If you have kids, there is little doubt that the interior of your car can use some help. Carting kids to and from school, activities, and lessons can leave you with very little time to clean your car. Instead of tossing out everything inside of your car, try these useful car organization ideas to keep things tidy and handy. Once you get rid of the trash inside your car, you’ll be left with a small hill of things that you really need. Here are five ways to keep what you need in the car without being forced to drive the clutter-mobile.
Car Organization Hacks & Ideas For Parents
Organizing your car can make your daily commute or road trips much more pleasant and efficient. Here are some car organization ideas to help keep your vehicle neat and tidy:
1. Use Containers
Plastic containers are a great way to organize all of the things in your car that you use regularly. Small plastic storage boxes are cheap and can store everything from crayons and coloring books to first-aid supplies. You can buy new containers specifically for your car. Alternatively, you can look for containers around your house that you can put to good use. Old baby-wipe containers, plastic milk crates, shoe boxes and rinsed out ice cream containers all make great storage totes for your small belongings. Stow these storage containers under seats out of sight or in the glove compartment.
2. Keep Trash Bags Handy
Part of the problem with cars today is that they have no trash receptacle. Because it’s never a good idea to litter, you are often stuck tossing your garbage onto the seat next to you. Or worse yet, onto the floor. To curtail this problem, keep several plastic bags that you can reuse in your vehicle’s glove box at all times.
Any time that you need a trash bag, you only have to pop open your glove box and pull one out. When you reach your destination, simply take your bag and toss it into a trash bin. You can reuse grocery store bags for this job. You may like to have a small, blunt plastic hook in your car. This is especially great if you are on long trips where the trash may be ongoing. Or just tie the bag shut and dispose of it at your first stop. This is my favorite of all car organization ideas because nothing says messy like trash!
3. Stock Up on Wet Wipes
If you have kids, you are guaranteed to have spills and sticky messes in your car. Keep a container of wet wipes or baby wipes in your car at all times. Not only are these great for small hands, but they’re good for cleaning off leather seats, dashboards and consoles. Here is a recipe for homemade disinfectant wipes.
4. Car Trunk Organizer
Messy clothes go along with sticky spills, and you won’t want your child sitting in wet clothes for an entire car ride or day out. Make sure that you have one full, seasonally-appropriate change of clothing in your car at all times. An outfit for each child can easily be put into a single backpack and tossed into your trunk. Or you can get a cheap collapsible car trunk organizer (my affiliate link to my favorite on Amazon) to keep the spare clothing in along with some other essentials like a car emergency kit.
5. Bedding for the Long Ride
If you travel with the kids frequently, especially if your trips are long ones, it makes sense that you would want to keep a throw blanket and a pillow or two in the car. However, blankets and pillows can take up quite a bit of room. So instead of bringing along full-sized comforters and pillows, look for those that are travel-sized. “C” shaped neck pillows make great car accessories. They can be wrapped around the posts of your headrests for easy storage. Thin fleece or thermal blankets take up less room than sleeping bags or comforters. They can be folded tightly for storage under your front passenger seat or in your car trunk organizer.
One quick bonus suggestion: Seat gap fillers are designed to prevent small items from falling between seats, such as phones, keys, or loose change. They are super handy!
Conclusion
Remember to periodically declutter and organize your car to maintain a clean and functional space for you and your passengers. Just because you’re a mom doesn’t mean that you have to drive a messy car. If you follow the five car organization ideas above, you’ll not only have a clean car, but an organized one that is a pleasure to drive, no matter how far you are traveling.
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