The Little Ways You Can Do To Keep Your Car Clean
Posted by admin at 13 September 2021, at 12 : 54 PM
Do you feel like you’re spending much of your time in your car? If so, you’re not alone.
Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed that Americans collectively spend 70 billion hours in their car, which is an eight percent increase since 2014. That’s a lot of hours spent behind the wheel.
This is also another reason to keep your car clean. After all, if you’re surrounded by clutter during your commute or road trip, you’re bound to increase your stress levels. When cleaning your car, however, some drivers immediately think of “time-consuming” tasks like vacuuming, detailing, rinsing – the heavy-duty car cleaning.
There are, however, ways to keep your auto clean and organized, especially for busy vehicle owners. From purchasing new car mats online to changing habits, here are little-known ways to keep your car clean:
Stop Using Your Car as Storage
What do you see when you open the trunk or the backseat of your car? Is that part of the vehicle filled with shopping bags, backpacks, clothes, bottles and food? There is a tendency to use your car as an extension of your storage room. This, unfortunately, results in a flow of stuff that keeps your interior cluttered and disorganized.
When going out, only take what you need. Bring a bag to contain all the items you need for your daily trips. Use this bag when you go out of the car. Then, take it out of the car after the day is done. Don’t just leave them in the car. You’ll eventually forget they’re there and end up with too much clutter.
Shake Out Your Mats Regularly
Your car’s floor will inevitably get dirty from your shoes. If you let them be, your car will collect more dust.
If you don’t have the time to vacuum, shake out your mats regularly. You can go longer in between vacuuming. Also, if your mats look worn out, replace them.
Refrain from Eating Inside Your Car
One of the biggest culprits behind messes in your car is food and drinks. No matter how careful you try whenever you eat in the car, you’ll always end up with spills and crumbs. It’s nearly impossible to avoid these in a moving vehicle.
With fast-food joints on nearly every corner, stopping by your local drive-thru and eat something while you drive is tempting. This, however, increases your risk for crumbs and spills, which, if you don’t clean ASAP, invites insects to your car.
As much as possible, avoid having your breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack inside your car. If you are hungry during a ride, buy your food and eat it in an open-space area like the park.
If not eating in your car is unavoidable, bring a container to catch the crumbs. Make sure the container is also sealable to prevent the trash from ending up on the floor.
Clean Out Cup Holders
This part of your car can get dirty quickly. Keep them clean by immediately throwing away any drink as soon as you get out of your car to avoid condensation from building up and creating sludge.
Also, keep cleaning pads and wet wipes handy in the glove compartment so you can remove liquids before they dry up.
Don’t Forget to Clean the Seats
If you have children or pets, you may find stains on the seats. You may also come across dirt, hair and crumbs down in the seams of the cushion.
Use an old toothbrush to get everything out of the cracks. For the sticky things or stains on the leather or vinyl, use a magic eraser. Also, keep a few paper towels or napkins in the car to quickly remove messes as they happen. The longer you wait, the more difficult it is to remove the stains.
Keep Loose Change Organized
It seems like you’ll always find quarters rolling on the floor or between the seats of your car. If your car doesn’t come with a built-in organizer, keep all the coins in a sealable container, so they won’t roll around everywhere. It’ll be easier to find change. Plus, you won’t find spare pennies on the floor anymore.
Use an Air Freshener
Another underrated way of keeping your car clean and fresh is using an air freshener. You don’t have to dangle one from your rearview mirror. Many companies today make air fresheners that you can attach to the vent so the air coming out of your car smells fresh.
Whether you own high-profile vehicles or a simple family car, the rule of thumb is the same: keeping your car clean keeps your ride smooth and stress-free. Practice these tips to enjoy a cleaner and fresher ride.