More Americans to Take Summer Road Trips in Dirty Cars

Five Tips for Keeping the Car Clean During Vacation Season

CHICAGO, May 28 -- As the summer vacation season begins, a majority of U.S. families will get into their cars and embark on escapes that range from big cities and giant amusement parks to open skies and national parks. Indeed, if past trends persist, eight in 10 American families will motor to their vacation destination, adding 624 miles to their speedometer each way, estimates the U.S. government. AAA predicts that the number of motorists this summer will increase over last summer.

"U.S. travelers will spend a lot of time inside their vehicles this summer," notes Mark Thorsby, executive director of the International Carwash Association. "While the entire family is packed in the car for a road trip, it's important to keep the car clean to make the trip even more enjoyable."

According to a recent survey conducted by the International Carwash Association, half of all car owners wash their cars less than once a month and another 16 percent say they never wash their cars. Those statistics, combined with the increased number of cars taking to the roads this summer on trips, can add up to a lot of dirty cars on America's roads.

  Thorsby offers five tips for keeping the car tidy this vacation season:
   1. A Clean Start -- Begin your trip behind the wheel of a freshly washed
      car. Your vehicle's pre-trip checklist should include a trip to the
      local car wash, where a professional cleanup will take only a matter
      of minutes. With the time saved by letting the pros wash the car, you
      have more time to pack clothes or snacks for the trip.
   2. Take out the Trash -- A messy car interior can be an unsettling
      experience -- especially if it's untidy before the trip even begins!
      In fact, nearly two-thirds of Americans are embarrassed by the trash
      in their car.  So while at the car wash, get the inside vacuumed
      thoroughly.
   3. What's that Smell? -- Half of all car owners claim odors are the most
      embarrassing thing about their car. Riding in the car with several
      people for long stints can, well, cause a stink. Ask the car wash
      professionals to spruce up the car with some air freshener spray. It
      might pay off to pack a small bottle of air freshener spray in the
      glove box should you need a mid-trip spritz.
   4. Paper AND Plastic -- Keep small plastic trash bags and paper towels
      handy in the car. Keeping the trash in a small plastic bag makes it a
      snap to dispose of at rest stops or gas stations, and it helps contain
      any leaks from empty cans and bottles. Extra paper towels will wipe up
      those inevitable spills on clothing or on your car's interior.
   5. Surveying the Battle Scene -- Family vacations are fun, but who wants
      to clean up after the long, exhausting road trip?  The souvenir bugs
      from different states fused to the front grille and the medley of
      snack wrappers in the car's backseat can add up to a load of work to
      do alone. The simple solution: Visit the local car wash again and let
      the pros there do all of the dirty work to get your car spiffy clean
      again.

More car care information is available at http://www.carlove.org/ , an online resource devoted to educating consumers about the benefits of professional car washes. The site features a Car Wash Wizard that provides a "prescription" for professional car washes according to geographic region, and fun facts from a recent study conducted by the International Carwash Association.

About the International Carwash Association

The International Carwash Association (ICA) is a non-profit trade association serving 3,000 businesses in the United States, Canada and overseas. Membership includes car wash operators, equipment manufacturers, distributors, and related suppliers. ICA members represent approximately 25,000 car wash and car care locations in North America.