Just like garages and homes and other spaces we spend a lot of time in, our cars will naturally end up with some or a lot of clutter – it just happens. We are all on the move constantly and sometimes our cars operate as second homes or offices. Eating and drinking on the run is such a common thing these days, so coffee cups and other extraneous garbage ends up on the seats or floors of our cars. Receipts for groceries and gas are often strewn about, as well as items such as napkins, kleenex, you name it, all often end up jammed into car consoles or the door sides. Speaking of groceries, these days we are all bringing our own bags to the stores, so our cars often house all of these bags so they are available to us when we get to our destination shop. These bags can also cause clutter and disarray in our cars, and it is very important to keep this car clutter at bay; our cars are small and clutter can be much more obvious in this small space. The good news about this smaller space is that it should be pretty quick and easy to declutter.
TIP #1 – KEEP A GARBAGE/RECYCLING RECEPTACLE IN YOUR CAR
If you are somebody who tends to create garbage in the car, whether it be coffee mugs or food wrappings or anything of the sort, have a garbage bag in your car ready to receive this garbage. This way, you are anticipating a potential garbage problem and nipping it in the bud before it gets out of hand. We all love A & W now and again and of course our tasty Starbucks, so if you find empty containers are around, have somewhere that you can put them. At the end of the week or sooner make sure to throw this bag away and get a fresh one in place – no fuss no muss! This little adjustment will really help keep your car clutter down.
TIP #2 – DESIGNATE YOUR PRECIOUS CAR REAL ESTATE FOR THE IMPORTANT THINGS
I don’t know about you, but there are some things that I really need to have consistent homes for within my car. Sunglasses are a big one for me; I want them to be where I left them and where I can easily retrieve them when needed. Sunglasses are just an example, you may have your own things that you want to have easy access to and also to know where they are each and every time. Garage remotes or office door remotes need to have homes in your car also – if they constantly move around believe me you will lose or misplace them.
If you like to keep receipts, have a place in the car they can be placed in an organized way (personally I get rid of all this extra paper but that’s just me). Snow brushes for my fellow Canadians and cold climate folks? Keep your brush somewhere so you will always know where it is, especially when we get those wonderful snow storm conditions. Kleenex box? Why not! Make sure it has a home that makes sense and doesn’t add clutter to the interior of your car. A place for everything and everything in its place.
Don’t forget about those grocery bags I mentioned earlier – these tend to end up in our homes and then we often forget to bring them back to the car for our next grocery run. Make sure that every time you unpack these in your home, they immediately go back to the designated location in your car. I cannot tell you how important this is, speaking from somebody who didn’t use to do this, and then ended up at the store with zero bags available. I now consistently take these bags back to the car so they are ready for the next outing.
TIP #3 – CLEAN OUT YOUR CAR REGULARLY
Cars are stomping grounds for mess and clutter, and a messy car is a messy mind so this tip is key: Clean out your car regularly, inside and out! Remove all garbage, give everything a wipe down with your favourite cleaning product. If you can, vacuum your car out so you can give the car floors and seats some much needed attention. The floors of our automobiles are literally stomping grounds for mess, dirt and grime. Wipe down the seats, steering wheel, dashboard, and all the little crevices and nooks that collect dust. I promise you that if you keep up with this task you will breathe easier.
My father used to tell me to take care of my things so that they will last longer. I remember he would keep his sweaters wrapped in plastic in his closet to keep the dust out and I am certain he has 30 year old sweaters in excellent shape because of this. Cars are a big investment for most of us, so if we take care of our cars they will last longer. Declutter your car today!
Aside from helping with all of our decluttering needs, Avery hosts the Journey Into Yoga Podcast where she guides you through a different yoga pose each week explaining all that it has to offer the body and mind. Episodes and more can be found at averyrich.com. Check out this week’s show where Avery answers some audience questions about yoga and the body, more specifically, some ways to manage back pain.
Avery Rich
Avery hails from Winnipeg, Manitoba, with a background in both law and yoga! As a long time Yoga Instructor, she hosts the Journey Into Yoga podcast, a show which explores and demystifies a different yoga posture each week. A true believer in creating space in our bodies through yoga, her Declutter U newsletter is designed to provide tips and tools on how to create more space in our lives by decluttering.
