Honda Odyssey: It practically cleans itself.

When I first test drove the Honda Odyssey, I was in awe of all the bells and whistles. I volunteered to drive everywhere so I could show it off to my friends and family. I am sure they got sick of my saying, "Check this out!"

After a long show and tell, I would conclude by proclaiming, "It practically does everything but clean itself!"

Then Honda announced that the 2014 model would include a vacuum.

<<<<<MIND EXPLOSION>>>>>

Although my 2013 doesn't have the ingenious vacuum feature (beware french fries of 2014, HondaVAC is looking at YOU), it does have all-weather mats which are equally as awesome.

Let's say you take a road trip and on the way home a certain kindergartener gets aggressive with dipping sauce for his drive-thru chicken. Let's say you look back in complete horror as the you see (almost in slow motion) the sauce drop from his darling hands and splatter on the floor of the car.

UGH. "Ain't nobody got time for that!"

And then I remembered the swanky mats I have covering the floor of the van! The All-Weather Mats that line the three passenger rows of my van (and I have the Trunk Tray too!), protected the car (and me) from extra clean up. It really is the car that cleans itself! Check this out, it's as easy as...

 

1. Pull the mat out of the car.
2. Spray with hose. Do not touch gross sauce with your finger.
3. Let dry in the sun while you water your flowers. (I should water my grass though, huh?)

  These All-Weather Mats are not just for the Odyssey ($205)--they are available for any Honda. Need them? (I personally think every mom should have one.) Just mention me ("Lindsey from The R House") and you will automatically receive 10% off. Use it to take your family through your favorite drive-thru ...and ask for extra sauce.

Follow Lindsey Redfern of The R House as she falls in love with the 2013 Honda Odyssey. A reformed SUV enthusiast, she has seen the light and is passing her excitement onto you in the a form of really sweet deals. Get the all details on how she can save you a little cash.

10 Must Have Accessories For Your New Car

There are so many different car accessories that deciding which ones to get can leave you puzzled.  If you want accessories that add value and protect your new vehicle, here are the accessories that you must get.

1. All-Weather Floor Mats. Most new cars come with a carpet floor mat.  The all-weather mats are rubber and help protect your car's flooring by keeping it clean and dry.

2. Door edge guard.  This handy gadget slides on the edge of the door preventing you from both "dinging" other cars and from chipping the paint on your vehicle.

3. Trunk tray.  The rubber trunk tray is to your trunk what all-weather mats are to your floor.  Among other things, it stops a leaky milk jug from stinking up your car.  Pull your trunk tray out, give it a quick rinse and air dry.  Pop it back in your trunk and you're good to go. 

4. Roof rack and cross bars.  For those with long travel plans.  Also goes along with...

5. Roof-top carrier.  Adds around 13 cubic feet of extra storage, depending on the model you get.

6. Window tint is a great investment.  It lowers the temperature inside the car and protects the interior from UV rays and fading.

7. Tow hitch and wiring harness.  This is a perfect addition on Ridgelines, CRVs, Pilots and Odysseys if you have outdoor toys that you need to get from point A to point B.

8. DVD players keep happy passengers and unbothered drivers.  Perfect for anyone who takes long road trips.

9. Fabric guard or leather guard protects your car's interior from stains and spills.  The "guard" products  protect the fabric from absorbing stains, to they are much easier to remove while protecting against both water and oil based stains.  

10. Undercoating.  Sprayed under your car, it makes your undercarriage rust proof.  This is critical for snowy climates, like Utah where salt is used to make roads drivable under slick conditions.  Undercoating also reduces road noise making your commute that much more pleasant.