Talk to me about your car-organising must haves!

[MotherWol]

After years of driving an absolute banger, it looks like we’re about to get a new (used) car. Our current car is messy and always feels like a bin on wheels, I’d like to keep the next one feeling nice and tidy and well organised inside. What are your top tips for not keeping your car organised? Any products you swear by or things you wouldn’t be without? I want to make a new start!

What the he'll do you keep in it if it looks like a bin on wheels??

Just take your rubbish out with you when you get home?

Dont let the kids and dog in it fir starters

Oh and don't park it near any trees.

we live by the sea so my car is constantly full of sand and beach stuff.

I have a box in the boot which I keep the kids buckets and spades, a couple of old towels etc. also have a first aid kit in the car because toddlers. Also jumpers and change of clothes. Because toddlers.

other than the sand I make the dc pick up all the stuff in the car at least once a week.

It's hard if you've got kids in the back making endless mess!

Congrats on your new car OP! Always have a bag for toys and a bag for rubbish. Try and tidy up after every journey to keep on top of things.

@MotherWol we have seat back organisers bought off Amazon, 1 on each of the front seats, for the kids to keep their things in (a drink, blanket, sunglasses, and a couple of toys that stay on the car). Then we have something similar that spans the back of all 3 seats in the boot, for things like shopping bags, a jacket for each child, a few nappies and a packet of wipes, jumper cables and a spare leash for the dogs. I also keep a small roll of smallish trash bags in my glove box to throw any rubbish into when we get to our destination, that way even if there's no bin where we are, it's all contained and can easily be tossed out when we get to a bin.

Take every bit of rubbish out when you get out. Vacuum and dust inside regularly. Keep the windows clean with window cleaning spray. Don’t park under trees. I have had every car-bin and organising container possible over the years but it all comes down to these basics and a couple of bags for life in the boot with any essentials in.

Also just get in the habit of picking up water bottles, gloves, shin pads, whatever gets left in the car regularly, don’t let the clutter build up. And don’t eat in the car if you can possibly avoid it.

I have a plastic cereal container as our car bin and empty it once a week no spillages and no rubbish in the car. We have water bottles in each door side which get washed and refilled each week. Masks in the glove box just in case. First aid kit - young DC. Blankets - young DC. Back seat organisers with sunglasses, sun cream, anti bac, baby wipes and nappy sacks. Snack box and books in the back - DC's 😬. Air pump for tyres and foldable crate in the boot with bags for life in and a picnic blanket as we have been out and about a lot with the summer holidays.

Wow that sounds organised but the reality is I've usually forgotten something 😂😂.

I don't keep anything on my car, aside from the manual in the glove box, so it stays tidy. We never have reason to eat in it either. I suppose if you do you just need to lift any rubbish as you leave the car.

DDs (6 and 1). Despite my best efforts to take rubbish out, there’s usually sand, tiny toys and car park tickets everywhere, plus DH’s junk in the boot. If it were just me it would be immaculate but I live with three saboteurs.

Some really good ideas here, thank you all! Love the idea of a roll of bin bags in the glove compartment @Mommabear20 . We usually have bags for life in the boot but a collapsible crate is a good idea too. I want to have a proper audit and make sure we’ve got stuff like a first aid kit and breakdown kit because over the years I think that’s gone walkies too.

It's usually rubbish that composes 90% of the actual mess. Pay & Display tickets I'm reluctant to remove in case some carpark claims I didn't pay, where else would I store them? But no need for empty food packaging or disposable wipes (often seen in cars).

I'm going to go do a clear out on mine, now, feeling inspired!

Separate cars. One for you and one for them. It’s the only way. (I feel your pain and I just have a Dh).

Always have a small bottle of water in case of emergencies, first aid kit, roll of small plastic bags, special hammer for breaking the window (after reading local report of children in a family drowned as they were unable to get out of a car - really freaked me that one did).

And thanks to the habits of my departed parent, I also always have a loo roll (sometimes a pack of tissues frankly just won’t save the day with the mess kids can make), a set of plastic cutlery (has come in handy a surprising number of times) and a minimum of £30 in notes under the drivers mat. The last one is thanks to my dad!
He always advised reversing into parking spaces “You never know when you might need a quick getaway “ and “Always have enough cash to get petrol to get away even if you have lost all your stuff”. And as much as I rolled my eyes at him, in 40 years of driving this advice has proved very useful.

A car bin. Only a few £ on amazon and you can attach them within easy reach. Game changer.

For random toys etc I'd stick a basket in the back and instigate a rule that all random bits and pieces need to be kept in there - if you see it, in it goes. Easy to then pick up and take inside.

I have a dog so my car gets full of leaves, dirt, sand etc easily. Every so often I give it a quick hoover out with the suction at my local garage.

Things I always use in the car or might find myself needing suddenly get kept in door pockets or a bag in the boot:- travel water bowl for dog, bottle of water, tissues, plasters and painkillers, hand sanitiser.

Boot loner that can be detached is really handy for keeping boot clean. Just take it out to shake to get rid of bits of crap.

Wee bin in the centre console to put small rubbish. Empty when at home every time.

Don't use carpet mats as they hold crap. I use chrome effect mats which is a doddle to hoover.

My car’s interior is clean because I have 3 rules / routines:

1. Nobody ever eats in the car
2. All litter (there isn’t much because rule 1)is removed after every trip
3. Nothing is left in the car apart from shopping bags, blanket and first aid kit.

There are no such rules for DH’s car and the difference is noticeable!

I keep a polish cloth and bottle of spray in the seat back organiser in the car so I can dust and wipe the plastic bits when I’m stuck waiting to pick up dc somewhere!

Boot LINER not loner! 🤣

I've got a thingy that fits onto the headrest of the drivers side that means I can hang a jacket on it, and two hooks off the headrest of the passenger seat for handbag and carrier bag. I don't like hanging a jacket or coat up in the usual place (on the hanging strap above the rear doors) as it makes retrieving things from the back seat difficult. Try Hanger world on Amazon - headrest coat hanger. I have dogs in the boot, and really use my back seats as a boot for stuff. The handbag hook is useful, it means my passenger doesn't have to navigate my bag at their feet. Straps are a trip hazard!

This is the hanger and it really is useful

Oh and a boot buddy, which is essential if you have dogs.

Could you just have an envelope in your glove box that you keep them in if you want to hang onto them?

I have an arm rest with storage and that houses locking wheel nut whatsit, paracetamol, spare tights, couple of quid just in case, a pen, spare phone charger wire (usb charging in car). Glove compartment has car manual, box of tissues. Boot has shopping bags and folding crate. I do like a tidy car.

I have a little bin in the footwell of the smallest child who is still rear facing, I used to do plastic bags but they ended up leaving rubbish everywhere.
I have a dustpan and brush in the boot, to brush off any dried mud or sand after walking and have a box in the boot to put their wellies/muddy trainers in before they get in the car.