// Spring cleaning for your car//

Edmunds.com offers 6 ways to spring clean your car to avoid a big maintenance bill and keep you safe before summer travel:

1. Check the Tires. Tire pressure changes about 1 pound per square inch for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit change in outside temperature, so it’s important to check tire pressure after weather changes. Check your owner’s manual for the recommended pressure for your tire, and never exceed that. Learn more about proper tire maintenance by reading “Tires: Traffic Safety Tips.”
2. Check wiper blades. Your wipers work hard all winter removing dirt and debris, including salt spray. Since the life expectancy of a wiper blade is six months to a year, check that the blades are making full contact with the windshield and have not dried out. Don’t wait for a heavy spring or summer rainstorm to discover your blades aren’t performing properly. Also, refill the wiper fluid reservoir.
3. Change the oil and oil filter. Some car manufacturers recommend changing to a heavyweight oil to help the engine perform more efficiently during hotter weather. Your owner’s manual will tell you which grade is best for your car. Change the oil filter each time you change the oil, since it’s obvious that a dirty filter won’t keep the new oil clean. Gather insight on how to change your oil yourself by reading “How to Change Your Oil (The Real Down and Dirty).”
4. Change the air filter. The air filter prevents dust and other impurities from getting into the combustion chambers of the cylinders, resulting in wasted gas and weaker engine performance. The time-honored way to check for dirt is to hold the filter up to the light, but since many new filters show light when dirty, or show no light when clean, it is more reliable to change the air filter every six months, and more often in dusty locations. Get the knowledge you need to change your car’s air filter yourself by reading “How to Change Your Car’s Filters.”
5. Flush and fill your cooling system. This is cheap insurance against engine failure. The Car Care Council recommends flushing every two years, or 24,000 miles for most vehicles. Simply draining your radiator is not enough; you need to flush the system with a radiator flush product, not just plain water, to remove stubborn rust, grease and sediment. Then, refill with a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water. (If you live in a more severe climate, increase the percentage of coolant to about 70.) Find out more by reading “How to Maintain Your Vehicle’s Cooling System.”
6. Check the radiator and gas caps. A snug radiator cap helps raise the cooling system pressure, giving added protection against boil-overs. Radiator caps don’t last forever, so replace yours whenever you flush the cooling system. Pressure recommendations vary, so get the right cap for your vehicle model. With gas at record prices, be sure there’s a tight seal on the gas cap, too, to prevent that high-priced octane from vaporizing. Nearly 20 percent of vehicles have gas caps that are damaged, loose or missing altogether, wasting some 147 million gallons of gas every year.

// Sell Your Stuff Online//

Have unwanted items or just need extra cash? Here are some websites where you can sell your stuff:

Consumer Reports recommends Gazelle to sell your gadgets and tech gear.

Real Simple recommends eBay to sell clothing and collectibles, Amazon to sell books, Glyde to sell video games, and ThredUp to sell children’s clothing.

Are you a DIY master? You can also turn your crafts into cash online. Etsy is a popular website for users to sell handmade and vintage items.

// ICE FALL INJURIES//

Heavy winter storms are sweeping the Midwestern United States, and that means more icy sidewalks and potential injuries. But how do you know if that embarrassing fall needs medical attention? 

Mercy ER doctor Tony Mazzeo says you should definitely seek help if you experience any of these symptoms after a fall:

• headache, loss of consciousness or blurred vision (after head injury) 
• inability to bear weight or walk

If the injury appears to be minor and the pain is tolerable, Dr. Mazzeo advises applying ice for about 20 minutes every hour. 

If you are still hurting after a few days, the doctor suggests switching to heat pads or warm baths for relief.

If you are experiencing a lot of pain or have doubts about your injury, seek medical help.

// Yoga… for your face//

Want to have a more youthful look without going under the knife? Some say it’s possible with a series of exercises called “Face Yoga”. 

It may look a little strange but Annelise Hagen, author of “The Yoga Face”, says it can have instant results.

“The exercises themselves help to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, so you’re definitely going to get more tone, firmness and resilience,” said Hagen.

Find out more or see it in action.

// Eat asparagus to prevent a hangover//

Taking down champagne to bring in the new year can lead many to a morning of regret and suffering. But a study in the Journal of Food Science suggests the amino acids and minerals found in asparagus extract may alleviate alcohol hangover and protect liver cells against toxins.

There’s a long list of hangover prevention methods that people swear by, but this year it wouldn’t hurt to try biting into a few asparagus shoots before a big night out.

Happy New Year!

(*Please remember to drink responsibly)

// Who is more likely to damage their iPhone?//

New research from Squaretrade shows accidental damage to phones is more likely based on lifestyle choices. The survey results indicate that factors like frequent sex and tattoos adversely affect iPhone safety.

SquareTrade’s CMO Ty Shay said, “Who knew that people who have sex regularly also have iPhone accidents more frequently? We were also surprised to see that stock traders and tattoo aficionados had something in common.”

 SquareTrade’s 2012 Smartphone Accident Survey revealed that the following groups of people are more likely to have had an accident with their iPhone:

1. People who trade stocks frequently – 40% more likely
2. People with tattoos – 25% more likely
3. Motorcycle owners – 25% more likely
4. People who have sex more than once a week – 15% more likely
5. Big households – 15% more likely
6. Pet owners – 7% more likely