Getting into a good car-cleaning routine is essential and there are 10 easy steps that even the busiest person can take to keep their car clean, mean and gleaming.
1. Eliminate the clutter
Before you even think about long-term car organisation techniques, you need to have a serious clean out first. Think about it like de-cluttering your house and only keep things you REALLY need in the vehicle. Everything else can be thrown away, recycled or taken back into the house.
Remember to check all those hidden storage compartments.
2. Clean out the glove compartment
If your glove compartment is filled with paper napkins, parking tickets and empty CD boxes, then now is the time to have a clear out.
Your glove compartment should contain essential information such as your vehicles manual book, car insurance quotes and certificates. It’s also a good idea to carry a flashlight and any local maps you may need.
3. Ban messy food
Sticky sweets and ice creams, crumbly sausage rolls and greasy French fries are now all banned from my car. Not only does the food seem to travel EVERYWHERE the temptation is to just leave the empty wrappers in the car after consumption.
If you need to eat on the move, stop at a service station or cafe and enjoy a proper break instead.
4. Keep a stash of wet-wipes and plastic bags in the glove compartment
Wet wipes are great for cleaning hands and faces (a complete godsend if you have kids) and can also be used to give the steering wheel and dashboard a quick clean if it’s looking dusty.
Plastic bags are great for shoving litter, dirty clothes, muddy shoes and soggy umbrellas into. Remember to replace them once they’ve been used.
5. Put an empty box in the boot
Empty boxes can be used for putting shopping bags into, to prevent them rolling around the boot of your car, or used to fill with items you intend to take to the charity shop but never seem to get around to doing so. This will not only organise your car but your house too!
If your car doubles as your office, then invest in a sturdier plastic box which can be used for storing paperwork, which can then be easily transported into your home (or the recycling bin) when no longer needed.
6. Get a receipts envelope
The biggest pile of paper in my car always seems to be the huge stash of service station receipts that build up on my dashboard. If you need to keep fuel receipts for tax or budgeting purposes then invest in a plastic wallet or envelope that you can fill with receipts each time you are given one. Remember to remove them once a month.
7. Invest in seat organisers if you have children
Seat organisers can be picked up relatively cheaply online and you’ll be amazed at the difference this makes to your car, particularly if travelling any distance with young children. Containing several different pockets and compartments you’re kids will quickly learn to put their pencils and activity books into the organiser rather than on the floor.
In addition, the organisers will help prevent your chair upholstery from those dirty little shoe marks.
8. Stick to a car cleaning schedule
At the start of each year, mark a date on your new calendar each month, which must be dedicated as ‘car day’. Whether you chose to clean the car yourself or take it to a professional cleaners is up to you but make sure you never miss this important date with your car.
You could also use this time to carry out basic checks on your vehicle, like tyre pressure, oil and water levels.
9. Take clothing out of your car as soon as you return home
Coats, sweaters, spare shoes and overnight bags have a habit of being left on the back seat or in the trunk, particularly if you arrive home late at night. Take any items of clothing out and into your house as soon as you return home.
10. Create an ‘emergency’ box
Fill a metal box with emergency items to avoid cluttering your car and handbag. This could include an antibacterial hand spray, more wet wipes, emergency change, plasters, bite or sting cream and sun lotion.
