Car Organization: Quick Tips for Busy Moms (and Dads)

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LET’S TALK CAR ORGANIZATION

We often worry about organizing our home but neglect the other place we spend most of our time. Admit it, you’re either coming or going in today’s world and it seems like we do everything in our cars these days, eat, make phone calls, change diapers (I see you parents). But just like ourselves, we tend to worry a lot about the outside and not focus enough on the inside. With spring break creeping up on us and summer following, surely there are some road trips scheduled, so let’s take a look at how we can organize our cars.  

Image: An organized seat back caddy

FIRST, LET’S TAKE OUT THE TRASH

There are so many pockets and slits in a car, there is no doubt trash is looming. An old receipt, a straw wrapper, or something sticky your kids probably put there. Check every cup holder, door pocket, between and under the seats, under floor carpets, and in the glove compartment. You may even get lucky and find some money!

NEXT, PUT ASIDE THINGS YOU WANT TO KEEP

A few items might include:

  • sunglasses
  • phone chargers
  • pen
  • notepad
  • any first aid
  • hand sanitizer
  • hand lotion

NOW THAT YOU’RE STARTING WITH A CLEAN SLATE, CONSIDER WHAT YOU NEED

I always like to have “emergency” items: fix-a-flat, flashlight, and in my case beach essentials. But seriously, depending on the type of car you have you can store a bag or caddy with some emergency items in the trunk or under a seat. We’ll dive into that in a second, but bins and kits also are a part of car organization.

Consider who else rides in your car. Do you have kids? How about pets? Perhaps you travel in your car? In order to keep your car organized, everything should have a ‘place to go.’

LET’S START ORGANIZING

There are tons of car organization accessories you can find online that can help compartmentalize things to keep it all orderly and within easy reach.

Some options include:

  • trunk caddy
  • collapsible tote
  • between seat catchers
  • console caddy
  • glove compartment organizers
  • back seat organizers

There are some great trunk caddies available on Amazon, with compartments to keep everything separate. Back seat organizers are great for kids, especially to store toys, books, and wet wipes.

Some of the emergency items we keep in our trunk include a strong lantern flashlight, gallon of water, fix-a-flat, jumper cables, pair of gloves, a couple tools, and neon tape. You can find several emergency kits readily available on Amazon with a simple search.

We keep a collapsible tote from Target in the trunk with stuff for the park, balls, sidewalk chalk, a bubble blower, and a change of clothes.

Image: A seat back organizer with emergency essentials

CAR ORGANIZATION HACKS AND IDEAS

  1. Use silicone cupcake liners for the cupholders. Somehow crumbs and spilled coffee always make their way there. Remove, rinse for easy cleanup, and replace.
  2. Another inexpensive option is a closet shoe holder draped over the back seat as a caddy for kids.
  3. Hit the Target Dollar Spot for tons of “on the go” art kits with all you need for entertaining kids for a long ride. 
  4. If you have captain’s seats in the second row, a remote control holder is an option for storing things easily. (Slip it under a car seat.)
  5. Plastic cereal containers make great trash cans on the go. They are airtight and you can slip in a plastic bag for easy removal.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR CAR ORGANIZATION TIPS AND IDEAS? SHARE THEM WITH US IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!

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Sandra Jacquemin
Sandra is born and raised in Miami, fluent in 4 languages and credits her upbringing to be Brazilian-French thanks to her parents. After graduating high school from Gulliver Prep, she pursued a degree in Elementary Education followed by earning a Bachelors in Marketing and International Business. While working on post-grad in the South of France, she decided to be her own boss and opened her boutique marketing agency working with a roster of recognized global brands spanning from entertainment, to sports and beyond. Sandra and her husband, a former U.S. Marine, are first-time parents to their son Marcelo Joseph whose middle name pays homage to Sandra's late father. They’re also pet rescue parents to their adopted chihuahua Ellie. Sandra's affinity for Disney started when her Mom took her at only 7 days old. Coming around full circle, she has not only worked with the company behind-the-scenes, but they are now loyal Disney Passholders. She transitioned to eating plant-based in 2015 for a healthier lifestyle, and swapped everyday products to non-toxic. Today, they reside in Pinecrest and are enjoying discovering life as new parents. In 2021, Sandra and her husband launched a company with a mission, to help others with their mission, donating 100% proceeds from a t-shirt subscription to charities. Learn more here . Look for her posts sharing her love of decluttering, transitioning to non-toxic products, the journey to becoming vegan, starting a small business and so much more! Follow her on Instagram