Followed by getting out of debt and losing weight, quitting smoking is the third most popular New Year’s resolution.

According to a non-scientific survey of Fresh Start Detail clients, the number one area to have that fateful, resolution-breaking cigarette is in their car. Why? Most smokers agree it is because no one is around to hold them accountable.

Making a big announcement to friends and family will help smokers resist nicotine urges, but those urges can grow quite strong with each passing hour and day after quitting. Many smokers struggling to quit will justify just one cigarette to “take the edge off.” Sadly that first cigarette often leads to another and eventually results in a failed attempt at kicking the habit.

According to behavioral specialists one important part of stopping an addictive habit like smoking is to change your activity and surroundings that may support that habit. For example, someone giving up alcohol wouldn’t continue to go to bars where the temptation is high – sights, sounds, and smells will only feed the urge. Similarly, a quitting smoker should remove themselves from situations where they know ahead of time that they may be tempted or even encouraged to smoke.

Specialists recommend removing all evidence of the smoking habit like all cigarettes, lighters, matches, and ashtrays, as well as laundering clothes to remove the scent of the nicotine. Thoroughly detailing the inside of the car and removing all the cigarette odor will also go a long ways to discourage smokers from lighting up again.

Phoenix Pet Care

If you’re traveling this holiday season and need a great person to house-sit and/or pet sit, you need to know Janna Piper of Phoenix Pet Care.

Phoenix Pet Care is a full service house sitting & pet sitting business that also offers dog walking & pet taxi.

Janna has over 15 years experience caring for pets including exotic (e.g. sugar gliders), elderly, and those with special needs (including diabetes, renal failure, food allergies, & more).  Janna is an animal lover and has had and cared for pets throughout her life. In many ways, she believes she relates more to animals than humans, their happiness is her utmost concern.

House sitting services include anything you require to keep your home up while you’re away (e.g. watering, mail, etc.). Pet sitting services are all inclusive (e.g. house sitting, watering, bringing in the mail, administering medication, etc.). Feel free to call me anytime while you’re gone to check on how we’re doing.

Please see Janna’s web site for current house and pet sitting rates, and a map of her service area.

Contact Janna Piper

info@phoenixpetcare.net

(503) 756-6822

PhoenixPetCare.net

Wondering what to give that special someone for Christmas?

A car detailing package is the perfect gift for friends, employees, co-workers, family members, and even as a charitable donation. Whether it’s a holiday gift, or any other occasion, auto detailing always fits and will be something the recipient is sure to enjoy, whether they’re a car nut or not.

Think about it. It gives them a new car feel, and they can use it later in the year if they want to. And, think about charities that would benefit from an auto detailing package – these are places that are busy doing for others, especially if they’re doing meal delivery or transporting the users of their service.

How many of your gifts promptly found their place in the closet corner or deep in a drawer?

It will never happen with an auto detailing gift certificate! Car detailing is a gift that tells others you care about them and you’ll feel good knowing it’s a gift that gives for months and months. All car owners spend on average an hour in their vehicles every day. Who wouldn’t want a crisp clean car?

If that’s not enough, here are more reasons why a Fresh Start Detail Gift Certificate is a great choice”

• Makes a great passive-aggressive gift for your dirty spouse.
• Help out mom – after all, she hauls around your french-fry-eaters all day.
• A great holiday surprise (if you don’t land in jail) – Swipe your spouse’s car for a well deserved deep cleaning, then apologize pathetically to the police after it’s reported stolen, stop on your way home to grab a giant bow, place it on top of their now shiny ride, claim it’s a brand new car that somehow has the exact same mileage and regrettable collection of CDs.
• The gift that gives back to you… Admit it, you face borderline fatal gross-out mode by your spouse’s car interior, get them the help they need from our professionally trained detailing samurais.

Odds are, if you asked your car where it would most like to be these days, it wouldn’t say, “Portland in the winter time.” And can you blame it, what with the cold, sleet, snow, and other winter nasties?

Winter will take a toll on your car, truck or SUV – inside and out. Cold temperatures make it harder for an engine to work properly. Snow and ice limit traction. Rain creates mud that gets tracked into the car. Potholes damage wheels and tires. Salt causes rust and gravel pits the paint. I can go on…

But there’s no need to fret, if you take the right steps to make sure your car is ready for the winter months.

Waxing – Invest in a professional wash and wax job. Doing it yourself may help some, but let the pros do the job. When washing it yourself, using household cleaners and even some store bought car cleaners will yield a result that’s less than ideal. Getting wax in and out of the nooks and crannies, and waxing in places non-pros often don’t consider will make a huge impact. This step is one of your primary lines of defense, so don’t go cheap or quick with it.

Headlight Check – Take a good look at your headlights. Are they aligned? Is one dimmer than the other? If you need to replace bulbs, do them as a set – same with restoring the headlight covers. Are the headlight covers faded? Driving with yellowed or faded headlights can be an extreme hazard as the darkness falls earlier in the day. If they are yellowed or faded, you should consider headlight restoration service.

Stop Stains Before They Happen – With the rain comes mud. And with your shoes, that mud gets into the car and can cause both water and mud stains in your car’s carpeting or upholstery. Get a pre-season treatment to prevent those stains before they happen.

Snow Tires and Chains – The condition of your car’s tires is critical during the winter. If the tires are worn, or they are high performance tires, braking, acceleration and handling are all negatively impacted while driving on slippery roads. Make sure you’ve got enough tread to be able to handle wet and icy conditions. And put a set of chains in the car – you never know when you’ll need them, especially if you’re a snow bunny.

Tire Pressure – It is critical to have properly inflated tires, as this guarantees the best possible contact between the tire and the road. A properly inflated tire will also help protect against wheel damage that might occur as the vehicle is driven over potholes. Read your owner’s manual to find the correct tire pressures.

Check your 4WD – Portland is an SUV mecca. If you’re an SUV owner, make sure the system engages and disengages smoothly, and that there are no strange noises coming from the drivetrain. Make sure that the transmission and gear oil levels are correct. Your owner’s manual will state at what speeds and environments the 4WD can be activated.

Belts & Hoses – Inspect belts and hoses – cold weather can be a killer on them, especially if they’re close to needing replacement.

New Wiper Blades and Fluid – Replace your blades if it’s been more then a couple months since you last replaced them, and make sure you’ve got a full supply of wiper fluid.

Battery Check – Cold temperatures can reduce a vehicle’s battery power by up to 50 percent. If your vehicle battery is older than three years, have it tested at a certified automotive repair facility. Also, make sure the posts and connections are free of corrosion. This is especially important if you park outside.

Anti-Freeze – The ideal mixture of antifreeze (coolant) and water inside your vehicle’s radiator is 50:50. If the mixture deviates from this norm, then hot- and cold-weather performance can be compromised. You can check the radiator’s mixture by using an antifreeze tester, which can be purchased at all auto parts stores. If the mixture is off, adjust it by adding either coolant or water.

Gear Up for Emergencies – Make sure you’ve got an emergency kit in the trunk. Things you might want to consider carrying:

The 2011 Holiday Ale Festival welcomes you and is one of our favorite events of the year!

Faith Heating & Air Conditioning

Faith Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. was established in April 1999 as a full service Heating & Air Conditioning sales and service company. Service is the key element of our company. We maintain fully equiped vans to provide on site service whenever and wherever it is required. Our company specializing in designing and installing complete systems for owners of existing homes and buildings just like you. We are dedicated to delivering you the best. We take our responsibility very seriouly when you place your trust in us. We pledge to always tell you upfront what your cost will be to complete your job correctly.

Faith Heating & Air skilled technicians have the required personnel, training, expertise, and instrumentation to provide the followingbuilding services:

• Air Distribution
• Sound & Vibration Testing
• Verification of Control System
• Duct Cleaning
• Routine Maintenance
• Fuel Piping
• HVAC System Installation
• HVAC System Inspection
• Seasonal Promotions

Portland Metro East
Ph: (503) 356-8686

Portland Metro West
Ph: (503) 645-9988

info@faithheating.com

Has It Rained Inside Lately?

How To Handle Interior Water Damage

“Holy soggy seats Batman!”

OK, that’s probably the sanitized version of what comes out of your mouth when you go out to the driveway the morning after that dark and rainy night and see the car windows wide open. You think, “Well, maybe it’s not that bad. I’ll just sop things up with my trusty ol’ Sham-wow.” Then you stick your head in the cabin of the car and get the dry heaves as last night’s chili quickly tries to add to the mess and stench. The musty, moldy odor is simply revolting.

Dealing with interior water damage is something that you can deal with yourself, but as we’ll illustrate below, is probably a job (a huge one) that’s best left to your friendly neighborhood auto detailing shop. If you’re super ambitious, have a workbench stocked with all of the tools anyone can ever hope for, and have a ton of spare time, here are the steps you’ll need to take if you’ve got an interior water damage problem.

Stopping the Stench

First, yes, sop up whatever visible water you can. But understand that by the time you’ve stumbled onto the scene, there’s water much deeper than you’ll be able to get to with a towel – or that sham-wow. The odor you’re smelling is due to mold and mildew caused by the water. Febreeze won’t do the job.

Extract and Clean

As mentioned, the water will have soaked deeply into the fabric, carpet and seat cushions. This is something the sopping simply can’t resolve. You’ll need to remove the seats and carpeting from the car… yes, we said “remove” them. After you’ve got those things out of the car, you’ll need to rent a water extractor. A shop vac will only be a half-measure. This step isn’t recommended for anyone who’s never done this type of thing – removing the seats and carpet – and if not done with the right tools can cause more harm than good.

Dealing with Mold and Mildew

When dealing with mold, always use a mask and rubber gloves. Use a mildew remover or vinegar to wipe down the seats. You’ll need to turn them upside down to dry thoroughly, and bring into house (or someplace warmer than the garage) if you can so that they dry quickly in a warm room. Let dry thoroughly and paint the bolts to prevent rust.

Of course, if the seats were too wet, you may be fighting a losing battle and need to just buy new ones. Check on eBay or with your auto dealer. You might also consider having the seats and interior reupholstered. You can buy new carpeting through an online source, or at the local dealer.

Lingering Odors

After all of this and before re-installing, check to see if the odor is lingering. You may need to hit things again with a second mildew treatment.

Before Reinstalling

Before reinstalling the seats and carpet make sure the flooring of the car is not rusting. Only when you’re sure you’ve got all the water and moisture removed should you reinstall.

The Path of Least Resistance and Cost

So, there it is. Pretty easy… OK, not so much. This is why auto detailers do what we do. By the time you add all of the solvents, equipment, tools, rentals, not to mention the hours you’ll need to commit to this project, the cost of letting us handle it far outweighs the cost of doing it yourself. And, you’ll have the peace of mind that things were done professionally. Depending on the extent of the damage, you may need to leave your car overnight. Not a problem with Fresh Start as we can line you up with a loaner vehicle.

This fall and winter, things’ll happen. If you go out to your car and have a “Holy soggy seats Batman!” moment, save yourself a lot of time, money and headaches and call Fresh Start Detail and we’ll get you dried out the right way.

That ol’ car has been good to you. It’s taken you all over the place and never complained. rain or shine. But, as with all things, there comes a season… After you’ve wiped the tears from your face and pulled yourself together, and fallen in love with your next car, make sure that trusty old steed will get you the highest possible price from its next owner.

According to Kelly Blue Book, a properly cleaned car will increase the resale price by $300 to $500, and the value of a mid-range vehicle can capture up to $2,000 if made ready for sale with a full cleaning and taking care of minor repairs (according to The Car Care Council). Here are tips to help your car’s resale value go up…

Put on the Shine

Invest in a professional wash and wax job. Doing it yourself may help some, but let the pros do the job. When washing it yourself, using household cleaners and even some store bought car cleaners will yield a result that’s less than ideal. Getting wax in and out of the nooks and crannies, and waxing in places non-pros often don’t consider will make a huge impact. If your paint’s faded, this won’t bring it back, but detailing technicians are trained to wax a vehicle to get it about as close as possible, so the buyer won’t notice just how faded your paint has become.

Clear Lights

If your headlights have become worn and dingy, your detailing pro can restore them to like new. There are some over the counter products that do a decent job, which would be acceptable for a car you’re keeping. But for resale, trust it to a professional detailer.

Nice Rims…

Cleaning wheels can be pretty time consuming and with all the road grunge wheel covers collect (and hide) you’ve got to really work at getting all of that residue cleaned away. Auto detailers know how to get into all of the dirt removed, both visible and hiding in the rims, as well as shining those sidewalls that make the wheel covers really pop.

The Human Stain

The interior of a vehicle is like a “well lived in” home or apartment. It carries the “human stain.” That is, when you clean your vehicle yourself, there’s likely a lot that you don’t see because it’s your vehicle. For the buyer, it’s like looking at a new home or apartment. They’ll see everything… and we mean everything. Every stain, nick, tear, whatever. Auto detailers are called “detailers” for a reason.

We see all the details – and we’ve got the professional tools and skills to get that “human stain” removed. Of course, when there are big tears or stains that have been left to set for years, there may be nothing we can do to totally repair or remove them. But for the most part, a professional detailer will be able to restore your interiors to a point where they’ll feel like new.

Scratches and Dings

Don’t be snookered by those miracle products you see on TV that claim they’ll remove a scratch. The only real solution is having a professional handle the removal of scratches. Anything else may lead to greater damage. And if the car has small dents and dings, get those repaired, as well. Remember, just as mentioned above, that buyer sees everything. Getting even small scratches repaired will pay for themselves.

Aside From Cosmetics

If you’re getting ready to sell, put a small binder together with the maintenance history of the car. Include receipts and repair records here. This will offer proof positive to the buyer that you’ve cared for the car well, so they can be confident that they’re getting a good deal. Also get a CarFax report and include that with the car – this will show the ownership history.

On the mechanical side, be sure to replace all burned out bulbs and have any other issues corrected by your mechanic.

Letting go of a good car isn’t easy. Be sure to make sure you give it a good home with a new owner that’ll be as thrilled with it as you’ve been. Then, when you pass the keys over, give it one last pat and watch it ride into the sunset… with a good bit more cash in your pocket that you would have gotten if you’d not prepared it for sale.

Ringo’s Bar & Grill is all about good beer, delicious food, fun games, and great people. Yes Ringo’s serve bar food – but this is no ordinary bar food – let’s call it Bar Food Deluxe. Their cheeseburgers haven’t been dubbed “Simply the Best” for nothing – they never use frozen ground beef, it’s always fresh and it’s always the good stuff. Pool tables, plenty of big screens, an awesome juke box – basically a beer lover’s heaven. Beer isn’t your drink of choice? Not to worry, Ringo’s has got you covered with a full bar and lots of drink specials to keep your taste buds happy. Started back in 1982, Joe Ringo took a tough biker bar (seriously!) located in a windowless warehouse in Beaverton, changed the name to Ringo’s Tavern, and transformed it into an inviting hangout. Now run by his two sons, Scott and Jason, Ringo’s Bar and Grill is the most welcoming and fun bar in Beaverton.

As the Summer draws to a close, the air gets a little more crisp. The colors of the trees begin to turn… and football season begins!

There’s nothing like pulling that RV into the stadium parking lot, firing up the grill and enjoying the camaraderie (and rivalries) that make going to the big game so much fun. And maybe, you’re even going along with the team on one or more of their road games. Either way, the wear and tear on an RV throughout an entire tailgating season can be similar to the impact that a 5’6” tailback takes when he’s hit by a 350 pound nose tackle. It’s not pretty!

Getting your RV detailed before the tailgating season will ensure that you’re offering your friends, family and yes – even some rivals – a clean and tidy place to enjoy the pre-game festivities. And after the season, don’t forget to bring it in for a post-season detailing as well. Leaving the nasties that find their way into the interior of your RV and the road grime you’ve picked up during the season will be cleaned away before you put the rig into winter storage. So next Spring when you open it up it doesn’t look and smell like a 3 month old can of open chili.

Give us a call today to schedule your RV detailing so you go into the season in style!