Welcome to our 35 Days to an Organized Home Challenge! Did you know our ebook 25 Days to an Organized Home went viral with over 12,000 downloads! It’s only $2.99 right now in the Kindle Store! Today we’re talking about organizing your car! I don’t know about you, but my car is definitely part of my home, because I spend almost as much awake time in my car as I do my house on some days!
My first line of defense in organizing my car is to keep what I use the most closest to me. This is the same organizing principal for organizing any room, but works just as well in the car. I think most people tend to do this naturally, but not always. Also, in the car, you have to think of safety first, so there are some times where I can’t keep my most used items near me. For example, I coupon in the car almost constantly, so I can’t keep these in my cup holder all the time due to safety, so I keep these in my coupon car tote (This carries all my coupons, my Couponizer, and my scissors).
Obviously, each car will have a different amount of organizing space. This means your ability to organizing may be slightly less or more than some, but there are so many great products you can use to organize your car no matter how much organizing room it contains. I generally try to keep the things I use most closest to me. For example, I have a small organizing space in my car door where I keep hand wipes. I know this space is probably meant for maps, but I hardly ever use a physical map anymore. However, I use my antibacterial wipes on a daily basis, so this is a great spot for those! When you are organizing your car, these tips can help you save on space and time!
*Personally, I think all vehicles should have scissors, tape, and empty envelopes in the glove compartment! I’m always dropping something off at someone’s house, so I love having the tape and envelopes for money, letters, etc.
Check out our post on How to Organize Your Auto Receipts to Save Money!
1. Keep items you use closest to you. I think I covered this one pretty well above!
2. Batten down the hatches (so to speak). Many times, items in my car fall over around a large curve or during a sudden move. It is very important that you keep lids on your storage items so that items will not fly out throughout your car. I have tried really cute organizing items in the car that weren’t practical once I was on the road, because they flew from one side to the other, spilling all their contents. When organizing, remember that everything you keep in your car will be in motion at some point, so to save yourself the most stress, make sure things are secured with lids, straps, or bungee cords so that things don’t fly throughout your vehicle.
3. Use Dollar Store pocket organizers. These are great for on the backs of seats because they can easily be strapped (or secured with a bungee strap), and they are clear and can be labeled. Our vehicle has folding seats, which we put up and down constantly depending on store trips, transporting larger items, etc. So, these will only work on the backs of our front seats. However, with a new baby coming, I’m already reorganizing this space so that I will have all my baby essentials handy in my pocket organizers!
You can also purchase organizers for over your car seats from your local auto store. However, I find that these can be very expensive, so I prefer to stick with items from the Dollar Store to save. However, if you prefer to go the more expensive route, sometimes these products do have a higher quality. So, that is entirely up to you!
4. Use totes. While most people think of using these in their house, they don’t always think about using them in their car! However, after traveling across the United States this summer (From PA to CA and back!) a mix of totes and suitcases really helped consolidate items. I also use the clear totes and label them, so it saved so much time searching for items that might have been buried in suitcases otherwise. One example for long road trips is food. Keeping food items in a plastic clear tote is so much easier than in bags or suitcases. We could easily find snacks, even if they were at the bottom of the clear tote! Totes can also be easily stacked in the car, and when the vehicle is really packed, I don’t even have to secure them because there is plenty of pressure between the items to keep them secure.
*You can also use empty wipes containers to store snacks when you’re on the go!
5. Have a place for trash. This can be as simple as a trash bag secured to the back of a seat, or a small plastic container located within the vehicle. Remember that to use it you will probably need to keep it close to you, so one way to do that is to use a plastic cereal box and some velcro. Check out our post on how to make your own DIY Car Trash Can! Now you have an inexpensive trash can in your vehicle!
You can also purchase a Command Hook and place in on the side/back of one of the seats. Then place a plastic grocery store bag on the hook!
6. Do you have a car sick kid? If you do then you may already have a sick supply kit! A red plastic 16 oz. cup (like the red Solo cups) work well, and you know I already have my wipes right next to me! See Tip #7 too!
7. Paper Towels & TP. Yes, in our family we keep paper towels in the car constantly! Whether you have a sick child, messes, or other spills, it is so nice to have these in times of need! You don’t have to keep a complete roll of each (unless you have room, such as in a n SUV or mini-van). You can simply tear off so many sheets, flatten them, and store in a ziploc bag. This makes them portable, and they hardly take up any space!
8. First Aid Kit. Depending on your space, you can make this as large or small as you’d like. You can have something as simple as a Ziploc bag containing band-aids, non-latex gloves, etc. The American Red Cross has a fabulous list of items for your vehicle’s First Aid Kit! Make sure you have a flash light as part of your First Aid kit as well.
9. Jumper cables. Most people don’t even think about these until they need them. However, at the drive-in two years ago, we were stuck late at night and no one else had any either! Luckily, we eventually ran into a gentleman that did have a set. However, we were seriously stressed for a few minutes thinking we would be stranded at the drive-in!
10. Vehicle maintenance items. My father-in-law has taught me that you should always have a few items for roadside vehicle repairs and problems. One of these is to keep a spare quart of oil in your car. I actually did need to use this once on a trip after we went over a steep mountain on a hot day, and when we reached the other side, it was clear that we were low on oil. I was so grateful that he had taught me to keep a spare quart in the car. You will also want to keep a tire gauge, emergency flares, and a spare tire plus jacks & tire iron (not all auto makers are including these anymore)! Please comment any other items you carry in your car below! Also, if you live in harsh winter climates, make sure you have a harsh weather roadside kit as well!
Check out these roadside emergency kits that start as low as $18.89!
Keeping an organized car includes keeping a safe car as well! These tips are meant to be a guide, but each person’s car organization will vary by the size of the car, where the person lives, and how many are in his/her family. However, we feel its always best to be prepared!
Check out our other Organizing Posts!
35 Days to an Organized Home (All Lessons on One Blog Post + Our STARTER VIDEOS!!!)
Organizing Your Paperwork (Getting Started)!
Organizing on a Budget + Dollar Store Deals
Create your own Non-Slip Hangers
Organizing Your Batteries
$4.00 Medicine Cabinet Redo
Organize Your Ribbons for $1.00!
Organize Your Jewelry for $3.00 or Less!
Closet Reorganization: Tips & Tricks (Day 1)
Closet Makeover: Day #2
Tablecloth Organization Tip
How to Organize Your Food Containers
Magnetic Cupboard Doors Video (Make sure you subscribe while you’re on our You Tube page!)
How to Organize Your Finances! (We have a TON of FREE resources for this one)!
How to Organize Your Refrigerator
How to Organize Your TIME!
How to Organize Your Child’s Toys!
How to Organize Your Mail
How to Organize Your Receipts
Check out our other DIY/Frugal Posts!
DIY Baby Wipes
DIY Ice Melt (Safe For Pets)
Hydrogen Peroxide Miracle Cleaner
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Homemade Fabric Softener Crystals
Hydrogen Peroxide & Dawn Miracle Cleaner
DIY Homemade Window Cleaner
DIY Homemade Fabric Softener
DIY Homemade Febreeze Spray
DIY Foaming Hand Soap
How to Reuse Your Swiffer Wet Jet Bottle
How to Reuse Your Windex Touch-Up Pump
Organize Your Home in 30 Minutes or Less: 35 Days to an Organized Home
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