If you’re a busy mom or a business owner, you are familiar with your car being like a second home. Shuffling kids to activiites, running errands, pulling over for client calls, driving to consultations - we spend a ton of time in our vehicles! The sheer amount of papers, empty chip bags, and gum wrappers, are enough to drive anyone crazy. With a few strategic organizing solutions, we can create a clean and functional space for on the go.

Here is a step-by-step guide to organizing your car, complete with must-have items like a trash can, organizers for your consule, and emergency supplies.

Start with a Clean Slate

Before diving into organizing, we have got to clean out that hot mess car! Listen, there is no judgement. Here’s a secret, organizers have the messiest cars of anyone I’ve ever met. Don’t ask me why. It’s a thing.

So empty it out. Yes, completely. The glove box, the console, the trunk, all of it. Toss the trash and take anything inside that doesn’t belong in your car. Give it a good wipe down and vacuum, and maybe add a smelly good.

Check out this car vacuum on Amazon. Great reviews, and it has a blower option too!

Organize the center console

At this point, you’re looking at an empty clean car and a pile of items that need to come back into the car. Decide what items you need easy access to in the center console. This is prime real estate, so choose wisely.
This is what I keep in mine:

Tampons
Backup Sunglasses
Pens
Extra business cards
An envelope for business receipts
Charger
Hand Sanitizer
Chapstick

I use these home edit organizers to keep things neat and tidy in the console. These are a game changer!

Organize the glove box

Truly, there isn’t much organizing that needs to be done here. The only thing I recommend keeping here is your vehicle manual, insurance card, and napkins or wipes as these often don’t fit well in the center console.

Organize the Trunk

There is very little that should be kept back here, if you can help it. The reality is, when hauling kids around, sometimes you need to keep some basics in the car. Plus you need some emergency supplies. Here’s what I keep in my trunk.

Jumper cables
First-Aid Kit
Basic Tool Kit (for work)
Trash Bags (for work)
Kids’ necessities (extra change of clothes, minimal amount of toys)
Car cleaning items (wipes and small vacuum)

If you have some hidden storage cubbies in your car, utilize those. If not, I like these trunk bags that keep things stored nicely.

Add a trash can

Car trash with kids is a major problem. Solution: add a trash can and empty it every time you get gas. I really don’t care which trash can you get, just get one that works for you and place it where you can actually reach it. Here are a few trash cans I like:

Maintain your organized car

Now that your car is nice and clean and organized, let’s keep it that way! Easier said than done, right? It’s all about building new habits and creating a routine. My suggestion is to pick a day of the week that works best for you, and complete the tasks listed below. This may be Sunday afternoon when you’re already working outside in the garden, or maybe its Friday after the kids get home from school, or maybe its after soccer on Saturday. Whatever feels the most natural for you.

Empty the trash
Bring items inside that belong inside
Wipe + Vacuum
Restock supplies

Enjoy Your Organized Ride

Pat yourself on the back and enjoy!

Hi, I’m Naomi!

Founder of Charming Spaces, professional organizer, wife, mom of three and passionate advocate for women.

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