Tips for Cleaning and Organizing Your Garage This Spring

WESTLAND, Mich.,––It's spring! It's hard to think about this season without thinking about cleaning. Spring cleaning is something that, unfortunately, has to be done for some, especially if it's a task that's been put off all winter long. When we finally see the last of the snow around Metro Detroit, it'll be time to clear the dust and do some organization. If your garage is on your list, we've got some ideas that might help! Check out these tips for cleaning and organizing your garage this spring.

DIY Trash Bags on a Roll

This will help you get boxes off the floor and can be used with tape and other items you might have that can be stored on a roll. 

Recycled Window Box Planter Storage 

If you have any old planters lying around, give them a good wipe down and hang them on the wall for storage of small items like paint cans, car cleaning supplies, or even garden tools.

Extension Cord Holder

Keep those long and loose extension cords in order with this little trick. All you'll need is a simple chain and hook for the wall. 

Magnet Strip for Scissors & Other Tools 

This image is for craft room storage, but you can use the same concept for tools other than scissors, as long as they're metal! 

Organizing Sports Balls

You can use this easy idea along the wall, or off the floor in a corner of your garage! All you need is some wood and bungee cords. 

Tire Rack with 2x4 Boards

If you happen to store your winter tires in your garage, this is a great way to keep them out of the way. You just need some 2x4 boards and time to put it all together.

DIY Garden Tool Storage

This is a really easy way to store anything with a long handle. Rakes, hoes, and shovels, as well as brooms, mops, and other cleaning tools can be stored neatly in a little piece of PVC! 

We hope this tips help give you some ideas when it comes to cleaning and organizing your garage this spring! If you're in search of a new car to fill up the new space in your garage after you've cleaned it out, we can help with that, too. We recommend stopping by our dealership to check out the 2018 Ford EcoSport - a compact and stylish crossover, the 2018 Ford Flex - perfect for family trips in the summer, or the 2018 Ford F-150 - a classic light-duty truck ready to take on any job. We know how important it is to buy or lease a truck that's not only right for your budget, but that's right for your needs. Our wonderful staff of salespersons in Westland is here to help! 

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

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How to Protect Your Vehicle from Flood Damage

WESTLAND, Mich.–– Every year, vehicles become damaged from severe storms and hurricanes throughout the United States. And now that spring is here, excessive rain is sure to follow. It's important to know how to protect your vehicle from flood damage in the event of high flood waters. If you aren't careful when driving through flooded areas, your water can become susceptible to water damage, leaving you with a lofty auto service bill. Cover your bases with this how-to guide:


1. Avoid Flooded Areas & Take a Different Route
If you are aware of flooded areas along your normal route, check and see if there is a different road that you can take that'll get you to your destination. Even if takes a little bit longer, it's worth it to protect your ride from high waters.

2. Stop & Assess Floods Before Driving Through
You can never be too sure of the depth of the water or the state of the road underneath. It's best if you try and gauge the depth and possible currents to ensure your vehicle doesn't become flooded or swept away! The rule of thumb is to never drive through water that is more than six-inches deep.

3. Be Careful When Passing Other Cars
Avoid following and crossing paths with other drivers that could cause you to stray off your intended path. Large vehicles are extremely hazardous because they can create waves that push water higher than expected.

4. Lower Your Speed
If you decide to drive through high water, it is recommended that you enter at 1-2 mph. Any faster and your car might hydroplane, causing you to lose control.

5. Keep Revving Your Engine
Once you're in the water, try and keep your car's revs up. This will prevent water from being sucked back into the exhaust. Accelerating up to 4-5 mph will create a small wave that will protect your car's engine from the high water.

6. Try Not to Stall Out
When trying to clear a flooded area of the road, the most important thing to do is prevent your vehicle from stalling. In the event that your car does stall, try and start your car right away. The longer you wait, the further the water will creep up your exhaust.

7. Dry Your Brakes
Even if you make it safely through the flooded water, you're not done yet. It's crucial to dry your brakes out for them to work properly. For the next few miles, drive slowly and regularly apply the brakes to heat them up and allow the water to evaporate.


Although it is possible to drive through a little bit of flooded water, we highly recommend that you avoid driving through it as a whole. Ensuring that your ride performs its best at all times is our goal. Make sure you know how to protect your vehicle from flood damage by following our guide! In the event that your car runs into issues from flooded water, bring it in immediately to our service department. We will fix any major issues you have and get your ride back to you in no time! You can schedule an appointment online with our service team. Feel free to contact us with any question you have! Stay safe this rainy spring season!

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+

Rainy Day Activities for Kids

WESTLAND, Mich.–– We all know the saying "April showers bring May flowers". The rainy spring season brings wet conditions and puddles galore. While playing outside may be the ideal activity for kids, there are many other things that'll entertain kids indoors. Stay safe inside the comfort of your own home this spring and enjoy these rainy day activities for kids:

• Build a Blanket & Pillow Fort: Grab the sofa cushions, chairs, and any cardboard boxes. Drape blankets over the top and put some comfy pillows inside.

• Take a Trip to the Library: Visit the local library to encourage your kids to read. Most of the time, there are classes/activities available for kids of all ages.

• Play Board Games: Board games are an easy way to keep kids entertained and they challenge them to use their brain, too!

• Make a Home Cinema: Compile some of your kids' favorite movies, microwave some popcorn, and cuddle up in some blankets on the couch for a movie day!

• Bake a New Recipe: Most kids love to bake, especially when there is a sweet treat involved. Check out Pinterest for some easy baking recipes for kids.

• Get Crafty and Paint: Cover the kitchen table with newspaper and let your kids enjoy an art session with poster paints or watercolors.

• Make Homemade Pizza: This is a fun and delicious activity for kids to enjoy. It doesn't take many ingredients and teaches kids how to cook.

When the weather doesn't want to cooperate, try one of these rainy day activities for kids that'll keep them happy and busy all day long. There's plenty of fun to be had, even when the day has to be spent indoors. While the kids are busy at play, it's a good idea to make sure your vehicle is ready to hit the road this season, especially after a brutal Michigan weather. Spring's showers can make for dangerous road conditions if your ride isn't properly maintained. Read our spring car care tips for information on tires, wheel alignments, fluids, wiper blades, and cleaning for your ride. It's increasingly important to take special care of your car all year long in order to maintain its longevity and performance over time.


North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+

How to Care for Your Tires This Spring

WESTLAND, Mich.,––It's Spring in Michigan, and that means the roads will be wet, messy, and full of potholes. Because your tires are what connect you to the road, they're pretty important and worthy of your routine care. There are a few easy things you can do this season to ensure your safety on the road, your car's efficiency, and help you avoid the pain of tire repair. Here's how to care for your tires this Spring:

1. Inspect your tires tread wear

There are no special tools needed to inspect your tires wear. Your eyes will work just fine. Taking a look every few weeks or so for damage, cracking, under inflation, and uneven tread wear is the easiest way to tell if your tires need care! For an easy way to check tread wear, try the penny method! If by sticking your penny in upside down in your tire's tread you can see all of Abraham Lincoln's head, it's time to get new tires.

2. Check your tires air pressure

Checking your tires air pressure is typically done with a tire gauge which measures in PSI (pounds per square inch of air pressure). Having properly inflated tires can help you achieve good fuel economy and extend the life of your tires. If your tires are under inflated, your car will have to work harder to move which means you'll be spending more on gas. You can find the recommended tire pressure on the sticker on the inside of the driver's door, or in your Owner's Manual. As temperatures fluctuate throughout the year, the air outside can affect your tire's air pressure. It's best to check your tires in the morning at least once per month for the most accurate reading.

3. Have your tires balanced and rotated regularly

Another routine maintenance task to help you achieve best fuel economy and extended tire life is rotating them! This is a tire service that should be done every 5,000-7,000 miles or for most people about every other oil change. Tires can wear differently depending on their location, rotating them regularly will help cut down on uneven tread wear so they are all on the same page, so to speak. Having your tires balanced will also help to minimize uneven or premature wear.

4. Keep your car's load weight in mind

While your tires hold the entire weight of your vehicle, they can only hold a certain amount of excess weight. Excessive weight on or in your vehicle can lead to weaker tires and possible damage. We recommend not overloading past your vehicle's recommended rating to avoid potential tire blowouts. Although the chances for a blowout to happen are low, make sure to check your Owner's Manual to find the rating specific to your vehicle and keep your car's load weight in mind.



It's our goal to keep you safe on the road this Spring and provide you a great deal on tires! Follow our How to Care for Your Tires This Spring tips on this blog, and schedule your service appointment online at North Brothers Ford. We have plenty of coupons that you can clip online to help you save on vehicle service and new tire purchases!

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 855-739-2023, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+

5 Spring Grill Recipes

WESTLAND, Mich.–– It's finally starting to feel like spring and summer outdoors, and one easy way to take advantage of the nice weather is grilling! From delicious seafood to turf-based recipes, from healthy to not so healthy recipes, there's truly something for everyone that can be made delicious on the grill. No matter whether you prefer gas or charcoal, you can whip up these 5 spring grill recipes to impress any guest. Enjoy!

1. Grilled Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

2. Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Kabobs

3. Grilled Portobello Mushrooms with Spinach and Cheese

4. Shrimp Boil Foil Packets

5. Grilled Salmon Skewers with Garlic and Dijon

Whatever you're throwing on the grill this season including these 5 spring grill recipes, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. As a family owned dealership going 75 years strong, we value our Ford families just as we value ours! Whether it be auto service, a new car, or lease deal we're here to help you out and treat you just like family through the process and beyond. For great advice on keeping your family safe on the road this season, check out our spring car care tips which include how to take care of your tires, wiper blades, alignment & suspension, and more. 

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 855-739-2023, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+

5 Car Organization Hacks

WESTLAND, Mich.––Driving to work, the kids' practice, the grocery store, and every where in between equals a lot of time in the car. It also means a lot of stuff that accumulates in your car! Clothes, shoes, snacks, toys, garbage, etc. all end up in your car can easily be forgotten about and ignored throughout our daily activities. If you're feeling a little overwhelmed at the thought of cleaning out your car, you might want to consider these 5 car organization hacks. 

1. Desk Item Holders

You can find these, or something similar, at a office supply store. These are typically used for paper clips, notepads, etc. but work great for other small items that go missing in your car like change, headphones, etc. These can work for those strange spaces near your cup holders or in your center console.

2. Baskets

Baskets are great for a whole lot of reasons, but simply put, for holding plenty of like items in one easy place. Shown above is a more fabric based basket which would work well for squeezing in certain places, and as a bonus it has a nice pattern. We recommend using a basket for emergency items for easy access when in a pinch.

3. Gum Containers 

Having change everywhere looks messy, but this little hack will keep it all together. These gum containers are big enough to fit lots of change, and some bills if you choose, and fit perfectly in your cup holder. These containers can work for other things like small snacks, hair pins, etc. 

4. Shoe Organizers

A shoe organizer works wonders for all those mismatch items that pile up. You can keep extra socks, toys, snacks, and whatever else you can think of in these perfect sized slots. This placement works for both the driver and passengers in the back. 

5. File Organizers

A small file organizer can be found at an office supply store and works really well to store important documents. Things like your title, registration, insurance, pet documents, maps, etc. that you need to always keep in the car or for travel can all be kept in one spot. This file organizer should also help keep the documents from getting dirty or wrinkled. 

You can use these tips to organize your car and keep it from becoming too messy again. At North Brothers Ford we're here to help with any auto need including tips like these 5 car organization hacks! It's our goal to make auto service and routine maintenance easy for you. For your convenience you can schedule your check-in time for your service appointment online! We can also help save you a future headache by regularly performing maintenance like oil changes, tire rotations, and brake inspections to help your car run its best! We've put all the best advice and answers to your questions in our newly updated FAQs page that will help you take care of your vehicle. 

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+