Cars get dirty, there’s no denying it. Despite our best intentions to keep them neat and tidy, everyday life gets in the way, turning a weekend drive into a Saturday spent deep cleaning the car.
However, fear not! Cleaning your vehicle doesn’t have to be a dreaded, overwhelming chore. Tidying your car’s interior is a quick and easy task that can be tackled any day of the week.
Here are three simple ways to keep your car clean, organised, and tidy.
Pencil a weekly car declutter at the beginning or end of your week and a monthly deep clean. This ensures you are entering a new week and month with a clean and organised vehicle.
Start by removing all the rubbish (or emptying your car rubbish bin) and wiping your dashboard, driver display and cup holders. Don’t forget to shake off the dirt from your floor mats before laying them back in your car.
Maintain a clean interior with these easy-to-find essentials: microfibre cloths, air fresheners and wet wipes. Microfibre cloths and wipe wipes are perfect for daily cleanliness, like wiping your air vents, cup holders and dashboard, and can be easily stored in your glove box, boot, or door compartments. These three essentials keep your car clean and smelling fresh during times when you’re too busy to deep clean.
Your glovebox cannot fit all your car essentials, so invest in tubs, or small clear containers that can be stored in your boot or on your car floor. The first thing I did when I got my car was purchase a large lidless tub from Kmart – I filled it with both personal and car essentials, including towels, microfibre cloths, air fresheners, wet wipes, and any of my phone charging or AUX cords. They also serve as a convenient place to store reusable grocery bags!
There are several ways to keep your car clean, but I’ve found that these two work the best: a portable car vacuum and a rubbish bin. A portable car-powered vacuum removes dirt from floor mats and cleans up snack crumbs left by the little ones.
Depending on your budget, you can find small battery-operated or car-powered vacuums online or at your local department stores at an affordable price. Keep in mind that the suction of a portable vacuum may not be as powerful as your reliable home vacuum cleaner.
While it’s best practice to take your rubbish straight to the bin, we all know there are times when an empty water bottle or chip packet finds a temporary home in your car. Invest in a small, foldable car rubbish bin that sits behind your centre console. It’s an easy way to keep your car neat and tidy and makes deep cleaning much easier – just make sure to empty it regularly!