Introduction
Car clutter. No one likes it. Much of what we eat, in small and loose pieces, fall into tiny gaps in our cars. And the situation is worsened by how sandy Florida is all the time. What used to be an inviting fresh new car with little or no litter now stinks, as life usually causes the car to be very messy.
It is not strange that this happens as the car is sometimes used as additional space to store things. It is commonly repurposed for work calls and writing emails. At times, it may even be used as a wardrobe. As the days pass, it gets tiring to take the effort to keep things tidy and hygienic, as it takes hours of hard work and vacuuming to clean things up. Sometimes we need urgent repair for car, like windscreen replacement. You must take it to the repair shop that offers same day windscreen replacement.
So how can we fix this? It can seem daunting to take on and organise the mess but the next 9 quick tips can yield impressive results despite requiring little or not effort to implement. We’ll even throw in a bonus tip! Check out Simply Car Mats for a wide range of car mats that will protect the interior of your vehicle from some of the dirt and grime.
1. Keep coins in a small repurposed container
Coins can be a pesky thing to deal with, especially when they end up in the cup holders of the car, making it difficult to actually use the holders to hold bottles. A used chewing gum container would do the trick by keeping the coins neatly stowed away in a single location.
Once the container is filled, you can simply take it to the bank or anywhere else to convert it into cash. Alternatively, you can keep it handy in case you need it for tolls.
2. Prepare a car toolkit
Get a large bag, ensuring it has compartments or a hard plastic container to hold all the items. To put this toolkit together, start with the items you already have in the car that are used frequently. Here are some suggestions you could consider.
- Insect repellant spray
- Sunblock lotion
- Wet tissue
- Plastic bags
- Reusable bags
- Torchlight
- Medical Kit
- Female care products
Take all the items and put it in your bag or box of choice and tuck it somewhere accessible. In times of emergency, this can also be used as a getaway bag or as an emergency supply bag while you get somewhere safe.
3. Keep air conditioning vents clear with a brush
The vents can clog up easily, making it hard to clean if not done regularly and routinely. Keeping a brush that fits well into the vents of your car handy can help keep them clean to reduce build-up. You can keep this brush accessible by placing it in the glove compartment.
4. Make your own upholstery cleaner to keep your car seats pristine
The fabric of car seats are a hotspot for food crumbs, dust and dirt. When efforts to find a cheap and reliable fabric cleaner came to naught, the problem was finally resolved by creating one. It is simple to make and you are likely to find the needed ingredients to make it lying around unused in your home.
5. Polish headlights with toothpaste and water
Headlights can refresh the look of your car but cleaners sold commercially are expensive and may not actually work.
While many people are often hesitant to use such a cheap and dodgy sounding method to clean their expensive cars, it is actually an extremely cost-effective and reliable method! Having a polished and shiny headlight can do wonders for the look of your car, keeping it fresh and looking newer than it actually is.
6. Use Rain-x on windshields
Rain-x can help keep the windshields pristine and stain free. Even when insects get stuck to the car, Rain-x can keep it bug-free as well with repeated use. Bugs staying on the windshield can be very annoying and disturbing, use this quick fix to improve not only your car condition and cleanliness but also your driving experience.
7. Store unused napkins in the glove box
Remember the leftover napkins that were not used after a meal? Take them and keep them. It will come in handy whether it is to clean up a mess or if someone has a cold. If you have grubby toddlers in the backseat, this is a handy item to have to clean up after them. This can also help you save money as you can save on buying tissues.
8. Repurpose a small plastic bag into a trash bin
We have discussed much about managing crumbs but trash is a huge issue too. The last thing you want is for the trash to end up everywhere so using a small plastic bag as a bin solves this problem. Plus, it doesn’t get in anyone’s way due to its small size.
This is also a convenient and environmentally-friendly solution as you already probably have a bunch of plastic bags from grocery shopping which can then be used for this purpose. Clearing the trash out can also be easily done by tying it up and throwing it in the larger bin.
9. Have strict car rules
This will not completely solve all the issues but sometimes prevention is better than cure. Establishing some basic guidelines for the family can be helpful. This will differ from case to case but ensure that there is a consensus. Here are some suggestions for the rulebook.
- No food consumption in the car
- Empty the trash bin at the end of the day
- Takeaway drinks have to be covered by a sturdy cap
No matter what rules you end up choosing, you have to abide by them so it’s best that everyone in the family is involved in making the rules. Change happens only if you choose it, and you do not want to maintain the status quo of a messy and untidy car.
To ensure that the rules are enforced and abided by, consider a punishment system. For instance, failure to comply might result in the loss of driver privileges, or the chance to ride shotgun. This is especially useful if you have teenagers or children in the family. Y
Conclusion
It is inevitable that the car will get messy and dirty, so it is more important about managing it that will turn things around. While these suggestions may seem simple, you might just be impressed at how effective they can be!