Have you ever met someone who seemed to be be the cleanest, most organized person in the world? I mean everything from their home to their cubicle at work just always seemed to be clean, kept, and organized? That is, until you saw the inside of their car?!? I know someone like that, and maybe you do too. Or, maybe you are that someone. For some reason, cars seem to accumulate clutter and mess as if out of nowhere, especially if you have kids and/or spend a large amount of time in your car. Thanks to some helpful tips in this article from Enviro Maids, you can make sure you keep your car clean and organized.

Tips for Organizing your Messy Car

If you’re like many people, you spend a great deal of time in your car. Even though you may spend more time in your car than in some rooms in your house, it’s common to neglect to keep the car as tidy and organized as the areas inside your home. Not only is a messy car unsightly and embarrassing, it also can be dangerous; lose objects can become projectiles in a crash. If you’ll be driving to your vacation destination this summer, make your trip more pleasurable and safer by de-cluttering the interior of your car. Here are our tips on how to tidy up the interior of your car, a.k.a. your “home on wheels” and keep it that way.

• Clean out your car, throwing away all old papers you no longer need as well as garbage. Don’t forget the trunk, glove compartment and side pockets. Take this opportunity to wash and vacuum the interior of your car. To clean the tiny crevices, a soft cloth covering the tip of a flat screwdriver helps to get dirt out of the tightest places. A long-bristled artist’s brush lightly sprayed with a natural dust cleaner can be used to remove the dust from air vents.
• Remove everything you don’t use frequently or need in an emergency. Items such as car cleaners or camping chairs stored inside your trunk, for example, should be stored elsewhere. Seasonal items, like traction aids for the snow, should be stored in the car only when the season demands. Cleaning out your trunk will not only free-up valuable space, the weight you save by shedding excess pounds from your car could be enough to improve both your tire wear and your gas mileage—saving you money in the long run.
• Keep all important documents together in an expandable file in your glove compartment. Label separate sections for your insurance card and vehicle registration, car manual and mechanical maintenance (oil change receipts, car service records, etc.) If the glove compartment is small, keep the file tucked under your seat.
• Always have a receptacle available where passengers can easily place their trash. There are many types of trash cans and bags available, such as ones that attach with Velcro or loop around the back of seats, etc. Choose the one you like best and fits your needs. Avoid collecting clutter by getting in the habit of each time you bring something into the car, taking it out when you exit your vehicle.
• While some vehicles come with storage compartments, they usually aren’t enough for everything you may need, especially on long car rides. If you have kids who carry toys, games and other similar items into the car, invest in organizers that’ll give the kids a place to keep their things in instead of having items rolling around on the floor. Be sure to buy an organizer that anchors to a non-moving part of the car, like the bottom of a seat or the metal part of the head rest. This prevents the organizer itself from becoming a projectile hazard in the event of hard braking or an accident.
• For extra storage space, consider investing in a trunk organizer. There are many types of customizable and reconfigurable organizers to make your shopping and traveling easier.
• Keep a box of baby wipes handy for those times when you need to clean up a spill or to use it after eating a meal on the go.

In addition to your proof of insurance and a copy of your registration, the following is a list of what you should have in your car at all times:

• Cell phone charger
• Vehicle owner’s manual
• Tire gauge

For emergencies:

• Jumper cables, tire patch, flares
• Spare tire and jack
• Flashlight and batteries
• Supply of nonperishable food and water
• Jacket, hat and blanket (colder months)
• First aid kit
• Spare change