With summer around the corner, chances are you are taking a road trip or two with the family sometime soon. Before hitting the road you will want to make sure that you know how to save the most money on gas. Here are a few easy ways:

1)  Change/optimize your driving habits.  Accelerate slowly; do not speed, the closer you are to 60 mph the more efficient your car will generally run.  When you know you are going to come to a stop soon….coast down in speed…do not accelerate so you then need to hit the brakes hard.

2)  Inflate tires properly. Tires lose pressure over time, and underinflated tires burn up the gas. Keeping tires inflated to the car manufacturer’s recommendations will make a gallon of gas go farther, but it makes tires last longer and improves safety, especially for SUVs and trucks.

3)  Keep you air filter clean.

4)  Do not have unnecessary weight in your car.  The bowling ball and 100 pound bag of kitty litter you have in your trunk…take it out…it burns fuel to tow it around.

5)  Use synthetic oil instead of conventional.  Synthetic oil is said to improve gas mileage up to 2% but…the problem is Synthetic costs much more than conventional oil and the saved gas mileage would not make up the cost difference.

6)  Combine errands…instead of several short trips…try to wait and do everything in one longer trip.

7)  Maintain your car properly.  A good running car is a more fuel efficient car.

8)  Consider a Gas Credit card…can get up to 5% back on gasoline purchases.

Hopefully these tips will help you save money on your next big trip. If you are interested in having your car cleaned  before hitting the road, stop by Towne Lakes Car Wash and Detail in Woodstock, GA and we will get you all cleaned up before hitting the road.

image from flickr

Depending on the kinds of roads you drive on and how fast your drive your car, you will need a car wash pretty regularly. A dirty car can increase the speed at which you paint begins to scrape off. Plus, a clean car makes a good impression on the people you are around. Don’t even think of showing up for an interview with a dirty car, this might mean you are a messy person in general.

 A lot can depend on how often you do get your car washed. Factors such as rain, wind and sunlight affect the speed at which dirt builds up onto the surface of your car. Hot weather with little rain is the worst combination. Average climates result in a car washabout  twice a month, or every two weeks.

 This is pretty reasonable being that Towne Lake’s Car Wash and Detail in Woodstock, GA offers different services at all price points. Just swing you car on by and we will have it out shining and ready to go in no time at all. For more information contact us today.

image from flickr

My name is Ryan West. I grew up in Seattle, Washington and moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1996 and have lived here since. I have been working in the car wash industry since I was 16 years old.

After graduating from Pope High School in 2002, I was offered a management position at a local car wash in Marietta. I continued managing car washes to help me pay my way through college. I have managed multiple car washes and have over 10 years of experience in this industry. Both the interaction with customers and the overall atmosphere at Towne Lake Car Wash are what truly make me enjoy my job.

 As you all may have noticed, each week Towne Lake’s Carwash and Detail features a new car care blog, which gives you a little insight into all things automotive. This week we are going to go back and highlight some of our favorite carwash blogs about keeping your car clean in the summer.

How To Keep Pollen Off Your Car – Springtime in Atlanta is a great time year after year. One of the down falls however is the blanket of pollen that begins to cover the surface of your car. For those of you with black cars, you definitely hate this time of year.

The Importance of Washing Your Car in the Summer – Washing your car in the summer is equally as important as it is to wash year round. Investing in a car is a huge reason why you should want to take care of it. The price of a car is not small, and marinating a proper carwash regimen is the number one way to get the greatest number of years out of your car.

Convertible Top Care for your car – Are you wanting a good quality carwash but worried about your convertible top? The crew at Towne Lake Carwash and Detail will be sure to give you the best service in cleaning your convertible rather it be hardtop or soft-top.

For a full service car wash and detailing in your area, come see us at Towne Lake Carwash and Detail in Woodstock, GA.

image from flickr

We’re starting up a new tradition around the carwash over the next few weeks just to say thanks to all of our loyal fans.  If you visited our Facebook Page this past Thursday, you probably saw the post announcing our Free Carwash Thursday.

As mentioned, we wanted to find a way to reward our loyal customers.  Allowing you all the chance to win a $25 gift certificate because you were gracious enough to follow us online seemed appropriate.

There are a few different ways you can win a gift certificate to the carwash on Thursdays.

• Wait for us to make the “Free Carwash Thursday” announcement on Facebook
• Like the post (not just our page) referring to the giveaway so we can include you on the random drawing.
• Comments on the post are equal to Likes… It’s just another way to show some love.
• Sharing the post will also qualify you for the giveaway as well.

We hope that you have fun with the contest.  The great thing about a $25 gift card is that you can either spread it out over a few visits to Towne Lake’s Carwash and Detail, or you can use it all at once.

For those of you who want to get a leg up on other offers, make sure you use your smartphone to check-in with either Facebook or Foursquare.  We have something in the works for you tech savvy customers as well!

Related articles

• Meet Chris from Towne Lake’s Carwash and Detail(townelakescarwashanddetail.com)

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• Spring Cleaning for Your Car(townelakescarwashanddetail.com)

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• Convertible Top Care for your Car(townelakescarwashanddetail.com)

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Now that bulk of the pollen in Woodstock, Georgia has floated away, it’s a great time to prep your car for the next few months ahead with a little spring cleaning.  Washing away the pollen remnants from the exterior of your car is not the only thing that you can do to spruce things up.

If you’re like me, you probably rolled down your windows at the first sign of warm weather (even if it was in the low 60′s) and the pollen and dust made its way inside your car as well.  The pollen can make its way into every little crease of your upholstery, on your dashboard, and inside your carpet as well.   As if your car wasn’t taking a beating already, the spring and summer months in the south also bring thunderstorms and brutal sunshine.  In other words, your car’s upholstery and paint job are in for a rough few months.

In order for you to clean up what has already accumulated and prepare your car for what’s to come, a full service car detail might be the right answer for your vehicle.  A mini detail job will do the trick for most car owners trying to wash away the spring, and prepare for the summer.  This includes our super interior package, a carpet cleaning, and a wax job. Waxing your car is important for maintaining your finish, especially when it comes to road debris that comes from rainy weather, and protecting your car’s exterior from damaging UV rays.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a mini detail at Towne Lake’s Carwash & Detail in Woodstock, GA, please contact us and we will be happy to help.

Related articles

• How to Keep Pollen Off Your Car (townelakescarwashanddetail.com)

Hi.  My name is Chris Williams.  I was born in Mobile, Alabama January 11th 1984.  I grew up in the East Cobb area and moved to Woodstock in 1987 when I was 13 years old.

I graduated from Woodstock High School and continued my post high school education at Kennesaw State University, where I graduated with my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management in 2011.

I started working in the carwash business ten years ago, right here in Woodstock, GA, and became involved  in a management capacity three years ago.  My love for cars is what really got me interested in working in the industry and would love to own, one day.

My personal time is spent enjoying time with my daughter and family, and riding motorcycles when I get the chance.

One of many people’s least favorite aspects of spring (especially the allergy sufferers) is the pollen. Every year, Atlanta and its surrounding suburbs get a nice greenish-yellow blanket of dust. Unfortunately, you can’t eliminate pollen from landing on your car, unless you keep it locked away in a garage, so at some point, you’re going to have some of the green stuff on your vehicle.

A Good Car Wax

pollen (Photo credit: shouldbhappy)

Waxing your car will actually help keep the pollen from sticking to your car as easily. Pollen may not look abrasive, but wiping it off the car or even leaning on a pollen-coated fender can cause scratches. The best bet is to start with a freshly washed car, and apply a good coat of wax. Then, you can just rinse the pollen off weekly, or more often if you like. And by keeping it off the outside, less is likely to end up inside where it can coat the interior of your vehicle.

Keep your Windows Closed – For Now

As much as you want to enjoy the beautiful spring temperatures that come along with the pollen, keeping your car windows closed, whether you’re in it or its parked, will help keep the green stuff on the outside, especially in the early morning from 5:00am to 10:00am. Those are prime times for pollen. Also, set your air conditioner to recirculate when possible instead of bringing in air from outside.

In a couple of weeks the Atlanta pollen shower should subside, letting people once again enjoy their convertible tops and windows. And remember, if your car needs a good cleaning or coat of wax, stop on by Towne Lake’s Carwash and Detail in Woodstock, GA or give us a call and we’ll shine it up and have you ready to cruise in no time.

Related articles

• Pollen Counts Are Off The Charts — And Spreading Allergy Misery (huffingtonpost.com)
• Atlanta weather | Pollen count drops, rain likely on the way (ajc.com)

Alfa Roméo 8C Spider - Mondial de l'automobile 2008 Paris (Photo credit: Gregory Palmer)

Other than washing your car and a full detail every now and then, garaging or covering your car can do wonders in terms of keeping it safe from the elements.  Weather, including sun damage, can be prevented with the proper care that comes from a car cover or private garage.  If you do not have a private garage to park your car when it is not in use, you may want to consider investing in a car cover.

The sun, acid in the rain, wind blowing debris, and other elements can damage the finish on your car.  A car cover can protect your vehicle from all of these things.  Car covers are a relatively inexpensive way to protect your vehicle.  It makes practical sense to protect your investment, whether you plan on driving it until the wheels fall off or if you are a car collector.

For more information about keeping your car safe from the elements, visit Towne Lake’s Carwash & Detail in Woodstock, GA.  We can offer a few different suggestions for you.

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• 5 Tips to Extend the Life of Your Car (townelakescarwashanddetail.com)
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Towne Lake’s Carwash & Detail Teams up with PINK Heals Again!

A few months ago, back in 2011, Towne Lake’s Carwash & Detail teamed up with PINK Heals (Guardians of the Ribbon) to help raise awareness and raise funds to fight cancer.

Guardians of the Ribbon is an organization that supports women in their fight against cancer and inspire men to support the women of their community.  The Guardians of the Ribbon include firefighters, police officers, and community leaders.

If you made it out to the carwash last time, you may have noticed the pink firetruck, named “Gigi.”  The pink fire engine will be back out in front of the carwash, along with cancer awareness items for sale.

For every car washed at Towne Lake’s Carwash & Detail, a percentage of the money will be donated to The Guardians of the Ribbon.  We had an amazing turn out in October, and we would love to help this group again.

Come out on March 23rd & 24th to help us wash out cancer.

Details:

Friday & Saturday, March 23rd & 24th from 10am to 5pm at Towne Lake’s Carwash & Detail.

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