As I drive around the Central Valley, people see “Organized By Choice” on my back window. Years ago, I attended a network meeting where I received some free publicity from someone who walked past my car in the parking lot. She announced to everyone that even the inside of my car is well-organized! Until then, I hadn’t thought about the inside publicizing my skills like the outside does. I was glad that I practice what I preach!
Many of us spend a lot of time in our cars. Without some intentional planning and follow-through it can be frustrating not having access to what you need, or fighting the clutter. It can also get gross, tossing fast food garbage in the back and forgetting about it until the odor reminds you, or it gets in the way of a passenger.
Today's TIMELY TIPS provide ideas for systems and tools to make your drive a pleasure.
Timely Tips - for your driving pleasure
1. Familiarize yourself with the built-in storage your car offers. Car sales people spend more time selling a car on its technology, safety, and comfort than on the storage compartments it provides. Glove compartments are standard, but yours may have undiscovered glasses storage, armrest and other storage areas. Find them and use them!
2. Maximize the storage areas you have with console organizers. You can purchase ones that are molded to your car, or just use Ziplocs and other small containers to separate and organize the contents such as hand sanitizer, sunscreen, insect repellent, and coins.
3. Designate specific homes for items like your vehicle registration and insurance information. An expandable pouch stored in the glove compartment or center console makes it easy to find these items when needed. You can also store service records and coupons here.
4. If your pick-up doubles as storage for tools and hunting gear, you may consider transforming the dead space under the seats into storage with a DU-HA under seat storage compartment.
5. Trunk organizers provide storage for jumper cables, flares, and first aid kits as well as compartments to keep groceries from sliding around. You can purchase headrest hooks that enable you to hang grocery bags, backpacks, and jackets by the back seat.
6. Keep it clean with a designated place for trash. This hanging trash can also provides a place for tissues and a cup holder which could be used for wipes or hand sanitizer. (I ordered one for my car this week!) On her website, OneGoodThingbyJillee.com, Jillee recommends repurposing a plastic cereal container by lining it with a plastic bag and using it as a car trash can. Another clever Jillee idea is to line your cup holders with silicone muffin cups. You can pop them in the dishwasher when they get messy.
7. If you taxi babies/kids you'll need an emergency supply of diapers, wipes, undies, clothes, carsick pouches, etc. as well as a place for activities and snacks. Keep a few Ziplocs for wet, messy, or soiled items. These behind the seat organizers containerize and keep things accessible.
8. Store your reusable grocery bags or bins in a designated area of your car or trunk. Get into the habit of putting them back into the car right away so they're available when you need them. My favorite “bags” for grocery and Costco runs are the collapsible bins and nylon totes from CleverMade.
9. Tired of things slipping through the cracks? Plug up the gaps with carseat gap organizers. Store things you want easy access to and end the frustration of digging between seats for dropped items.
Getting your car prepped and organized is all for naught if you don’t have a maintenance plan. Place a trash can in the garage near the car so it’s simple to empty the car trash daily or every other day. When you arrive at home, survey the front and back seats and bring in everything that doesn’t need to stay. Place items you’ve used into their designated homes. If traveling with kids, make sure they bring in their water bottles, backpacks, etc. That will help make your next trip a pleasure!