I opened my car door last week and an empty juice box fell out. We used to have a strict No Eating in the Car rule, but since my children are older and more responsible (at least I thought so) and we now spend most afternoons living in the car, it has become a necesity more than anything that I break my own rule. However, it seemed odd to me that a juice box fell out, especially because I had just done a thorough cleaning of my vehicle the day before (or at least I thought so …. See a theme here?).

Later that day, I opened the car door and a small, purple flip flop fell out. I couldn’t help but think to myself, Where is this all coming from? So I crouched down and peered into that space between my seat and the floor of the car and discovered my own Bermuda Triangle. In a very small space (the kind of small space only a three-year-old’s hands could fit into) I discovered all sorts of gems. In fact, the space was filled to capacity and many items were beginning to spill out the other end. Hence, these were the items that would shift while in flight and fall out when I opened the door.

Later in the week, my husband was looking for a misplaced item in the car and found another place my children had squirreled away items. This time, he pulled out a dirty soccer sock. Finding a dirty sock is normally a disgusting experience, but this time it grossed me out even more because soccer season ended last November! Despite my best efforts to control the chaos on wheels I had been duped by my sneaky children again.

I know I am not the only mother who faces this never-ending battle to keep the family vehicle clean (and smelling remotely decent) so here are a few steps for keeping car clutter under control.

1.       Taking care of business. Sweaters, coats, backpacks, gear, books, etc. should all be removed each time you come home. I keep a trash bag in the garage to make it easy to get rid of trash, too.

2.       Backseat drivers. Use behind-the-seat organizers or a storage system in the back of the vehicle or trunk to keep toys, books, and other supplies that remain in the car nice and tidy. For school-aged children you may want to stash school supplies in the car to get a head start on homework if you’re out running errands or you find yourself in between after-school activities.

3.       All boxed in. Keep your glove compartment tidy with your vehicle registration and proof of insurance easily accessible. Other items you may want to store in your glove compartment include a notepad, pen, tire gauge, and paper napkins or tissues. I also keep a small makeup bag with lipstick, Tylenol, and other essentials at my fingertips.

4.       When disaster strikes. Keep a blanket, maps, water, snacks, flares, flashlight, help sign, first-aid kit, and plastic bags in the trunk. You’d be surprised how often these items come in handy if you have a personal disaster, much less a natural disaster on the road.

5.       Let the kids come along for the ride. I love watching my children Windex off their own fingerprints, or vacuum up their own spilled snacks. It also makes them more reluctant to make a mess in the car on future dates if they know they’ll be held responsible for cleaning it up.

Question: What items do you consider to be must-haves in your car? How do you overcome the mobile clutter?