How to keep your car neat and tidy

As people lead increasingly busy lives and are constantly on the move, this can have a negative impact on the state of affairs in your car. The line between things that need to be kept and things that were just abandoned in a hurry is quickly blurring.

Hence, cluttered cars are common, but clutter is not a permanent condition. With a little time and effort, you can organize your car so that the things you need are close by, yet look clean and fresh.

Part 1 of 4: Do a general cleaning

Step 1: Organize your scattered items. Sort through the various loose items in your car one at a time, creating heaps for trash, recycling, and what you're about to leave behind.

Step 2: Throw out the trash. Throw away anything marked as trash, resisting the urge to hoard unnecessary items.

Step 3: Put things in their place. Take whatever you want to keep and put it in the right place, whether it's in your home or office.

Step 4: Set aside the things that will go back into the car.. Set aside the items you plan to store in the car and clean the interior and trunk of the car until all surfaces are clean.

Part 2 of 4: Organize your trunk

Required material

• trunk organizer

Step 1: Buy a trunk organizer. Place the multi-compartment trunk organizer in the trunk, positioning it in a location where it is least likely to slip or topple over.

Step 2Place the items in the organizer. Review your box of items to leave in the car and decide which items you don't need to use while driving, such as small sports equipment or first aid kits.

Arrange these items any way you like inside the trunk organizer.

Step 3: Organize the Larger Items. If you have larger items that won't fit inside the organizer, arrange or fold them neatly so that there is room for groceries and other intermediate items.

Part 3 of 4: Organize your car interior

Necessary materials

• Organizer for car visors
• Rear seat organizer
• children's organizer

Step 1: Choose a place for items to live in. Look through the remaining items in your storage box to store in your car, looking for the ones that belong in your glove compartment.

This usually includes documents such as your registration, proof of insurance, and your vehicle's owner's manual. You can also store spare tissues or other small items there. Place these items carefully in the glove box.

Step 2: Buy a canopy and seat back organizers. Place the rest of your car storage items in the appropriate slots in the organizers of your choice.

• Functions: Sunglasses and GPS devices often fit comfortably in a car visor organizer, books and magazines fit right into backseat organizers, and children's toys and snacks make sense in an organizer just for them, for example.

Part 4 of 4: Create a system to keep your car clutter-free

Step 1: Buy a trash can for your car. Having a small trash bag or other trash-only container goes a long way in keeping your car clutter-free.

Get into the habit of using it and emptying it regularly, perhaps in sync with your regular trash day in your home.

Step 2: Clean regularly. Make a schedule for regular reorganization of your car. * Once or twice a year is often sufficient and allows you to re-evaluate what items still need to be kept in the car as your lifestyle changes.

Although the initial decluttering and organization of your car can take a long time, the time you save through good organization will soon prove to be a smart investment. No more frantically shuffling through piles of things in search of one little thing or hasty cleaning when an unexpected passenger arrives. Everything will be in its place, and your car will be clean. Once it's organized, all you have to do is maintain it.