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It has felt like a long winter but there are finally signs that summer is on its way. That can conjure up images of road trips, days at the beach and great adventures, so it is important to make sure that your car is as ready for them as you are. Here, we’ve put together the must-have list of car essentials that will help to make your summer perfect.
There is nothing worse than being stuck in a stuffy car on a hot day, especially when you are not able to open the windows. That is why it is important to get your air conditioning system checked and re-gassed if necessary to help keep your car cool and comfortable no matter what the temperature reaches outside.
A day trip or a holiday usually means that you will be piling the boot of your car high with bags, toys and equipment that can slide around all over the place, causing damage to your belongings and your car. Laying an anti-slip mat in the boot can help to tackle this problem as it can protect your boot and your things and is easily washable too.
Sun shades are a great way to protect your car from the direct rays of the sun. While you are travelling, they can be useful for shading small children or even your pets and keeping them comfortable in the back of the car. They can even be handy when you are not on the move, as they can keep the sun out of the car when you are parked, ensuring it is not too stifling when you return to it.
Often, a day out in the summer might involve the beach, a walk through the woods or exploring the countryside, and it is great to take your dog along with you. Putting a specially made bed into your car ensures a better journey for everyone. These padded beds help to keep your dog comfortable in the car, and it can help to protect the interior of the vehicle from scratches, muddy paws and little accidents.
Going on an adventure can be terrific fun, but you don’t want half of that time to be spent aimlessly driving down never-ending roads and arguing about which direction to take. Make sure that you have a sat nav on hand and fully updated to keep your journey time to a minimum and reduce the arguments so that you can spend more time enjoying yourself.
When you are in and out of the car doing different things, you will bring a lot of dirt, debris and moisture in with you. Whether you are covered in sand, muddy from hiking or soaked through thanks to the good old British weather, you are likely to drag all of it into the car.
This can lead to a build up of things like mould, mildew, dirt and some pretty horrible smells if you are not careful. Investing in some good quality car mats can help to protect the carpets in your car from all of this mess, and they are easy to remove and wash when you need to, ensuring that your car stays fresh and clean throughout the summer.
We all know someone who falls asleep in the car before you have even left your own driveway. Sometimes, trips during the summer can be long, and there are likely to be a few naps along the way. Having some travel pillows in the car can make that little snooze much more comfortable, and leave passengers refreshed and ready to take their turn at the wheel.
Adventures are all good fun until someone hurts themselves, so it is a good idea to have a first aid kit on hand to deal with all those little mishaps. Make sure there are plasters, bandages and antiseptic cream for cuts and scrapes, as well as bite cream, sunscreen, insect repellent, painkillers and allergy medication to cover all eventualities.
We are all reliant on our mobile phones these days, so make sure you have a fully charged battery pack in the car that can charge your phone if you need it. Many of us need our phones for navigation purposes, to play music, access tickets or call for help in an emergency, so it is important to make sure that you don’t get caught short.
There is nothing better than a cold drink on a hot day, so why not think about including a car fridge on your travels? They can plug into your car and can keep your drinks and sandwiches cool all day long.
Taking the kids on a long journey can be challenging sometimes, and every parent dreads the cries of “are we nearly there yet” when they have only been on the road for ten minutes. It is therefore important to pack as many forms of entertainment as possible.
Holders can be fitted to the front seats to accommodate most tablets, allowing them to watch videos whilst still looking straight ahead (just don’t forget to pack their headphones too). There are also lots of travel versions of some of the most popular board games that can be a really good way to pass the time.
Long journeys can make people start to feel unwell, especially small children. Having travel sickness medication on board can be useful, as well as the travel wristbands. You should also try and make sure there are bags, towels and some bottles of water just in case the worst does happen.
Get your car fully stocked now, and you will be in for an amazing summer getting out and about and exploring all of the things that the UK has to offer, safe in the knowledge your journey will be comfortable, safe and fun for all the family, including the family pet.
A little preparation goes a long way in keeping your car clean, comfortable and ready to tackle the road. Simple interior additions like car mats, boot liners and seat covers can make a real difference when it comes to dealing with sand, mud or the occasional spill, helping you enjoy the journey as much as the destination. Wherever you’re headed, having the right essentials in place means you can focus on making the most of the warmer months.
Whatever car you drive, it can be good to have a few accessories along for the ride. These might perform functional purposes or serve to personalise your car a little and make it feel more like your own, and in some cases, they might even do both at once. There are a huge number of accessories out there at the moment, so we have picked some of the favourites that you will want for 2024.
Very few of us go anywhere without our mobile phones these days, but we all know the dangers of using them when we are driving. Whilst you could lock them away in the glove box or keep them in your bag, they can still serve a purpose by providing navigation assistance or playing music, so it is good to have them close to hand. Installing a mobile phone holder in your car therefore seems essential these days as it will allow you to make use of the phone’s great features safely and legally.
These holders are relatively inexpensive and can attach to your dashboard, windscreen or air vents without much difficulty, just make sure you check that the holder can accommodate your model of phone.
We can often neglect the boot of our cars, but it is one of the areas that we put under the most stress. We are quite happy to throw shopping, prams, golf clubs and tools in the back without a second thought, but this can lead to it getting scruffy very quickly.
A custom car boot liner is therefore the perfect accessory for the back of your car, as it offers some fantastic protection. These liners are often made from a thick, quilted material, and don’t just cover the floor of your boot, but the sides as well, meaning that your car is shielded from scratches, dirt and moisture.
The liner simply clips in place and can then be removed and put into the washing machine when it is muddy or has been subject to a spillage. Many examples can even be personalised, so that you can have them in any colour, and some come with a bumper flap to help prevent scratches and scuffs to your paintwork when loading the car.
We are seeing more and more dash cams appearing in cars, and this trend looks set to continue in 2024. They record whatever goes on around your car, therefore providing evidence in the event of an accident or catching thieves on camera.
This not only makes them a worthwhile deterrent to criminals but can also make it much easier to prove your case if anything happens whilst on the road. They are so effective that many insurance companies now offer discounts on your premiums if you have one fitted in your car.
We all love to take our dogs on adventures with us, but our cars can suffer as a result, so why not give them their own car pet bed.
Made from soft and cosy quilted material, these beds provide a comfortable spot for your dog to relax in, without needing to worry about claw marks, muddy paws or little accidents, as these beds are easily washable. Car pet beds are a great accessory as they mean that your pet can travel in comfort and style whilst the interior of your car stays protected.
We all know how quickly your car can become untidy. Whether it is sweet wrappers, cigarette butts or pay and display tickets, our cars can soon fill up with litter. These either make their way to the floor or overflow out of door pockets every time you get out of the car.
Car bins are therefore popping up more and more frequently as a way to keep your car looking spick and span. They fit conveniently into cup holders or door pockets and give you the perfect space to dispose of your rubbish, and they can then be emptied easily whenever needed.
Not many of us think about it, but a first aid kit should be an essential accessory for any car. Whether you are involved in an accident or simply have a child with a scraped knee, you never know when you might need one.
There are pre-prepared kits that you can buy, or you could put your own together. It might be worth ensuring that it includes things like plaster, bandages, pain killers, sun cream, after sun lotion, bite cream, hay fever medication and antiseptic cream to cover all eventualities.
The queues at petrol stations to inflate your tyres always seem to take forever, and it can seem ridiculous to pay for air, so make sure you have your own tyre inflator in your boot. This means you can pop up your tyres at home whenever you need to, and you can deal with slow puncture while you are out and about to help get you home.
We are so reliant on our devices, and it can be a nightmare when we run out of battery. With some cars, you might need your phone to unlock the vehicle, you might need sat nav facilities, or the kids might want to watch YouTube in the back seat.
None of this is possible with a flat battery, so have a digital battery charger on hand to save the day. You will need to remember to charge this too at some point, but most have different ports that allow you to plug in all sorts of different devices and keep the peace for the journey home.
Our cars are now much more than just a tool to get us from one place to another. They perform so many functions, and we ask a lot of them, so it can be great to add a few key accessories that will make this task easier, so these are the ones we recommend you look at adding to your car this year.
If you’re looking for top accessories for your vehicle, then why not view our range of car accessories from car mats, boot liners and seat covers. For any further information about any of our products, please contact our team today.
Giving your car a good clean means making sure you tackle the inside as well as the outside, but this is not always the easiest task. Whilst your paintwork can be wiped down and polished, it can be much harder to get the fabrics in the interior of your car looking as good as new.
Your car seats will need to be treated differently depending on whether they are made from cloth or leather, but the one thing that doesn’t change is the need for a good vacuum.
Most vacuum cleaners will come with a special brush tool to help you with jobs like this and will help you to bring out the dust and pet hairs from the fibres of the fabric and remember to make sure that you pay as much attention to the back of the seats as you do to the more obvious bits.
Next, add the crevice tool to your vacuum to make sure you can get into all of those awkward nooks and crannies where fluff, hair and crumbs can build up.
If you have a handheld cordless vacuum, this can make the task a lot easier as these tend to be lighter in weight and you don’t need to worry about trying to get cables to stretch to wherever your car is.
If you have any stains on your seats, then it can be wise to pre-treat them before you attempt a more general clean. In most cases, working a fabric cleaner into the stain with a cloth or brush and leaving it for around 15 minutes will help to lift the stain.
However, if the stain is from dye, such as those new jeans, then you should dampen the area and apply a paste made up of a few drops of dry oxygen-based bleach and water. This should be left to work for an hour before being vacuumed away.
It is important to remember that you need to be careful what products you use on leather car seats, as you can mark or damage them. Taking one small area at a time, work a specialist leather cleaner into the leather with a soft, damp cloth before rinsing away with another damp cloth. Then take a dry cloth and buff the seats to get them shining again. To prolong the effects of your cleaning and protect against further marks and stays you can then apply a protectant or conditioner to the leather.
If you have a carpet cleaning machine, then these can make cleaning cloth car seats much easier. They will often have a special attachment for cleaning furniture, so just make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
If you are cleaning your cloth car seats by hand, then you will need some special upholstery cleaning products that you can spray on and work into the fabric with a cloth or soft brush. Most products will recommend that you let them sit for a while in order to give them chance to take effect before rinsing with a cloth. If the fabric is damp, you can blot it dry with another cloth or towel.
To clean a vinyl car seat, you can simply spray a general all-purpose cleaner onto the seat and wipe with a microfibre cloth. You should then rinse it if there is any remaining residue and wipe it dry with another cloth.
The easy answer to this is to judge it by eye, and it will depend on how often you use your car and what you use it for – it is likely to be far messier if you have been hiking in the middle of winter than it is just doing the weekly shop.
If something spills or stains, then ideally you should try to clean this as soon as possible. The longer you leave a stain, the harder it will be to get out, so speed is of the essence.
A thorough clean of your car seats can be done seasonally, unless they merit something more regular.
There is a lot of hard work involved in getting your car seats clean, and so a better option can be to protect them from the mess in the first place. Investing in some tailor-made car seat covers can protect your upholstery from spills and tears whilst still looking great in your car.
They are made from durable material and can be designed to exact specifications of your car to ensure that they have the perfect fit. There are quilted options available for added comfort and you can even personalise them to make sure that they fit in with the style of you and your vehicle.
The best bit about a seat cover is that when it does need a clean, it is easy to remove. Simply give them a quick wash, leave them to dry and pop them back into your car for a much quicker and easier way to get your car sparkling again.
Seat covers can be particularly useful if you have pets, as they will not only protect against dog hair and messy paws, but they can also prevent scratches and pulls that are caused by excitable claws.
Cleaning your car upholstery can take time, but thankfully it doesn’t need to be done too often, especially if you protect your seats. Make sure that you never saturate your seats with water or any cleaning products, and always follow the manufacturers instructions. If you are in any doubt, try a product on an inconspicuous spot first to make sure it is not going to damage the material of your seat.
If you’re looking to keep your car’s interior in pristine condition, then why not invest in our car seat covers today, which are tailor-made to your vehicle! For any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our team.
Whether you want to protect your car seats or simply switch up the style of your vehicle, seat covers are now becoming increasingly popular. There are many out there for you to choose from, with some offering a universal fit, whilst others are specifically tailored or your car. So, which is better?
Custom seat covers are becoming increasingly popular as a way to customise the interior of your vehicle. They can add a new pop of colour, a pattern or a design that can help to reflect your personality and make the inside of your car a more enjoyable place to be.
They are also proving to be a life saver for those who might be experiencing wear and tear inside their car. Pets can leave behind scratches and hair, whilst children are great at spilling drinks and wiping sticky fingers across your upholstery.
Getting into the car after a gym session can leave some interesting sweat marks, and those who use their vehicles for work can drag in all sorts of dust, dirt and debris. These will all take their toll on your seats and leave behind marks that can be incredibly hard to get off.
Car seat covers provide excellent protection against a lot of this, helping to keep your seats looking good and maintaining your resale value. Then, if a little accident happens, you can easily remove the covers and wash them with far less hassle.
When you buy a seat cover, you will need to choose between universal and tailored options. As you might expect, the universal covers are designed to fit and seat in any car, whilst the tailored car seat covers will have been made to the exact dimensions of your make, model and age of car.
When buying a car seat cover, one of your biggest concerns will need to be how it fits. As a universal cover has been designed to be used in multiple vehicles, you can find that it will bunch in certain areas and sag in others, which can mean that it doesn’t look as attractive as you might have hoped. As the name suggests, a tailor-made car seat cover will have been put together specifically for the seats in your car, and so it should fit like a glove.
A tailored seat cover will also have been designed to fit around your seatbelt buckles, adjustment leavers, headrests and even you cup holders, so there are no problems around accessing all of the features of your car, which is not something a universal seat cover can guarantee.
Both universal and tailor-made seat covers will be made from hard wearing materials in order to protect your seats from the day to day use that you put it through. It is important to check what each one is made of, and that it is washable. You should remember that if your seat cover does not fit properly, there may be gaps where spills and UV light can still get to, so for the ultimate protection, you need a superior fit.
A universal seat cover has been designed to cover all eventualities and fit just about anywhere, so the styling options may be a little limited. You will usually have a small selection of designs and colours to choose from, which may not fit your taste.
As tailor-made car seat covers are made to order, you can not only enjoy a wider selection of colours and fabrics, but you can also choose from a number of other customisable options. These might include coloured trim or some form of embroidery so that you can include your name, your car brand or a funky slogan or message. This can be a great way to make your car feel really personal and unique.
The price of your seat covers is always going to be a factor, and it should not be ignored that universal car seat covers are often less expensive than their tailor-made counterparts, which can be useful if you are on a budget.
However, it is important to remember that you are protecting an individual that is worth thousands, and so paying an extra few pounds to give it the defences that it needs can be worthwhile. Whilst tailor-made car seat covers can be more expensive, they are still often a very reasonable price and can offer excellent value for money when you consider the quality of the product.
Universal car seats may not offer the perfect fit, but the nature of them does mean that they can be moved from one car to another with ease. They can simply be removed from one car and fitted into another in a matter of minutes, so you won’t need to buy a new one when you buy a new car. However, as a tailored car seat cover is made to the exact specifications of your vehicle, you won’t be able to take it with you when you swap to another vehicle.
A custom car seat cover will usually come with its own installation kit to make the process of fitting it much easier. As it is made for a specific car, your seat cover manufacturer will know exactly what is needed to get it into place and can provide you with instructions on how to do this.
As a universal seat cover could fit almost any vehicle, there will be a lot more guess work involved and there may be different ways to install it depending on your vehicle, so there might be an element of trial and error before you get it right.
When you are looking to protect the interior of your car, it is generally better to do it with the best quality materials that you can. A tailored car seat cover can offer you the perfect fit and so the best possible protection as well as unrivalled levels of style.
Our car seat covers are tailored to a wide range of different car manufacturers and models, providing options for everyone, so if you’re interested in our seat covers, whether you prefer universal or tailored, you can get yours right away. If you have any further further questions please get in touch with our team today.
If taking a holiday without your dog in tow is simply unthinkable, then you need to ensure that you find the safest and most comfortable way to travel with you. A moving vehicle can be a frightening and intimidating place for even the most placid animal, so it is important to plan their transportation carefully to make sure that they are happy and that everyone in the car is kept as safe as possible.
In this article, we have put together our eight top tips to make travelling with your furry friends a fun and pleasant experience.
The Highway Code states that if you are travelling with any animal in the car, then they must be suitably secured. This is because they risk causing a hazard while you are driving. An excitable, scared or even needy pet can be unpredictable, especially when it comes to getting your attention, and so they could distract the driver or obstruct them, leading to an accident.
They also need to be secured to prevent them causing further harm if an accident does happen. We all know the dangers to someone in the front seat if a human in the back is not wearing a seatbelt and is catapulted into them in an accident, and there is the same risk from a pet.
Having an animal hurled into the back of you with the force of a collision could be potentially fatal for both you and them so they need to be fully secured for everyone’s safety. This could be with a harness or crate, and any pet carriers should also be secured in place.
As much as we love our pets, we are all aware of the damage that they are capable of doing, even when they do not mean to. That is why a high-quality, protective boot liner can be so valuable.
These quilted liners can be secured into your car to give your furry friend plenty of comfort during their journey, but it can also help to protect your seats and carpets from pet hair, scratches, drool and the occasional little accident. It is easily removed and washed, so you can be confident that your car will stay in good condition no matter what.
If you are planning to take your pet overseas, then there will be plenty of paperwork that you will need to take with you. What you need will depend on where you are going, how long you are staying and who you are travelling with, so speak to your vet about what you will need. Some of this can be costly, and there can be long waiting times for some documents to come through, so it is best to start planning as early as possible.
Even an experienced pet traveller can suffer from car sickness, as the motion of the vehicle can feel extremely unnatural to them. One of the best ways to combat this is to ensure that the vehicle is properly ventilated at all times.
When it comes to the temperature, it is best to keep things on the cool side and heat can make the sickness feel worse. Fresh air is often the best medicine, so where possible, try to crack the windows a little.
However, you should ensure that your pet is not able to escape out of the window or hang their head outside as they risk being injured by any flying debris on the road.
A full stomach is almost a guaranteed way to make a pet feel sick when travelling, so try to feed them well in advance of any journey and make sure that you keep it light. If you are travelling for any significant lengths of time, then feel free to offer them a top up, but make sure it is still light and that the vehicle is not moving so that the food can settle properly.
Any pet will need to be properly hydrated when on the move, so it is good to keep some water handy. There are some great bottles and bowls which have been specifically designed with travel in mind that can avoid spills and be easily put away.
We all know how good it feels to stretch your legs when you have been in the car for a long while, and it is no different for your pets. They will also need to be able to get out and have a walk around, particularly if nature calls. Whilst you might want to get to your destination as quickly as possible, this will not be in your pets’ best interests, so make sure you plan plenty of spots where you can stop and take a break for a little while.
It is a legal requirement for all dogs over 8 weeks old to have a microchip, and from 2024 any cat over 20 weeks old will also need to have one. When a pet is in unfamiliar surroundings, there is a chance that they may become spooked and bolt, so you need to ensure that they can be returned to you as quickly as possible when they are found. Make sure that they have a microchip fitted and check that all of your contact details are up to date so that you can be reached.
You might scroll through your phone or read a newspaper on a long journey, and you would almost certainly bring things for your kids to do in the car, so why not do the same for your pet? Animals can become particularly bored on a long journey, and this can lead to them being restless and difficult to manage so bring along a favourite blanket or toy, as long as it is something that won’t get them too excited but helps them to pass the time.
If you’re looking to protect your car from pet hair, sand, and the usual pet damage, our high-quality boot liners are designed to make travelling with pets easy and stress-free. View our range of products today. If you have any further question or acquire any assistance with any of our other products, please contact us.
