I’ve seen people with immaculate houses have very messy cars, and I’ve heard of one family who put a waiver in their contract with their cleaning service that claimed that the inside of their car, was really another “room” in their house and had to be cleaned for free.
It is true, though, isn’t it that our cars can both be an extension of our living space and yet also forgotten as an after thought. Keeping the inside of our cars clean and clutter free is important, but not always easy to figure out.
The main reason why cars can be so tough when it comes to clutter is that it is often hard to establish a regular routine for clutter control. Most of the time, clutter collects until you either get fed up and schedule a major car cleaning overhaul, or you suddenly notice the clutter, such as the cereal wedged in nooks and crannies when you remove your child’s car seat for the car pool or the embarrassment when you pick up a friend and she has to move several items out of the way in order to sit down.
Let us eliminate car clutter with three steps.
Step 1: Clear the car of everything that doesn’t belong it in permanently. This will give you a fresh place to start. Don’t forget to look behind those car seats and under the mats.
Step 2: Keep a tote bag, a basket or a box in the car that can collect items. Anything that is brought into the car must find its way into the tote.
Step 3: As part of your regular routine, take the tote with you when you leave the car. Find the proper place in your home for everything in it, whether that is a bookshelf or the trash. Then leave the tote by the door so you can grab it on the way out for your next trip in the car.