How To Keep Your Car Clean and Organized – Tricks That Can Work For Anyone

Written By: Taylor Rao

Want to look like the kind of person who really has their life together? Keep a clean car.

Typically, when we think about how to present ourselves in terms of our appearance our minds go to things like:

“Is my outfit ironed?” “Do my socks match?” “Is my hair a mess?”

But beyond what you’re wearing, your car may actually be the “accessory” whose condition is the most telling about your lifestyle and your priorities.

A car is a personal belonging that you should take pride in and care for because believe it or not, the way you keep your car says a lot more about you than what kind of car you drive. A clean car is not only important for a good impression, it also helps preserve the car’s value and maintain your vehicle’s “like-new” condition.

Whether you’re riding solo or transporting passengers on the regular, there’s a good chance you spend a lot of time in your car. Keeping it neat and organized car can be a challenge with a busy life, but it’s also good for your overall state of mind. No matter how often you’re driving, an orderly car will help you enjoy the ride, so here are a few tips on how to keep your car clean and organized.

Have a System

Even for people who neatly fold and store their clothes, use silverware trays in drawers and have secret storage compartments in their ottomans or coffee tables, the car can be a free-for-all. Organizers can run the gamut from contraptions that hang on the back of the front seat or air vent, to a few Ziploc bags that separate your travel health and beauty supplies from your on-the-go snacks.

Your “system” doesn’t have to be fancy, and gadgets and hacks can be useful, but whatever you choose it has to be something that makes sense to you, that you can easily stick with. If it’s overly complicated or inconvenient, your best intentions will go out the window as soon as you shift from organize-mode into real-life.

Carry in, carry out

One of the worst habits we have is keeping random stuff in our car because we just don’t feel like bringing it inside and dealing with putting it away. You know you do it. Everyone is entitled to a little laziness, but if it’s habitual, try this: think of your car like a public park or popular hiking spot. The first sign you see is, “Carry in, carry out” --AKA, no one else should be responsible for your garbage except you. A car garbage bag makes sense for gathering multiple pieces of trash during a long car ride, but it should be emptied every time you get out of the car.

And it’s not just garbage like empty water bottles, coffee cups, or a fast-food wrapper that you shouldn’t let stick around. It’s that sweatshirt you brought to a bonfire, your friend’s flip flops you borrowed and keep meaning to return, or a bag of items that need to be dropped at the dry cleaners.

There are some things you can keep in your car, sure. An extra blanket is good to have, a change of clothes never hurts either and you should always have a few reusable bags for the grocery store. There’s nothing worse than leaving those at home! But all of these things belong neatly packed in the trunk and not filling your back seat.

If you can declutter and vow to take things out of your car every time you pull in the driveway, you’ll have much more room for necessities like groceries, an impulse buy at HomeGoods or even your friends.

Treat your storage spaces well

Another thing almost all of us are guilty of, is treating our center console and glove compartments like a bottomless pit that can fit, well, anything. But these should not be the “junk drawers” of your car.

As far as your glove compartment goes, that should contain as few items as possible so that in the event of an accident, emergency, or speeding ticket, you have quick access to the information you need so you’re ready to present it as quickly as you can. When you switch insurance carriers or renew your registration, simply remove the out-of-date paperwork so that you can easily find what you need, when you need it. It’s also a good place to keep manuals, a utility tool and an emergency escape device.

The center console should also have your essentials at the ready so that you’re not distracted behind the wheel searching for your lip balm in a deep dark hole. You can keep things in here like a spare pair of sunglasses, a backup makeup kit, or on-the-go essentials like feminine products, a mini deodorant or dry shampoo. You can even store these things in Ziploc bags or something that makes it easier to access than digging through a bunch of stuff.

Your trunk should also be relatively empty, or with items stored in easily removable containers or boxes. If you get a flat tire, you’ll need easy access to your spare, and if you’re already stranded somewhere it’s better not to be standing by a random pile of stuff you had to pull out to get to your donut tire.

Invest in a monthly car wash membership

You’d be surprised, but it’s actually pretty affordable to be a regular customer at your local car wash. In many cases you can get unlimited car washes for somewhere in the ballpark of $30-40 a month. Most of us drive by a car wash on our daily commute, so there’s likely an option that’s close to you (on your way to and from work, school, your BF’s place, etc.).

An unlimited wash package means you won’t have to let dirt, salt or bird droppings pile up or make you look just a little disheveled. Not only will you get to feel what it’s like to roll up in style with a clean car almost everywhere you go, you’ll be helping to protect your vehicle from the damaging effects of salt on your car.

The Vaccuum is your Car’s Friend

While your local car wash will have vacuums available for you to use (as long as you have plenty of spare change), a Shop Vac from your house will do the trick, too. If you want something a little more regular, try making a hand vac one of the few residents of your trunk.

Vacuuming out your car seems like a lot of effort, but sucking up random leaves, dirt, strands of hair and crumbs from on-the-go eating can make your riding environment better, whether you’re on a long drive or hopping in the front seat to run a few errands.

 Keep a microfiber cloth on hand

If you like to cruise with the windows down or the sunroof open, you’re A) awesome and B) inviting in all of the various pollen and dust that comes from the great outdoors. A quick fix to tidy up your car (especially your dashboard) is to have a microfiber wipe in the side pocket to clean off your steering wheel, dashboard, and other areas that get dusty or dirty from having the windows open often. You can buy a 6-pack at Amazon for just $8.99. 

The other “cleaning” type of item you might want to keep in your car for cleanliness is some wet wipes and hand sanitizer to wipe down your door handle, steering wheel, and of course your hands while popping in and out of the car. There are dirty parts of your car --like germs --that you don’t even see, but definitely need to take care of on a regular basis.

No matter how much you drive, where you go, or who you’re running into it’s always a good goal to keep your car as clean as your kitchen counters. You may not be eating off your dashboard, but it’s a lot healthier for you when you’re not breathing in a layer of dust. A clean car is beneficial for your mental and physical health and whether people get int your car with you or just pass by it in the parking lot, a tidy car indicates that you maintain high standards in all part of your life.

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