Cleaning and organizing is not just reserved for our
homes and garages. Don't forget about your automobile! Here
are some tips for organizing the inside of your car, truck or van.
You'll need:
bucket
sponge
old toothbrush
cotton swabs
soft towel for drying
white vinegar
dish soap
vacuum
trash bag
The first step is to gather the kids together and have them
clean EVERYTHING out of the cars, vans, trucks or whatever
vehicles you own. Sort through it with them and throw out the
garbage. This includes the glove compartments. (I had film
canisters of seeds I had salvaged from our various hikes!)
Vacuum out the entire inside and shake out the mats.
Add dish soap to hot water in your bucket and scrub down
everything that isn't fabric. Use a toothbrush and the cotton
swabs to get to the out of the way places like the vents and
corners. Once this is done, empty your bucket and rinse it
out. Fill with warm water and add a cup of white vinegar
(a few drops of essential oil can go in too). Wipe down the
same places you just cleaned with this. The vinegar smells
strong but the odor will fade and it will smell fresh when dry.
Take your clean, soft towel and dry the interior. Clean the
windows with your favorite window cleaner or a solution of
vinegar and water.
If your seats need cleaning you can do this too. We have
always used a product called Tuff Stuff that you can use
on the carpet and the seats. It's fairly inexpensive and works
great.
Now that the car is clean, you'll need to organize. Start
with the glove compartments. Make sure you have up to
date proof of insurance, your registration and emergency
items in each vehicle such as:
flashlight with extra batteries
emergency phone numbers
a film canister of quarters (you never know!)
baby wipes (never ending uses.)
a basic first aid kit-adapted if family members have special needs
state and local maps
pens and small notebook
small bottle of sunscreen
Also in another area of the car such as the trunk or
hatchback, make sure you carry a blanket, ice scraper,
tire repair kit (check the jack to make sure it's there
and complete with a spare tire), bottled water, umbrella,
battery cables, work gloves, basic tools such as screw
drives, pliers and a hammer, a couple of old towels or
rags, and something to draw attention to the car such
as flares or fluorescent material of some type.
Go through everything that was taken out the vehicles
and either organize it if it needs to go back in, or put it
where it really belongs. As you clean and organize you
may think of things that always seem to be needed when
you are traveling in the car with your family. Grab a tote
bag and keep extras of these items in the car. It feels
great to know you'll be prepared!
About the Author:
Brenda Hyde is a wife, mom to three kids and a freelance
writer. She is the editor/owner of Old Fashioned Living and sends out
two free email newsletters. You can sign up for them HERE
