving regulations– For example, did you know that in Spain, if you wear glasses for driving, you must carry a spare pair in your car at all times? And in France, police impose on the spot fines for speeding, sometimes only payable by the exact cash amount? It’s well worth reading up on the country you’re visiting.

4.    Keep the kids entertained– One of the biggest causes of accidents during the summer, is people being distracted whilst driving. If the children are bored and whingey, they are more likely to distract you from the road. Make sure you include some books (including audio books), music and films to keep them busy during the trip.

5.    Do the same when you get back– Too many people do all of the necessary checks before they go away – but not when they return home. Ensure you recheck everything from tyres to paintwork as long trips can mean a lot of wear and tear on your car.

Call in the experts from Scuffs 'N' Scratches Car Body Repairs Liverpool  to make sure your car is ready for the summer sun and tick one more thing off your checklist.  We can make sure your car is in tip top condition from alloy wheel repairs, dent repairs, paint repairs, car paintwork repairs.

Call Joe 0151 909 3456 to check your car body needs today!

How to Repair Car Leather Seats

Leather car seats can sometime crack due to improper care. Leather needs to remain moist so that it does not dry out and form small cracks in your car’s interior. If this has happened to you, do not worry. Repairing a crack or split in your leather seats is easy and economical. You should repair this damage right away so that it does not get worse over time.

1.   Fill a small bucket with clean, warm water until it is about half way full. Add about half a teaspoon of dish soap to the water and mix thoroughly so that the soap is thoroughly combined with the water and the top has suds on it.

2.   Clean your leather seats using this cleaning mixture and a scrub brush. You should clean the entire seat that has the damage on it, ensuring that you get into all of the cracks and crevices to remove any trapped dirt or debris.

3.   Dry the leather seat thoroughly using a clean, dry lint-free cloth such as a terry cloth towel. Dry in all the seams' cracks and crevices thoroughly to ensure that all moisture is removed completely.

4.   Apply rubbing alcohol to the surface of your leather seats to remove any grease or grime that may remain after cleaning and drying. Be sure that you dry the alcohol immediately after applying to your leather seats' surface.

5.   Use a fine grit sandpaper to sand down the area where you leather car seats are damaged or cracked. You want to continue sanding until the area is smooth with the surface of the seat.

6.   Apply a leather sealer to the area that is damaged, you can purchase a leather sealing product from your local auto repair store. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for proper application techniques.

7.   Allow the leather sealer to dry thoroughly before moving on to the next step.

8.   Use masking tape to tape off the rest of the area of the seat so that the touch-up paint is not allowed to spread to other areas of your seats.

9.   Purchase a leather dye that matches the color of your leather seats from your local auto parts store. Be sure to choose a color that matches the color of your leather so that you will not be able to tell were the repairs where made.

10.    Apply the leather dye in a thin layer to the affected areas of your leather interior.

11.    Use a blow dryer to dry the leather sealer and dye until it is smooth and dry to the touch.

12.    Apply a second coat of the leather dye using the same application methods, and dry with a blow dryer until the area is completely dry to the touch.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE TIME, LET US HELP YOU WITH YOUR LEATHER SEAT  REPAIR

CALL JOE AT SCUFFS 'N' SCRATCHES LTD 60-61 LOVE LANE, LIVERPOOL, L3 7DD

0151 493 2600 OR 07802348096 or visit www.scuffsnscratches.co.uk

FOR HONEST, PROFESSIONAL & RELIABLE SERVICE SINCE 1996