If you have been working or studying from home for a period of time due to the policies of your workplace or college during the current pandemic, then chances are your car won’t have been getting much use recently.
Working from home can certainly help you save time and money on your commute, but for most businesses and schools this is likely to remain a temporary measure, and people will be expected to get back to attending again once the authorities in the relevant region deem it appropriate and they are ready to bring people back in, perhaps with some rules still in place about masks and social distancing. If you have received word that you’ll be picking up your commute again soon, here are some tips to get your car ready to go back to daily use after a period of being left idle.
Check Your Car Over and Get a Service if it’s Needed
You will definitely want to give your car a thorough check, including things like the oil and the battery before you start relying on it every day again. If your car is close to needing a recommended service or should have been serviced recently but you didn’t take it because you weren’t using it much or your usual service center was closed due to the pandemic, then make sure you do this now. The last thing you need while trying to adapt to commuting every day again is stress from car issues.
Give Your Car a Thorough Cleaning
Cleaning your car thoroughly, including the interior, will make it easier to keep everything inside it hygienic when you’re using it every day again. You will also feel better about going back to the daily commute if your car feels and smells fresh when you get into it that first morning! You can find a really helpful article that can help you choose the best car carpet cleaner here.
Check Over or Add an Emergency Kit
Where you haven’t been in your car much lately, there may be things you left in there that could do with being thrown out and replaced. It can be a good idea to always keep an emergency kit in your car in case of breakdowns or bad weather, including things like a spare phone charger, important numbers, some food, water, a blanket, and some basic medicines and first aid stuff. If you do this, you may want to refresh the medicines, food, and water if they’ve been left in the car untouched for a while. If you don’t have an emergency kit at all, now could be a good time to start putting one together, especially given it will be winter before we know it!
If you’re getting ready to go back to a daily commute to work or school, then it can definitely be a good idea to do these things to make sure your car is ready too. This is especially important if you’ve been at home for a long period and your car has been mostly sitting idle. Be sure to give your car a full check over and a deep clean once you get the word that your workplace or school is ready for you to start coming in again!