House and Home: Cars and Kids

You could say I drive an average car – for a suburban mom, that is. I own a large Mazda MPV minivan. I take my kids to and from school and their many activities in it, and sometimes, sad to say, my family even eats a quick lunch, dinner or snack in there.

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

But, I long to be one of those moms who drives a perfectly pristine and neat car. So I culled these tips for keeping a kid-friendly car neat and mess free.

Don’t eat in the car

OK, 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.

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. And, you certainly don’t want to contribute to the litter on our highways by tossing your garbage out your 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, etc., in the car. The problem is when this stuff gets 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 remain in the car. (Things like maps, sunglasses, an umbrella, etc.)

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 kids’ sticky fingers and faces, etc. 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 on cookies, crackers, etc. in the car. 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. A lot of scary stuff can hide underneath them!

 Call for comments: Have tips for keeping a car clean?