No matter the season, it seems I do most of my living in the car with and without my children! In the summer it’s short trips to the pool and longer road trip vacations. In the fall and winter it’s preschool drop offs and grocery shopping excursions. I never seem to properly plan for the amount of time I’m in the car, let alone fully implement effective and simple ways to keep up with any car organization system.
Lucky for you, I’ve thought long and hard about how to simplify my on-the-go car life, and I’ve created 10 simple ways you can get your car organized based on all the “musts” needed in any car with kids!
10 Simple Ways To Achieve On the Go Car Organization
On the Go Must #1: Stock Up on Hand Wipes
Kids are cute, but full of germs. Hand wipes for the kids are an absolute must. As soon as I pick the kids up from school they want snacks. So I just throw the wipes at them to wash their hands before eating. Nice ‘N Clean Antibacterial Wipes kills 99.99% of germs and are made with 100% plant-based fibers so they are eco-friendly! Once they use the Nice ‘N Clean wipes, I know they are as germ-free as a kid can be and ready to eat.
Plus, Nice ‘N Clean wipes are proven to remove 99.9% of peanut residue from hard surfaces. That makes these wipes my favorite option to stock in my car. I can easily grab a pack when we are at the park, play date, or just driving around.
Pro Tip
Store the wipes everywhere in your car. Keep some in the back where you store extra supplies, like a change of clothes for each kid. Also keep wipes in the front so you can quickly grab and go. And keep them in your purse/diaper bag as well!
On the Go Must #2: Pack Snacks
My kids are ravenous animals when I pick them up from school and I know they aren’t the only ones! I need to make sure that our car is stocked with good food I can quickly give them after they wipe their hands. I keep a car organizer either in the trunk or the front seat that is filled with the kids favorite after-school snacks.By having a snack caddie in the car, I know I will never have to hear the dreaded “I’m hungry” while driving.
Pro Tip:
Keep a bag for garbage in the front seat. This helps with collecting all the garbage from the snack wrappers.
On the Go Must #3: Declutter Your Glove Box
I don’t recommend storing a ton in your glove box because that’s where important car documents are stored. Keep them together in the folder they came in for easy access. Also keep a phone charger, air tire gauge, and tiny scraper in the glove box, just in case. You can also store extra Nice ‘N Clean wipes in the glove box for those sticky finger moments when you just need to grab and wipe!
On the Go Must #4: Use the Middle Console
In the winter months, I like to keep extra gloves and hats in our middle console. This way my car will always be prepared in case a kiddo forgets something. In the summer, I try store extra sun screen and bug spray. We always forget it so it is nice to have some extra in the car.
Pro Tip:
Keep extra wipes, a pen, hair ties, Chapstick, a nail file, and Kleenex in the middle console year-round. When storing things in your middle console, think about the items you frequently use or notice you need but are never in your car.
On the Go Must #5: Streamline the Junk in the Trunk
It’s easy to just throw all the stuff into your trunk–out of sight, out of mind, right? I actually don’t store much in the trunk except for my reusable grocery bags. Once I use them and unpack the groceries, I make sure to put them back immediately so they’re ready for the next shopping trip. Sometimes we store our snack station in the trunk if I have a passenger up front.
Pro Tip:
Keep a small travel bag in the trunk of the car if you have small babies/toddlers with extra clothes, diapers, wipes, burp rags, and any other items you may need. Hang the bag in the trunk for easy access.
On the Go Must #6: Hang Those Jackets
Keeping jackets off the car floor is super helpful during the winter months. I added hangers to the backs of each seat so the kids could hang their jackets instead of throwing them onto the dirty, wet floor. Since both my kids are still in car seats, it is recommended that they do not wear anything poofy in their car seats. I found a double-sided binder clip is the perfect option.
On the Go Must #7: Use the Space in Between Car Seats
My kids love to read while we are driving, so I added a car organizer to the middle of their car seats. Inside the organizer I have Highlights and Ranger Rick magazines. The kids love reading and it gives them something to do if we are waiting for a while. I make sure that all the magazines can fit inside the organizer to help keep the car tidy. Check this out for more tips on how to organize car seats.
On the Go Must #8: Utilize Seat Backs
Some cars have nice pockets for containing things like magazines or books. I would totally use those seat back pockets to keep my car organized. Make sure the items you want to store can easily be reached by the kids before you plan to store things in them. If the kids cannot reach, then store things like umbrellas.
On the Go Must #9: Use Wet Bags
For long road trips or busy afternoons, I use wet bags and attach them to the back of the seat in front of each car seat. Inside each wet bag I add things like markers, crayons, notepads, snacks, and wipes. It is an easy way to add something interesting for the kids when we are making many stops in the afternoon. Plus it can act as double duty if a kid gets too wet at the water park or has an accident.
On the Go Must #10: Organize Your Purse
Finally, keeping your purse organized is crucial for car organization. I keep only the essentials in my purse like my wallet, keys, Nice ‘N Clean wipes, chapstick and a nail file. If my purse is organized, my on-the-go life is much easier, as I’m not digging and searching for crucial things!
My number one rule for car organization is be prepared! Stock up on wipes, like the Nice ‘N Clean Antibacterial Wipes, so you can easily wash your hands without the sink. Have snacks in the car and store them in a car organizer. You can grab Nice ‘N Clean wipes at your local CVS store and purchase a family value pack to keep your car stocked and ready to go! Store important items in the middle console and car documents in the glove box. Keep extra supplies in the trunk, along with reusable bags. Use hooks to hang up jackets and a car organizer to hold magazines and toys between car seats. Store grab and go items in a wet bag, like markers for longer car rides. Make sure your purse is organized by keeping essential items inside your purse.
Happy Travels!
