7 tips helping mums to keep car clean and organised

Busy mums know that keeping a car clean can be a challenge – and the clean-up process after a long weekend away isn’t for the faint of heart.

With kids and pets, opportunities to make a mess are endless and finding time to clean them up feels impossible some days.

Stray snacks, muddy streaks and spilled juice can get overwhelming – fast.

However, a few tips and tricks on how to organise your car will make your life MUCH easier and tidier!

First and foremost – keep a small rubbish bin in your car! Whether it is a true mini rubbish bin or a Tupperware container lined with a plastic shopping bag, it will help to keep the rubbish all in one place.

Keep a tote in the trunk designated for first aid and keep all your supplies in it! Instead of having band aids, wet ones and insect repellent floating all around in the car, make an effort to keep all your supplies in the tote. That way, you’ll be able to find something when it’s needed, especially in the case of an emergency!

Tired of having a glove compartment stuffed with loose papers? Compartments full of car manuals, oil change paperwork, registration and proof of insurance cards can quickly become a black hole of expired, torn and ragged information. A binder will help a busy mum organise all of these documents. Keep a car binder and add paperwork as you get it. Information will stay chronologically organised and can be found quickly in case you need to reference it.

Organise car cup holders with patty cake wrappers – when they get dirty, just throw them out and replace them! Goodbye cup holders filled with crumbs, gunk and who knows what else.

Shoe holders on the back of seats are a REAL lifesaver. Sandals, books, crayons, water bottles, toys, snacks, practically anything can find a place in this back seat organiser. Clear ones work best, especially for younger kids who will be able to find what they’re looking for easier, but any type will come in handy. It’s a fun way for kids to get involved too. Your little ones will start saying “keep car clean!”

Tired of muddy and dusty floor mats? If they are plastic or rubber floor mats, try throwing them in the dishwasher! Scrubbing them can be time consuming and exhausting, but the dishwasher makes squeaky clean floors in the car just one wash cycle away.

Got a grimy, insect filled windscreen? Damp dryer sheets help remove caked on insects and grime in a flash in between car washes.

Do you have any other tips to add to the list? Please comment below.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

34 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 15 Aug 2021
    1:20 pm
im not sure its a good idea to use the dryer sheets on your windscreen if you have tinting. I read the papers that came with my car re the tinting and you cant even use window cleaning spray on it without risking damage to the tiniting.

- - nealsq said
  - 06 Jul 2017
    1:42 pm
my car is nice and clean until my husband gets to it

- - ella12 said
  - 26 Jun 2017
    2:21 pm
Some great helpful tips here, thank you.

- - rovermum said
  - 26 Jun 2017
    10:18 am
I’m happy to say my car is fairly sorted and clean, except for the teenager in the back seat who loves leaving his rubbish shoved in the side door!!! We have a first aid kid, picnic blanket, spare towel and plastic bags in the boot for those wet football days. I have hand sanitizer, small umbrella, and notebooks in the glove box. And loose change for the parking metre. That’s about it.

- - mom19782016 said
  - 25 Jun 2017
    4:57 pm
Having spent the weekend trying to clean our car, I am DEFINITELY putting in cupcake liners to the cup trays – what a fab idea! Who knew they got so dirty!!!

- - Rachell88 said
  - 24 Jun 2017
    6:11 pm
Our car is always a disaster. I love these ideas, especially the mini rubbish bin.

- - mom206279 said
  - 24 Jun 2017
    5:51 pm
I’ve completely given up trying to keep my car tidy.

- - jacqbeckett said
  - 24 Jun 2017
    9:13 am
my children are the worst kids to not keep my car clean. they always need to bring something into the car just to play with and not take with them to school or a place we go to, but they still don’t take it out when we get home. how many of us bring out kids ipads and because theres 2 in mine, I aren’t going to carry them with me. would be interested to hear where people hide theirs? I keep my kids stuff in the chair pouch but they have to sort it out otherwise it becomes on the floor.

- - rachel1970 said
  - 24 Jun 2017
    8:45 am
Even though my children are years out of nappies, I keep nappy bag’s in the car (and in my bag) for small rubbish bags-great for those snotty nose days or any small rubbish and simple to just toss it out.

- - Ellen said
  - 24 Jun 2017
    7:59 am
Our car is a mess. My kids often eat coconut flakes and nuts in the car. They drop it and nobody tidies it up. And I’m waiting for my husband to clean our car, lol.

- - deb_gs said
  - 23 Jun 2017
    8:14 pm
I always keep plastic bags in the car, sick bags, a packet of wipes. I use a plastic bag held by the gear stick for rubbish. I use a hand vacuum cleaner to do a quick clean between proper cleans. Patty and newspapers ideas are a winner.

- - MelissaK said
  - 27 Jan 2017
    6:49 pm
I love the idea of the patty cases in the cup holders! Must give it a go!

- - mom81879 said
  - 14 Jan 2017
    9:31 am
My daughter isn’t a mum but she could sure use these tips on keeping her car clean. I dread when she does have kids…..her poor car

- - mom211270 said
  - 22 Nov 2016
    4:12 pm
Some great ideas there. Thanks.

- - missliss89 said
  - 03 Nov 2016
    1:18 pm
some brilliant ideas!
we go 4WDing a lot so often get mud and insects and stuff on the car!

- - mom164420 said
  - 01 Oct 2016
    10:57 am
Love the dryer sheet idea

- - ella12 said
  - 16 Aug 2016
    12:14 pm
I like the idea of having a small rubbish bin in the car! (-:

- - rovermum said
  - 04 Aug 2016
    10:51 am
Always keep a plastic bag (or more) and a towel in the boot. My son’s muddy footy boots and uniform can just be thrown in the bag until we get home. And the towel helps him clean himself just a little bit more and dryer before his shower at home. Must add that little bin though. My son loves putting his rubbish in the door handles. Disgusting. And I’m always amazed by what I find in the back seat.

- - mom101628 said
  - 04 Aug 2016
    12:15 am
Great tips – the only thing I would add is – clean your car often, hopefully every time you get back home. That way you know you won’t get into a messy car.

- - nealsq said
  - 29 Jul 2016
    2:20 pm
I hate a messy car, pity my kids and husband don’t feel the same