There's nothing quite like the look of sheer joy on a dog's face when they know you're driving to the park. And there's also nothing quite like the look on your face when you see the mess they left in your back seat.
Dirt, slobber, hair, and the occasional carsickness can make any dog lover hesitate the next time Fido brings over the leash.
But with so many beautiful parks around the Freehold, Farmingdale, and Manalapan area, we know drivers need to find a better way of riding along with their canine companions.
As a proud partner of the ASPCA, Subaru vehicles are already pretty dog friendly, but to help protect man's other best friend, our team at Freehold Subaru has put together a few tips on how to doggy-proof your Subaru.
Tip #1: Invest in Good Floor Liners
Fabric floor mats work like magnets for dog hair. They're also breeding grounds for mold and bacteria if messes aren’t properly cleaned.
Some high-quality floor liners can make protecting the carpeting as well as clean up a whole lot easier. WeatherTech makes a rubber liner that's durable and custom cut to fit your specific vehicle. They're easy to clean and have a deep ridged design for catching spills and messes.
Tip #2: Use a Water Repellent to Protect the Upholstery
One simple way to protect against spills and messes is to spray the interior seats and carpeting with a water repellent. Pay attention to what kind of material you're attempting to treat, though, because certain repellents are specially made for only certain surfaces.
Test the water repellent in a small, discrete spot before attempting to treat the entire interior. Once you know the repellent is safe to use, apply to the interior about every three months.
You can also opt to have your interior treated with a professional protective coating. This option is a little more expensive, but in the end, it's certainly more cost=effective. A professional interior coating adheres to the surface to which it's applied, meaning it won't rub or wash off easily.
Tip #3: Cover the Seats
The easy way to protect your car's interior is to lay down a blanket. Now dog hair and stains will collect on the blanket and not the seat cushions. We suggest using a felt blanket because the material will catch and hold the hair better than, say, a cotton sheet.
A more effective method of protection is the seat hammock. Think of it as a heavy-duty waterproof blanket that's machine washable and attaches to the front headrests and back headrests to provide complete protection.
And as an added bonus, the seat hammock doubles as a barrier to the front seat.
Tip #4: Protect Your Windows
Race car drivers have a series of plastic sheets covering their visors that can be peeled away as they get dirty. That's essentially where the idea for our next tip comes from.
First, take some plastic wrap and cover the window area to which your dog has access. Then let them slobber away. When you return home, just remove the plastic wrap and discard. Now your windows are clean and slobber-free.
