Messy kids? Try these seven hacks to keep your car clean

It's what every parent dreads, kids coming into the car and bringing half the outdoors with them. Or somehow turning a nice and tidy back seat into a scene from a natural disaster film. Cars and kids equal a mess, so to help keep the car's upholstery and smell intact, why not try out some of these easy and low-cost car hacks to mitigate as much chaos as possible.

Soccer mums and outdoorsy families, this one is for you. If you’re sick of dirty football boots or sandy feet leaving muddy, dirty prints in the back of your car, try this simple hack.

Get a storage cleaning caddy, available for $7.49 at Bunnings, and put it in the rear footwells. That way, when your kids get into the car, they can simply swing their legs into the caddy and leave them there for the rest of the trip home.

The caddy catches all the mud and sand, and you can just shake it out occasionally at home!

Grab a soft packet of fabric softener, the refillable pouch style, and pop it under the front seat away from little hands or feet - unopened of course. It will release a beautiful, soft scent for months. Best of all, after a few months, you can take it out and use it for the washing as per normal. Zero waste!

Trying to squeeze a kid out of their child seat without smashing the car parked next to you is stressful.

So prevent dings by chopping a bit of foam off the end of your pool noodle and making a slit down the side. When you open the door, simply slide it onto the edge of your car, and you’ve got the perfect soft barrier.

When you’ve got hangry kids in the back, many of us do take a quick pit-stop to McDonald's to help quiet them down. This hack will help to reduce the number of fries and nuggets that end up on the floor or squished under the seat. Simply ask for a 4-cup cardboard holder, and divide up the items into each compartment. There’s even a spot for the sauce tub! BTW adults are more than free to use this hack for themselves on their next road trip.

Capture food scraps, mud, dirt and rubbish with this rubber car mat. The textured rubber car mat is hardy and durable and can fit perfectly in the footwell of the back seat. Simply shake it out when it’s getting full, or give it a rinse-off if necessary. Best of all, it’s only $9.90 at Bunnings!

Shoe organisers make the perfect car organiser for kids' toys and entertainment. Simply attach it to the back of the seat, and you can fill each compartment with books, toys, colouring books, biscuits or snacks, wet wipes and a water bottle. Best of all, get the clear variety so kids can easily see what’s available to them to take their pick.

A simple hack, but it will work wonders. Simply grab a large cereal dispenser from Kmart or the op shop and turn it into a car bin. It's narrow enough to not take up too much leg room, and you can pop an empty shopping bag in it as a bin liner if you choose.

The small round opening is perfect for collecting food scraps or wrappers, and you can simply close the lid and it won’t spill even if it tips over.

Related: Car cleaning hacks: When kids vomit in the car

Related: Eight easy DIY cleaning hacks for your car's upholstery and interior

Related: Four easy DIY window demisting car hacks