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Community Corner

Cars and Kids

Tips for keeping a tidy vehicle

You could say I drive an average car — for a suburban mom — I own a large Mazda MPV minivan. I take my kids to and from school and their many activities in it, and sometimes, my family even eats a quick meal while on the go. 

 So, not surprisingly, the car gets messy, with books, toys, drink cups and sometimes, food, that falls to the floor. (I have noticed days-old French fries in the car on occasion.)

I long to be one of those moms who drives a perfectly pristine and neat car. So I collected the following tips for keeping a kid-friendly car neat and mess free.

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Don’t eat in the car

Even though I am suggesting this one, I know this is a tip that I (and many parents) just can’t follow. There is sometimes just too little time in the day to not eat on the run. But following this tip would help make for a much tidier car.

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Always have a trash bag handy

Keep something on hand to throw trash in while you are traveling – like your coffee cups, takeout wrappers and bags, tissues etc. A car could get gross pretty quick if this stuff isn’t controlled.  Don’t contribute to the litter on the highways by tossing  garbage out the car window.

Carry out what you bring in

This is where my family runs into trouble. My children often like to bring crayons, paper and toys in the car with them, and I tend to stash coupons in the car. The problem is when this stuff is forgotten and starts to pile up. (Or slips under the seats.) Make it a policy to take out what you bring into the car, unless it’s something that should stay. (Items like maps, sunglasses, an umbrella, etc. are all good car staples.)

 Clean regularly

Vacuum and wipe down surfaces of your car’s interior as often as you can. Otherwise, cleaning the car will become a day-long activity and you’ll be longing to get the interior of your car detailed, which can be quite expensive. Many moms have baby wipes in the car for cleaning up little sticky fingers and faces. You can also use wipes to clean up messes in the car – they are great for getting out just about anything!

 Accessorize

Here comes the fun part. (At least for those of us who like to shop.) A key to keeping a car tidy is accessorizing. Look into buying over-the-seat organizers to corral all your stuff and rubber car mats that can be washed – mats help to keep grime off the floor. The online store at midatlantic.aaa.com has several helpful accessories, like cargo totes and packs, floor litterbags and back-seat organizers. There are also special car vacs that you can purchase to clean your vehicle.

 Clean the car seats

Baby and booster seats can collect a lot of junk – especially if kids are allowed to munch while in motion.  If your kid’s car seat has a cover that can be removed, remove it regularly and send it through the wash. Vacuum car seats and wipe down the plastic parts with cleanser or wipes. Don’t forget to move the car seats now and then so you can vacuum underneath them. 

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