The Filter

With the ice and snow over the past few weeks, most of us have been driving around on salted roads (or at least those of us who were lucky enough to get salted roads!). What you may not be aware of is that salt can cause damage to your car. It can cause corrosion and can speed up rust, which is particularly relevant to older cars. Without getting too scientific on it, salt increases the electrical conductivity of water and so accelerates corrosion.

Now that the cold spell seems to have subsided, it is probably a good time to give the car a good wash and try and get rid of the salt off the bodywork and undercarriage of the vehicle. Make sure in particular to wash the underside of your car to get rid of the salt which will have bounced up from the roads. When you’re washing the car make sure also to get the mud and muck out of the wheels and wheel arches. Give rubber, trims, door seals and tyres a good wash and rub also. If you’re using a hose at home make sure it has a high pressure nozzle so that you can get the water at power into those hard to reach places.

You may also find that your car mats have turned white in sections. This can be caused by road salt from your shoes.  Mostly this can be removed with soap and water but if this doesn’t do the job you can also try some vinegar diluted with water.

MicksGarage is looking to recruit a full-time web designer, who can also do development / implementation. send CVs to jobs@micksgarage.ie

job spec is here:

  Full time web designer / developer required for Irelands leading online car parts and accessories company Location: Dublin 12URL: http://www.micksgarage.ie Description:Job Description:  This is an excellent opportunity to work in an expanding dynamic Irish eCommerce company specialising in online sales of car parts and accessories. As the main web designer, you will be working on a variety of the elements associated with website design including user interface, landing pages, site redesign, marketing communication etc. This is a role for someone that can take an idea / concept and run with it to return with solid eTail orientated functional designs. You will also be involved in the online marketing element of the business. This is mainly a web design position and as such the successful candidate will have proven design skills. 

Responsibilities: • Website Build, Testing, Updating & publishing.• Website Updates & Maintenance Qualifications/Skills: • Proven XHTML & CSS capabilities.• Good Knowledge of Search Engine Optimisation, Google / Web Analytics• E-Commerce Website Development Experience.• Experience with web applications using ASP.NET, JavaScript, AJAX,. 

• Must have experience of .net development environment• Must have the ability to conform to web/development standards.• Flash, Illustrator & other multimedia software experience would be beneficial.• Be able to work on your own initiative.• Excellent presentation & communication skills.• Experience of eCommerce / eTail environments - from customer Acquisition to Fulfillment  Any SQL experience preferred but not essential.Any car parts or motor industry industry experience a distinct advantage. Education & Experience: • 3+ years of commercial web design experience 

Salary: Negotiable DOECVs & examples of your work to be forwarded to jobs@micksgarage.ieReference WEBDEV1.  

Note:Only candidates who give examples of website work will be considered. **Note**:NO AGENCIES

The Sunday Independent reports on the increase in sales of duvets, stews and car parts over the past two weeks.

A freezing Ciaran from MicksGarage was on TV3 discussing some useful winter products for the car.

Ciaran himself had to be de-iced when he came back from TV3.

Okay we've covered this before but the Irish Times has some handy tips here on safe driving in the snow. Unsurprisingly we've seen a fairly significant demand for bumpers, wing mirrors, window regulators, wiper arms over the past few days of bad weather, as motorists come into trouble on our icy roads.

So keep the speeds down out there!