TECH TALK

By Angela West

Clean those hard-to-reach crevices

The Tornador Car Cleaning Gun is a topof-the-line, multi-use car cleaning tool that will change your life (and your vehicle).

This handy gadget works with your air compressor to blast air into the tuckedaway crevices and cracks that cleaning wipes can’t reach. It takes its name from the tornado-like cleaning action caused by the cone-shaped nozzle and oscillating tip.

The Tornador goes everywhere you can’t - between the seats, deep into pockets, under mats - to remove lingering dirt and grime. It works on a variety of surfaces, including upholstery, rubber mats, plastic trays, dashboards, and even the steering wheel. It works on your vehicle exterior too, providing a fuss-free way to quickly clean fabric convertible tops, emblems, wheels, and more.

The best part is, you don’t even need to scrub! The gun does the hard work for you. Use the Tornador with a cleaning solution or just add water to spray a fine mist that dries almost instantly. Just spray, wipe, and you’re done.

For more information on the Tornador Car Cleaning Gun, visit tornadortools. com

Suck up dust and dirt

pockets - it’s just the right size and weight for easy maneuvering.

The spare filter and filter cleaning brush help extend the longevity of the vacuum, making it great value for money so skip the auto detailing and DIY your dirt!

To find out more about the ThisWorx Car Vacuum, visit thisworx.com

Play with putty

It may look like something your kids play with, but TICARVE cleaning gel is your secret weapon for cleaning your car’s dusty air vents.

A blob of malleable putty, it’s pressed into vents, cracks, and all your car’s tricky nooks and crannies to ensure every last bit of dust and dirt is captured. Store the gel in its airtight container when not in use and you can happily reuse it over and over. You’ll know it’s time to replace it when the gel turns dark.

Now that winter is over there’s work to do. Your vehicle’s been through a lot the past few months - ice, snow, slush, dirt, salt - and it deserves a thorough clean. If those two words fill you with fear, you’re not alone. Everyone likes a clean car, but very few enjoy the actual process of cleaning it. Thankfully technology is here to help.

We’ve rounded up some of the best high-tech cleaning gadgets out there so you can give your motor back its mojo without breaking a sweat. If you like the sound of a tidy trunk, sweet-smelling seats and dirt-free floors, read on!

From pets shedding hair to kids dropping food, your car’s seats and floors are a magnet for mess. If you find yourself regularly picking up after passengers, the ThisWorx car vacuum can help.

Ideal for light cleaning jobs, this handheld, cordless vacuum has all the power of a larger model but with more portability. Just toss it in the truck and you can clean spills as soon as they happen.

The portable cleaner plugs into your car’s 12V outlet and comes with a variety of interchangeable precision nozzles so there’s nowhere crumbs can hide. Glide it around your floor mats, whisk it over the seats, probe into door handles and side

An inexpensive way to make your car’s surfaces sparkle, the cleaning gel doesn’t leave a residue, isn’t sticky to touch, and comes in a variety of colors and scents. Use it on the steering console, in cupholders, against vents, on the dashboard, or wherever dirt collects. Press. Pull. Clean. It’s that easy.

Find out more about TICARVE cleaning gel at ticarve.com

Stop the stink

Sweaty hockey equipment, dirty pets, food spills - it’s no wonder cars get stinky. Clear out obnoxious odors with a Ceeniu Smart Car Air Freshener. Unlike disposable air fresheners, this unit doesn’t need to be replaced every few days and uses a turbo fan system to waft the pleasant scent all around your car.

It’s also pretty stylish, available in a sleek, rounded cylinder that fits neatly into your car’s cup holder and lights up as it disperses fragrance. You can set the device to power on when the vehicle starts and automatically shut off when it stops. Alternatively, you can let the diffuser run overnight so you wake up to a fresh smelling car every morning.

The Air Freshener has two modes, depending on whether you’d prefer a light or strong scent, and holds 135ml of fragrance.

To find out more about Ceeniu Smart Car Air Freshener, visit amazon.ca

Purify your air

From scenting the air to purifying it, you’ll need something more than a diffuser if you want to truly clean your space. If you or your passengers suffer from allergies or asthma, it might be time to invest in a filter that removes impurities and common allergens like pet hair and dust.

The Purifair car air filter improves air quality by releasing naturally-occuring negative ions which bind to pollutants and neutralize them. It removes 99% of airborne pathogens and allergens within seconds, making it perfect for sensitive drivers.

Quiet, lightweight, and portable, Purifair can be used throughout your home as well as your car, making it a great buy for all the family.

For more information about the Purifair car air filter, visit ca.purifair.com

Get your headlights gleaming

Over time headlights become dull and dingy, especially if they’ve been exposed to the elements for prolonged periods. Dirty headlights aren’t just a nuisance, they’re also a safety issue - making you less visible to other vehicles on the road and giving you less illumination to clearly see what’s ahead. Meguiar's Heavy Duty Headlight Restoration Kit has everything drivers need to keep their headlights sparkling clean. Remove cloudiness, restore shine, and even buff out nicks and scratches with the all-in-one kit that includes headlight protectant, plastic cleaner and polish, and sanding and buffing pads.

Once you’re done wiping the lights clean, apply the heavy duty coating which can keep your headlights in top condition for up to a year.

For more information on the Meguiar Heavy Duty Headlight Restoration Kit, visit meguiar.com

Get organized

The YoGi Prime Trunk and Backseat Car Organizer is the perfect antidote to car clutter. You can put it in the trunk to store all your gear or maximize your space by clipping it to the backseat headrests and leaving the trunk floor free for other items.

Made from high-grade, durable polyester, this quality organizer can handle a lot of wear and tear so don’t be afraid to throw everything at it. Sports equipment, toys, lunchboxes, shopping bags - there’s plenty of space to tidy away your things in the sturdy compartments.

And with four pockets, you can keep everything separate if needed. Velcro lids fold over the top so you can be confident everything is safely tucked away and won’t tumble out on bumpy roads.

The organizer is waterproof and wipes clean, making for a very easy clean-up if there are spills. It’s also incredibly easy to attach and detach so you can just fold it up and pack it away when you want more space in the trunk.

For more information on the YoGi Prime Trunk and Backseat Car Organizer, visit yogiprime.com

Fun with foam

Unleash your inner child as you clean your vehicle with the TORQ Foam Blaster 6 from Chemical Guys. This fun and effective foam blaster shoots soapy suds at your vehicle, giving you all the power of a pressure washer without the expensive price tag.

The thick foam gently cleans without subjecting your paintwork to abrasive pads or jets so you get a shimmering, streak and scratch-free shine. Just hook it up to your hose and turn the nozzle to choose the ideal amount of suds, then start blasting. Get the whole family in on the fun, this is one chore the kids won’t complain about.

Buy the Foam Blaster as part of Chemical Guy’s All Season Arsenal Kit and you’ll get even more cleaning goodies, including a heavy duty detailing bucket, cyclone dirt trap, cleansing wash and gel, and a microfibre mitt.

To find out more about the TORQ Foam Blaster 6 or the All Season Arsenal Kit, visit chemicalguys.com