USING THE RIGHT CLOTH
FOR CAR AND HOME
MICROFIBER CLOTHS are one of the wonders
of modern science. Because of their composition, they can clean and polish at the same
time and purportedly hold seven times their
weight in water.
Making microfiber cloth into a mitt makes it
even more versatile. The filaments trap dirt and
dust and keep them from just being pushed
around or floating about in the air.
In the home, microfiber cloths and mitts are
perfect for dusting and cleaning any surface,
such as kitchen countertops and cabinets,
wood furnishings, plants, glass tabletops,
granite counters and windows. They are the
perfect answer for wiping down window blinds.
You can also use them to clean electronic gear,
such as DVD players, computers, scanners, etc.
Be sure the cloth is totally free of dust particles
if you use it on CRT or LCD monitors. The mitts
or cloths can also clean CDs and DVDs.
Microfiber cloths also come in handy when
washing or detailing a car—use them for
dusting inside the car, for low-lint,
streak-free cleaning of windshields
and mirrors, and for wiping down
the exterior after washing.
To wash microfiber cloths or mitts,
simply wash with soap or detergent and
rinse well. Do not use fabric softeners,
which can damage the absorbency.
Then machine- or air-dry. A
CHAMOIS FOR THE
PERFECT FINISH
CHAMOIS IS A FINE leather made from
sheepskin that achieves its smooth quality
through a special tanning process. It’s so
scratch-free and absorbent that it’s used to
clean and dry the finest camera lenses and
observatory lenses. Use these steps to get
the same results on your vehicle.
• To use chamois, wet it first, then wring
it out.
• Pull the chamois across the surface, first
in a sweeping motion and then, after most
of the water is absorbed, in a smaller
circular motion. Chamois is absorbent,
so you don’t need to press firmly.
• When finished, rinse the chamois in
clean water, firmly wring it out and allow
it to dry out of direct sunlight.
• Never store chamois wet.
Take these easy steps and your chamois will
give you countless successful applications. A
HELPFUL HOW TO’S
PROPER TIRE INFLATION
CAN SAVE GAS
WITH GASOLINE PRICES severely affecting
every budget, finding ways to improve a
vehicle’s gas mileage is imperative. Factors
such as rapid acceleration, excessive idling and
driving over the speed limit get lots of attention,
but one issue is rarely addressed: tires.
Tires are a significant factor in vehicle fuel
consumption, and people often fail to recognize
that. A tire loses 1 pound of pressure per month.
If you’re not checking air pressure and adding
air to get back to the proper pounds per
square inch (psi), it affects rolling resistance.
Rolling resistance is the force present from the
instant the wheels begin to turn. It decreases
with increased tire pressure, so an underinflated tire adversely affects fuel economy and
accounts for one-fifth of all energy used by a
vehicle. Stated another way, one tank of gas
out of five is for the tires.
Underinflated tires can lower gas mileage by
0.2 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure
of all four tires. If all passenger-car tires were
properly inflated, 2 percent of fuel would be
saved. Considering the number of drivers on
the road, that’s a substantial savings of a
valuable resource. A
