#Organization is the name of the game if you want to keep your car #clean during an extended #road trip with family and friends. The glove compartment should be your command center, a story in Rochester Local says, and contain a cord case; a pouch of sanitizing wipes, over-the-counter medications and first aid supplies; a file of insurance documents and important travel confirmation information; and a flashlight. In the main cabin and boot, uses suitcases and bins to sort the #stuff you’re bringing on the trip; remember, you can often find good lightly used luggage, bins, coolers and other containers for cheap at the #thrift stores supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org. #SummerRoadTrip
Tag: car organizing tips
Pack the Essentials for Your Summer Road Trip
Make a checklist of essential items to pack for your #summer #road trip, says Systems by Susie. Besides the obvious — clothing and toiletries — remember to pack important documents such as your license, registration and proof of insurance, a first aid kit, a spare tire, and a roadside emergency kit. You’ll also want to pack any chargers and cables, games and perhaps a neck pillow for the backseat passengers. Make hotel reservations, get your car checked and hit the road! And “don’t forget to leave room for spontaneity and flexibility,” she says. “Road trips are about the freedom to explore, so allow yourself to take detours, discover hidden gems, and adapt your plans as you go.” #SummerRoadTrip
Packing for a Summer Road Trip
It’s always a challenge to pack sensibly for a #summer road trip; you need to prepare for planned stops and unseen eventualities while maximizing space and comfort inside the car. Reset Your Nest suggests having a water bottle for every person in the car, preferably ones that fit in a cupholder and avoid spillage. You will need also need a cooler for canned beverages and any fresh snacks such as cheese and fruit. A roll of paper towels is a good idea, as is a trash bag (or two). You’ll want to bring or subscribe to a selection of your preferred music/podcasts, since rural areas tend to have few radio stations. And finally, pack some activities for the kids or memorize the rules to a few road trip games. #SummerRoadTrip
Start Planning Your Summer Road Trip
Is there anything more all-American than a #summer #road trip? If you haven’t started planning one, start now. First, decide on the time frame: Will it a weekend, a week, two weeks or more? Next, pick your destination(s): Will it be national parks, the beach, city sightseeing, visits to friends and family, or all of the above? Settle on the locations you’ll target, and limit driving to a maximium of six hours per day to allow for unexpected stops, new discoveries and leisurely lunches. Use an app such as Roadtrippers to chart your course, flag must-see attractions and find lodging. And as with any summertime activity, carry plenty of water and snacks! #SummerRoadTrip
Keep Your Car Clutter-Free
Anyone who operates a vehicle knows how quickly it can fill up with papers, empty beverage containers, automotive supplies, receipts and other junk. If you don’t #clean and #organize your vehicle frequently, it can fast become a #cluttered #mess.
The mess gets worse if you’re shuttling kids, who leave articles of clothing, sporting goods and food wrappers in the back seats, glove compartments and seatback pockets. “Kids add a whole new level to car clutter,” says Home Storage Solutions 101.
To keep your ride #clean and #organized, start by reducing the #stuff you keep in it. Remove everything from the car’s interior at the end of each day you drive. Make a habit of emptying cup holders and consoles, and disposing of any #trash.
Once you have a baseline of #cleanliness, buy a seat back or floor organizer to keep any essentials — wipes, a flashlight, first-aid kit, charging cords, etc. — in a single place. Place important documents such as your vehicle registration and insurance card in the glove box.
Keep a trash bag in the car for the wrappers and container that otherwise would get stuffed into a crevice or stashed under a seat. Train yourself and your children to collect all of their stuff at the end of every ride. Repetition will make it second-nature, says blogger Kerilynn Snyder.
Next, establish a regular cleaning routine, Danielle Moss says. Vacuum the floors and wipe down all surfaces and glass. For the easiest #cleanup in all kinds of weather, invest in all-weather floormats to make spills, mud and dirt easy to deal with.
You can often find lightly used baskets, organizers and automotive accessories at the #thrift stores supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org. And if you find any #junk in your car you don’t need as you #declutter, bag it and contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation #pickup.
Those #donations help fund valuable programs that #help the nation’s #veterans. So you’ll get the good feeling that goes along with #donating to a good cause along with a clean and comfortable vehicle. Happy motoring!