This weekend I decided it was time for an auto cleanup. You ever have one of those moments when you look inside your car and say, “Enough is enough; the trash, cheerios, and whatever that is, has got to go?” Well that’s where I was on Friday. I took everything out of the car, vacuumed, dusted and then put everything back. The result–I could take some wonderful pics for today’s post!
When creating a family friendly equipped auto you want to make sure things are easily accessible, ready for those mini-emergencies, and prepared for those times you are often stuck waiting (be it an after school pick-up line or a major traffic jam). Below are merely a list of suggestions you may want to think about including in your vehicle. Bear in mind, my family is made up of two girls under 3, my hubby, and myself. And we live in central Oklahoma so our car may be decked out a little differently than those of you with 4 teenage boys living in Colorado. That said, without further ado, let’s get’s started.
In the front compartment above the radio:
- Mints
- Finger nail files
- Pens and pencils for homework, note writing, or check writing.
- A notepad to write down things to remember (when stopped of course).
- Chapstick, which must taken out on hot days unless I don’t mind it getting rearranged into a different shape.
In the glove box:
- A lint roller for my “special” black slacks
- Individually wrapped shout wipes for the inevitable spit-up
- Travel static guard for my hubby’s brown slacks
- Travel pack of Advil for the occasional headache
- Travel medical/sewing kit
- Travel facial tissue
- Travel lotion
- Flashlight
- Glow Stick
- Tire gauge
- Small ice scraper
- Owner’s Manual
In the center console compartments:
- A microfiber cloth, to dust the dash while at a stoplight.
- Plastic bags to collect trash upon leaving the vehicle or to place on the floor during those muddy days
- Change for the turnpike or Aldi’s cart
Behind the driver’s seat:
- A sun shade for the front window
- Magazines, for all those times we’re stuck just waiting.
- A coloring book and colored pencils for those unexpected waiting times with a toddler
- An umbrella
Behind the front passenger’s seat:
- Diapers, just in case
- Wet ones, for dirty bottoms or dirty hands
In the backseat:
- A towel underneath each car seat for easy cleaning should something accidentally spill on the seat. It’s much easier to pull out the towel and wash it than scrub a car seat.
- A couple of blankets for those times everyone is not equally comfortable with the temperature.
In a book bag that I safety pinned to the trunk lining:
- Jumper cables
- De-Icer
In the trunk:
- Reusable shopping bags
In the summer months I also include a small ice chest or freezer bag for grocery trips. We also have extra tools and equipment to change a spare tire below the floorboard (not pictured). That’s it. One family friendly equipped and organized car…well, at least for now.
So, how do you organize your car? Any ideas you’d like to share for how you have created a family-friendly auto?
Hi! Welcome to Cornerstone Confessions. My name is Kathy Gossen and I'm a full time homemaker learning about what it means to be a godly woman in the everyday. On Cornerstone Confessions I share my adventures in organizing, homeschooling, cooking, parenting, and more as a means to encourage other women in their quest to becoming a Titus 2 model in their homes and beyond.
Your car is so organized that you could live out of it! I love it!
You have definitely motivated me to organize the truck… thank you so much for your post.
I think cheerios breed in the dark recesses under car seats. Great job organizing your car! I like that you broke it down into sections and told us what things are for.
This is an awesome list of stuff to include in the car… I will definitely be using this to re-organize some stuff in my car soon! : )
-Mel the Crafty Scientist