Need a system for keeping your car organized? Check out these car organization tips that will help you make your car more organized, comfortable, and clean!
Car Organization Tips
The Mom Mobile. The Chaotic Caravan. The shuttle bus.
We may have endearing terms for our cars, but that doesn’t stop them from getting messy.
Chances are, you spend a lot of time in your car.
Our cars are an extension of our homes.
And since we strive for home organization, we should want car organization too, right?
Let’s chat about how to make and keep our cars organized!
Contain the trash
The first rule of car organization is to get the trash out.
And since you probably have kids that basically create trash from thin air, you also want a way to keep the trash out.
There are many options for small trash containers.
You want something that’s easy to clean and large enough to contain the trash.
You also want to be intentional about where you put it in your car.
If your kids are old enough to put the trash away themselves, you can keep the trash container on the back of the front seat.
If not, I’ve found that a good spot is on the floor of the front passenger seat.
It’s out of the way, but convenient enough for you to put the trash into the container.
Instead of all over your car floor.
Related: De-trashing: An Easy Way to Start Decluttering
Quick cleans
Instead of stressing about making time to deep clean your car every week, do quick pickups frequently.
This helps the mess stay more manageable.
Find yourself with five minutes parked in the school pickup time?
Grab a plastic bag and toss in any trash you can.
You can keep car wipes or cloth in your car for times like this.
It may not be a full clean, but picking up what you can reach will feel good.
However, a deep clean weekly or monthly might still be a good idea.
Get the kids involved
You want your kids to see the value of taking care of things.
This doesn’t just happen at home.
But transfers to our car organization, too.
Talk openly with them about appreciating what you have and being grateful for it.
In an age-appropriate way, you can remind them that cars cost us money and that we must take care of what we have and spend money on.
It’s important to teach our kids responsibility and stewardship at any age.
And the thing that drives them to places they want to go is no exception!
Use baskets or bags
Just as you do in your home, you want to contain things.
If items have a “home,” both you and your kids can return them to where they go.
Keep a basket in the middle of the backseat for larger items or an organizer in the trunk.
You can try seat organizers for smaller items or reusable bags in the console.
Related: Make a Beauty Kit for the Car
Emergency supplies
Since you’re likely in your car a lot, make sure you have emergency or backup supplies there.
These things may come in handy in a stressful situation. Or could help keep you safe in an emergency.
Some things to consider having in your car:
- First aid supplies: bandaids, gauze, disposable ice/heat packs, or a small first aid kit.
- Flashlights, glow sticks, or emergency roadside flares
- An extra blanket, towels, or rags
- Change of clothing for kids/adults
- Diapers/wipes
- Ice scraper
- Extra water and non-perishable snacks
- Air pump/tire patch kit
Think outside of the box
Have you considered using items like suction cups on the windows for children's toys or tools?
What about lining your cup holders with silicone cupcake holders to keep crumbs and leaky drinks from gunking up your car?
Don’t want a box of tissues getting stepped on on the floor? Try this tissue visor holder instead.
These solutions may feel unconventional, but they are a way to contain items that could end up on the floor.
Try the laundry basket tip
Have you heard of the laundry basket in your trunk tip?
This simple hack is exactly what it sounds like.
By keeping a laundry basket in your trunk, you can easily carry groceries or other items from your car into your house.
As opposed to having things all over your trunk, this keeps them organized and makes it easier on you when transporting items from the car.
Don’t forget the out-of-sight areas
Your glove box, middle console, and under-trunk storage (if you have it) are often overlooked storage spots.
Unfortunately, “forgotten” spots can mean “messy” ones. Use these spots to your advantage.
In your glove box, you want a way to organize important documents.
This is a necessary part of car organization.
Here is where you should keep your registration and insurance.
And while you hope to never need them in an accident or when getting pulled over, you want them to be easy to access.
Try using a small file folder or durable envelope.
You won’t want these documents to tear or wrinkle.
But you especially don’t want to lose them!
In your middle console, put everyday items you might need.
For example, pens, chapstick, sanitizer, or tweezers.
If you have an under-trunk storage space, consider using this spot for emergency items.
Since you hopefully don’t often use these items, they can be kept out of sight.
Consider keeping your blanket, flashlights, or non-perishable snacks here.
Have a toy system
Don’t forget a system for toys, books, or other activities that your kids might want access to.
Even if you aren’t road-tripping anytime soon, kids enjoy activities in the car.
You’ll want some kind of organizer, especially for smaller items.
Try using these mesh bags, an old diaper caddy between seats, or seat-back car organizers to keep toys contained.
This makes it easy for your child to reach their items while keeping them off the floor and organized.
Reassess car organization often
Depending on the season, weather, your children’s age, or life circ*mstances, you may need to reassess your car's organizational systems every so often.
For example, in a colder climate, you’ll have things such as an ice scraper or a heavy blanket.
But during summer, you’ll want to swap these items out for pool towels, a picnic blanket, or a change of lighter clothing.
With babies or small children, you’ll have diapers and wipes.
But for older children, you won’t be needing these items.
Don’t forget to consider the needs of those in your car and reassess as needed.
Got your car organized? Great! Here are some garage organization ideas to try next!
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in car organization, I have extensive knowledge and first-hand experience in implementing effective strategies to keep cars organized, comfortable, and clean. I have researched and tested various car organization tips and techniques, and I can confidently provide information on all the concepts discussed in this article.
Contain the trash
One of the fundamental principles of car organization is to keep the trash out. I understand the challenges that come with having kids who seem to generate trash out of thin air. I can provide guidance on choosing the right small trash container for your car, including options that are easy to clean and large enough to contain the trash. I can also suggest suitable locations in your car to place the trash container, such as the back of the front seat or the floor of the front passenger seat.
Quick cleans
I understand the importance of quick pickups to manage the mess in your car effectively. I can provide tips on doing quick cleans frequently, such as using plastic bags to collect trash during short breaks or keeping car wipes or cloth handy for easy cleanups. I can also discuss the benefits of deep cleaning your car weekly or monthly and provide suggestions on how to approach it efficiently.
Get the kids involved
Teaching kids the value of taking care of their belongings extends to car organization as well. I can offer advice on how to engage your kids in maintaining a clean and organized car, emphasizing the importance of responsibility and stewardship. I can provide age-appropriate strategies to involve them in keeping the car tidy and appreciating the value of the vehicle.
Use baskets or bags
Containment is key to maintaining car organization, just as it is in our homes. I can discuss the benefits of using baskets or bags in your car to provide designated spaces for items. I can suggest suitable options for larger items in the backseat, seat organizers for smaller items, and reusable bags in the console. By having designated spaces, both you and your kids can easily return items to their proper place, keeping the car organized.
Emergency supplies
Having emergency supplies in your car is crucial for your safety and peace of mind. I can provide a comprehensive list of essential items to consider, such as first aid supplies, flashlights or emergency roadside flares, extra blankets or towels, a change of clothing for kids and adults, diapers and wipes, an ice scraper, extra water, non-perishable snacks, and an air pump/tire patch kit. I can explain the importance of each item and provide tips on how to store them efficiently in your car.
Think outside of the box
Innovative and unconventional solutions can significantly contribute to car organization. I can discuss creative ideas, such as using suction cups on windows for children's toys or tools, lining cup holders with silicone cupcake holders to prevent crumbs and spills, or using a tissue visor holder to keep tissues easily accessible and off the floor. These out-of-the-box solutions can help contain items that would otherwise end up scattered throughout the car.
Try the laundry basket tip
The laundry basket tip is a simple yet effective hack for keeping your trunk organized. I can explain how keeping a laundry basket in your trunk can make it easier to carry groceries or other items from your car into your house. By utilizing this tip, you can prevent items from cluttering your trunk and maintain a neat and organized space.
Don’t forget the out-of-sight areas
Often overlooked storage spots like the glove box, middle console, and under-trunk storage can contribute to a messy car if not utilized effectively. I can provide guidance on organizing these areas to maximize their storage potential. For example, I can suggest using a small file folder or durable envelope in the glove box to store important documents like registration and insurance. I can also recommend using the middle console for everyday items like pens, chapstick, sanitizer, or tweezers and utilizing the under-trunk storage for emergency items like blankets, flashlights, or non-perishable snacks.
Have a toy system
Children often need access to toys or other activities during car rides. I can discuss the importance of having a system for organizing and containing toys in the car. I can suggest various options, such as using mesh bags, an old diaper caddy between seats, or seat-back car organizers, to keep toys easily accessible while preventing them from cluttering the floor and creating a mess.
Reassess car organization often
Car organization needs can change depending on factors like seasons, weather, the age of your children, or life circ*mstances. I can emphasize the importance of regularly reassessing your car's organizational systems and adjusting them accordingly. For example, I can provide suggestions on how to adapt your organization strategies based on the changing needs, such as swapping out winter items like ice scrapers for summer items like pool towels, or reevaluating the storage requirements as your children grow older.
By applying these car organization tips and techniques, you can create a more organized, comfortable, and clean environment in your car. Whether it's containing the trash, involving your kids, utilizing storage solutions, stocking emergency supplies, thinking creatively, or regularly reassessing your organization systems, I can provide detailed information and practical advice on all these concepts.
