Ready your ride for a warm weather road trip

Few things exemplify the easygoing nature of spring and summer more than packing up the car and heading out on a road trip. Hitting the open road with the top down, pulling up to the beach and enjoying a carefree day in the sun is a time-honored tradition for motorists across the country once the warmer weather arrives.

After all, who wants to worry about office workloads and catching up with household chores when there are more important things like barbecues to plan, and tan lines and travel plans to consider?

One thing all motorists need to think about before they put the top down and tackle the open road is how road-trip-ready their car is and how it's going to look and perform when it's finally time to push the pedal to the metal. For the antsy motorist ready to leave work in the dust and hit the highway, consider the following tips to make sure your vehicle can have as good a trip as you do.

* Wash your car: When hitting the beach for a weekend getaway, having a good-looking car is almost as important as looking good yourself. While a trip to the tanning salon won't do your car any good, a thorough car wash will. Use two mitts to wash your car: one to wash the top and one for the gritty undercarriage so the big bits don't scratch the paint in more visible areas. A quick wash removes not-so-friendly deposits from busy little birds, water spots from recreational areas, break dust that erodes the wheel surface, and all kinds of debris that dims your car's shine over time.

Use The Absorber to dry your car quickly -- you'll be back having fun in no time at all, and it preserves the wax coat that protects paint from drying out under the hot summer sun. You can even use it to clean up interior spills on carpet and upholstery, making the interior a safe place to venture despite sippy cups and sodas.

* Be prepared for anything: Perhaps the biggest problem with flat tires is they always seem to come at the worst possible time. Before you duck out of the office early and start your weekend getaway, be sure you're prepared for whatever pitfalls the road might present. Check the trunk and make sure you still have a spare tire and a jack ready to roll should they be needed.

Because road trips are often a little raucous, be prepared for any accidents that might occur inside your vehicle as you head on your merry way. The Dash Gear removes dust, fingerprints, smudges and puts the finishing touches on the interior, making a car that's just gone through the road-trip-ringer look as good as new with little effort at all.

For quick touch-ups on the road, The Glosser is a three-layered microfiber with wash and wax in the middle layer, cleaning and polishing in one fell swoop and ensuring your car's pre-trip wash holds up as long as you do. What's more, The Glosser comes five to a pack, and its slim packaging makes it a perfect fit in the glove compartment or under a seat, leaving room for more important stuff like beach chairs and bathing suits.

* Get a tune-up: Nothing can ruin a spring road trip more than a broken-down vehicle. After a harsh or even a mild winter, your car deserves a tune-up, and you deserve a reliable car when you hit the road. Make sure the battery has plenty of juice, the tires are properly inflated and that there's fresh oil in the engine.

For more information on the products mentioned, call CleanTools at 1-800-654-3933. Or visit your favorite Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart, or automotive retailer for purchase.