Roaches in your car: How to get them out

 Roaches in your car sound like an absolute nightmare and if you've ever experienced it, you know that it's just that. Roaches can multiply quickly and leave you with an infestation on your hands that can be difficult, time-consuming, and sometimes, expensive to get rid of. Toyota of N Charlotte is here with tips on how to get roaches out of your car quickly and efficiently - read on. 

The four things you need to do to get roaches out of your car

#1: Locate the roaches. Find out where the roaches are hiding, first of all. You'll need to locate them, their nests, and any eggs that might have been left in the car. They like to hide in dark, warm places like under the seats, the glovebox and center console, cupholders, seatback pockets, under floor mats, and in the trunk. Also, don't forget to check where your spare tire is located - it's a great location for roaches to hang out. 

#2: Clean out your car as soon as possible. Once you've gotten rid of as many roaches, nests, and eggs as possible, it's time to detail your car. When your car has dirt and debris in it, it's an extremely tempting place for roaches to set up their permanent home. Remove all trash and clutter from the vehicle, and then vacuum it out and wipe down all surfaces to get rid of crumbs, dust, and other debris that might be attracting roaches. Further, if you have any stains or sticky spots in your upholstery or carpet, clean them. 

#3: Try baits and traps. Once your car is cleaned out, it's time to place roach bait or traps. Gel bait is very effective and will also spread the poison back to the rest of the roach colony. However, it is toxic, so if you have kids or pets in the car often, you may want to shoot for something non-toxic. Diatomaceous earth is a non-toxic option that can be extremely effective. You can also try traps. 

#4: Make your car an undesirable place to live. Once you've evicted the roaches from your car, you need to keep them out. Be sure to set up a routine detailing schedule for your car to keep it clean and clutter-free; you should also be careful about what you're transporting in it. Roaches like grocery bags, cardboard, etc. so be careful about what you're picking up. Additionally, be sure to keep your windows and doors closed when you're not in the car, and try not to park near dumpsters or heavily wooded areas where roaches might be hanging out. 

Toyota of N Charlotte can help you keep your car clean 

Need more tips on how to get roaches out of your car, or any other pests? Call Toyota of N Charlotte today at (704) 659-2025 or stop by and see us. We're located just off I-77 in Huntersville (exit 23) at 13429 Statesville Road. 

Is your electric car really better for the environment?

 So you want to buy an electric car. Most people make the change from internal combustion to all-electric because they want to save money on gas, but also because they want to do their part in keeping our planet cleaner. But are electric cars really better for the environment? Unfortunately, the answer isn't quite as clear-cut as you'd think. Our N Charlotte Toyota specialists are here to explain the ins and outs of electric cars and the environment.

Toyota of N Charlotte can help you decide if your electric car is better for the environment 

The answer isn't as simple as we'd like it to be - it hinges on batteries and local/non-local emissions. Toyota of N Charlotte is here to explain the intricacies of whether or not electric cars are really better for the environment so you can better understand whether or not you should put one in the driveway. 

Let's talk about the batteries in electric cars first. N Charlotte Toyota EVs - and all other electric vehicles - use lithium-ion batteries. Production of these batteries creates a lot of harmful emissions, which means overall, your EV is not as clean as you think. Additionally, these batteries can't be disposed of in landfills or recycled in a traditional recycling facility, so that poses a problem in the feature. As demand increases, what happens to the old batteries that are no longer in use? 

Another issue in the question of whether or not electric cars are good for the environment lies in local and non-local emissions. Here's what our N Charlotte Toyota specialists have to say about it. 

• Local emissions are the ones produced locally - literally, the ones coming out of your N Charlotte Toyota's tailpipe. Obviously, internal combustion cars produce these. Electric cars, on the other hand, do not. So on the local front, electric cars are better for the environment. 
• Non-local emissions, on the other hand, are a little trickier. Your car doesn't use gas; it runs on electricity, right? But how is that electricity produced? If your electricity comes from solar, wind, or hydropower, then it doesn't put off many (if any) emissions and is pretty clean, so in turn, your EV is too. However, if your electricity comes from fossil fuels, it's not clean - creating that electricity produces quite a few emissions. 

Learn more about EVs at our dealership today 

So is your electric car as clean as you think? It's worth doing the research before you take the high dive into the world of EVs. And as always, if you have questions, Toyota of N Charlotte can help. We're open seven days a week at (704) 875-9199 and you can visit us at 13429 Statesville Road. We're just off I-77 at exit 23 in Huntersville. 

How to get spiders out of your car: Toyota tips

 If you've ever encountered a spider in your car, you know how disconcerting it can be. Where there's one there may be more, and the last thing you want is an infestation in your vehicle. Toyota of N Charlotte is here with tips on how to get spiders out of your car as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

Before we talk about how to get spiders out of your car, let's talk about how they get in there in the first place. Spiders find their way in through cracks and crevices, open doors and windows, and even door and window seals that have gone bad. 

Spiders like cars because they're dark and warm and offer plenty of places to hide. They don't, however, like the vibrations that the car makes when it's in motion, so they'll often pop out of their hiding spots and surprise you while you're driving. 

How to get spiders out of your car

So how do you get spiders out of your car? Here are some of the best tips we gathered from the expert car care techs at Toyota of N Charlotte. 

Tip #1: Vacuum it out. Your first step should be to clean out your car. If you have crumbs and dirt in your vehicle, it can attract bugs, which in turn attracts spiders who want to eat the bugs. Vacuum and wipe your N Charlotte Toyota - be sure to get any spiders, spider webs, and spider eggs out of the car while you're at it. 

Tip #2: Utilize spider repellants. Visit a home improvement store (like Home Depot) to find a spider repellant spray for your car. You can also try natural remedies in the form of essential oils - spiders hate scents like peppermint, citrus, lavender, rosemary, and cedar. 

Tip #3: Try spider traps. Your local home improvement store can also provide you with spider traps, which will help trap existing spiders so you can dispose of them. 

Tip #4: Resort to a spider bomb. If all else fails, you can try a spider bomb. These chlorine-based bombs will wipe out all of the spiders living in your car. 

How to keep spiders out of your car

Now that you know how to get them out of your car, here are a few N Charlotte Toyota tips on how to keep spiders out of your car. 

Tip #1: Keep your car clean and clutter-free. The more dirt and clutter you have in your car, the more likely you are to have a spider problem. Clean your car out and keep it organized, and detail your car routinely. 

Tip #2: Seal it up when you're not in it. If you're not in your car, close all the windows and doors as well as the trunk. Also, check the seals in your doors and windows to ensure they're in good shape. 

Tip #3: Don't park next to debris or heavily wooded areas. Spiders like to hide in debris piles and heavily wooded areas (more bugs = more food). Try to avoid parking near these areas, and keep your garage clean. 

Want more tips or need help getting spiders or other pests out of your car? Call Toyota of N Charlotte. We're open seven days a week at (704) 875-9199 and we're conveniently located just off I-77 at exit 23 in Huntersville, NC. 

Consider Your N Charlotte Vehicle’s Electric Car Charging Time Before You Buy

You may find yourself in a place where you’re considering buying an electric car. This can be great news, however, do you know how to handle them?  How can you stay fueled up without stopping at a gas station every time you go out or to work? Yes, there is no need to worry about stopping at the gas station, but EV range anxiety is very real. This is something you should consider before buying an EV N Charlotte Toyota. Before purchasing one of these cars, Toyota of N Charlotte will give you all the necessary information.

 

EV Range Anxiety and What That Means for Your Electric Car Charging Habits

It's exactly what it sounds like, EV range anxiety. This is the fear of running out of range (how far you can travel before running out of charge) and not finding a charging station in time. For you.to “refuel”. This thought constantly haunts some drivers causing them to constantly check their range gauge. Other times, it occurs whenever your ride's range begins to get low. No matter how you look at it, it's not a fun situation. 

This situation happens when you see your gasoline-powered engine monitor getting low. However, it is a lot easier to find a fuel station than it is a charging station. You can overcome EV range anxiety with tips from Toyota of N Charlotte. Having read this, you can put your feelings to rest because our N Charlotte Toyota specialist have everything you need to get you through the longest of commutes.

• Tip #1 Range has greatly improved.

Initially, electric vehicles did not have a huge range, making it difficult to drive them, causing range anxiety among N Charlotte Toyota EV drivers. However, vehicles like the N Charlotte Toyota bz4X have been designed so that it can travel 252 miles on a single charge. This is great news when it comes to electric car charging. 

• Tip #2 When you're running low on charge, check your instrument panel.

When it comes to your electric car charge, you will want to make sure to keep an eye on the dial. You may or may not do this in your gasoline-powered vehicle, but either way, it’s a great way to avoid a potentially disastrous situation.

• Tip #3 Make your home a charging station. 

It is also a good idea to install an electric car charging station in your house so that you will not have to worry about your Toyota EV's range anxiety. When you have it installed, you can charge your electric car and forget about range anxiety. For help, Toyota of North Charlotte recommends contacting Chargepoint or Merit. This will help you with your electric car charging needs.

• Tip #4 Perform routine maintenance on your Toyota electric car. 

Maintaining your  Charlotte Toyota electric car charge will also help reduce EV range anxiety. Our N Charlotte auto service technicians will be happy to do free multi-point inspections on your car which includes a double-check of the battery in your car as well. By doing this, you will be able to extend the life of your battery. 

• Tip #5 Locate charging stations. 

In addition, knowing where you can charge your car in your area is very helpful. Using the maps in your phone, you can find some stations. NextCharge, PlugShare, and ChargeMap are great resources for finding these according to our N Charlotte specialists.

You can Count on Toyota of N Charlotte to Charge you up! 

Whether you're looking for an electric car or need assistance, we can help! Contact us at (704) 875-9199 or stop in today if you need more information on electric car charging or more.  We’re located at 13429 Statesville Road at exit 23 off I-77 in Huntersville.