How to Clean and Organize Your Car!

INSIDE : COME CHECK OUT HOW TO CLEAN AND ORGANIZE YOUR CAR AND KEEP IT THAT WAY WITHOUT MELTDOWNS!

Ever looked into someone else’s car and thought…..how in the world is it so clean? Don’t you have kids? Do you have another car that takes them places? What am I missing?

Of course, there are the cars that you look at and think “I’m doing JUST fine…this chick needs a highly skilled detailer to make this sanitary…”

But really kids can make a car so disgusting, it’s impressive. A 10 minute ride from gymnastics to home causes hours worth of cleaning. Do they like to live in filth???

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I’ve tried making a rule that there’s no eating in my car….doesn’t work. Inevitably, they will be starving one day and HAVE to eat something or they will DIE!!! You know the noise……high-pitched, blood boiling…..makes me shiver! Then there is the ugly cry….oh lord!

However, I have learned some tricks to keep these meltdowns and shrills (mine and theirs) to a minimum:

Trash

I don’t believe in the plastic bin in the car for a trash can….2 reasons. Things smell over time and it’s easier to throw them away when you get out of the car. Therefore, our rule is ALL trash is emptied after each trip. We pull in the driveway and empty the door pockets, cup holders, and toss any bags we’ve accumulated along the trip.

***If it isn’t our driveway – we wait and empty into the gas station trash cans***

Snacks

I always have a snack available for those ‘I’m so hungry, you have to stop at the nearest fast food joint!!’ moments!

So what are some simple things that won’t cause a massive mess?

• Goldfish
• Pretzels
• Raisins
• Cereal
• Popcorn

***I pre-package these items. Wanna know what I do? Check it out here.

Spills

I’m beginning to think that either my driving is really terrible or my kids are the clumsiest people on the planet. They spill drinks every time we drive anywhere. I’ll blame the bumps in the road….NOT my driving!

So even though they are older now, we still require drinks with some kind of lid. I like having a bottle of water available for them. Sometimes it’s my water bottle. But we use re-usable water bottles, not the plastic, pre-filled ones.

Cleaning up spills are much easier when it’s water…..but…..it’s not always water. Is it?

I recommend stocking up on napkins….coffee stops, food stops…whatever….keep the napkins in the car!!!!! Since, napkins can get used up fast, it’s important to have a Plan B. Keeping upholstery cleaner in the trunk can be a quick way to clean up spills that aren’t water.

**Personal side note – one time the kids let the cooler spill in the car, all over the floor, and didn’t tell me. We didn’t get in the car for an entire day and when we re-entered the car, it smelled like something died in there. 🤢 That’s when I started keeping upholstery cleaner in my car.

Hands and Faces

Another important need for car travels – wet wipes. These can be diaper wipes, wet paper towels, or boogie wipes. Honestly, I use them on the car surfaces too. I’ve spilled coffee and knew that it would be sticky, wet wipes saved the day. Not to mention, I’ve spilled coffee on myself and having the wipes handy made my mess less noticeable.

Activities

Even a short trip requires some level of distraction. I love talking to the kids, learning about their days, hearing what drama the boy next to them caused in class today, or why someone’s grandma is in the hospital…THESE ARE REAL CONVERSATIONS…BUT having other options in case you get stuck in traffic is essential.

DVD player with headphones. **If you don’t have headphones for the DVD player, you need to figure out how to get them!!!!** Don’t forget to bring batteries for the headphones.

BUT what happens when you forget to pack movies?!?

PANIC!!!!!!!!!!!! No….don’t really panic……instead keep this available:

Travel organizer

Fill this puppy up with crayons, markers, pens, paper, rubix cubes, travel games…..whatever your kids are into these days. It folds up and fits perfectly behind a seat or you can hang it from the headrest.

Trunk

What a cluster this can be! So always keep a Large Utility Tote from Thirty One in the trunk. It organizes in several ways.

• Groceries – several bags fit in the LUT so it keeps things from slipping around AND it helps make less trips from trunk to house.
• Reusable shopping bags – most grocery stores give you money back when you use these.
• Kids needs – I feel like we have a birthday party to attend every other day so I bought a box of kids birthday cards. They are generic and not fancy BUT I never worry about forgetting a card. I also bought gift bags and tissue paper to keep in the LUT. The idea is that all I have to do is buy the gift. Easy right?!?! I’m still trying to figure out how I can buy a bunch of things to have on hand as gifts…Have any ideas for me????
• Car needs – jumper cables, blanket, windshield washer fluid. I grew up in a place where you kept blankets, extra shoes, gloves, and anything else to keep you warm (in case you got stuck on the side of the road during a blizzard) in your trunk. I still think it’s a good idea to have certain things.
• Dog things – travel water bottle is a necessity. This has come in handy so many times. Collapsible feeding bowls can help when traveling too!!!

First Aid Kit

If you don’t have one of these…..what kind of person are you?!?!?! Whatever your reason – if you don’t have one, get one….like this. That way you can build your own kit. Here is what you need:

• Bandaids
• Cleanser/pain, itch, and burn reliever
• Ibuprofen or Tylenol – kid and adult dosage
• Crushable ice pack
• Should cost about $10 – and you have what you need with nothing you don’t

Deep Clean

I don’t know about you but I like to clean my car in my driveway. I don’t feel rushed, don’t feel like I’m keeping the spot from someone else, and I can take time-outs, if I need them.

I use a Shop Vac at home. But you can use your regular vacuum too.

• Start from the bottom up. I know it sounds and seems counter intuitive but trust me…….stick to this idea throughout the car.
• Vacuum. When you have more than 10 minutes, take the car mats out and vacuum. If you need to clean up but only have a few minutes, leave the mats and just lift up the seams.
• Clean the surfaces. Keep with the bottom up…..seats, consoles, steering wheel, dashboard, and don’t forget those steps that lead to the outdoor world ****However, I wait until I’m done with all other surfaces before moving there. Doors are last in my car. Cup holders are second to last…..these tend to be the dirtiest places and I don’t really want to spread their filth around.
• Glass. I use the anti-fog glass wipes and ended up streak free. I try to stick to a few rules with cleaning glass – never clean directly in the sun, never too wet, and use a new towel or wipe with every major window.

Now enjoy your glory…..for you have a clean, fresh smelling car that has everything you need to handle every mom situation! Kids are happy, dogs are happy, you are happy….just remember to change the oil every now and then.

Happy organizing,

Have any ideas for keeping the car clean? Tips or tricks you would like to share with the class? We would ALL appreciate the help!!!