How many bottles of water are rolling around on the floor of
your vehicle? When giving someone a ride, do you have to toss everything
covering your front seat into the back and then shove that pile to one side for
another passenger to fit in the back seat? Do you have any idea what’s in your
center console, glove box or door holders? Are there unidentifiable objects
between the seats that you discover when your cell phone slides off of your lap
and gets trapped in that crevice? Oh, there’s Jr’s pacifier.
If you answered yes to any (or all) of these questions, it
may be time to seek help. Admitting you have a problem is the first step. The
following is a 12-step program to return you and your automobile to a healthy
and happy relationship.
Step 1: Gather at least 3 containers: 1 for garbage, 1 for things you think may go
back into the car and 1 for miscellaneous things that need to be reviewed or
returned to where they belong, like your closet.
Step 2: Everything
must go! Clean out that car right down to the bare bones sorting items into
your various bins. Leave nothing. And don’t forget the trunk, under the seats
or the pockets on the back of the front seats.
Step 3: Before
you dispose of the trash, sift through it one more time to be sure something of
value wasn’t overlooked stuck to that gooey stick of gum or melted crayon. You
may be surprised at what you discover that you thought was missing.
Step 4: Go
through the miscellaneous container and return each pair of shoes, extra coats,
sporting equipment, books & magazines, toys, CD’s, tools and trinkets to
their home base. Then return those borrowed DVD’s to your friend and finally
exchange that broken alarm clock at the store.
Step 5: Give your car a makeover. Go on show some TLC.
Bathe it, vacuum the interior, wipe the cup holders and dashboard down with a
wet cloth, clean your windows and maybe throw in an air freshener. When your
vehicle is sparkling clean, you’ll be less likely to pile that junk back in.
Step 6: After getting over the amazement of how
beautiful your car looks, decide what really
needs to go back in. Pull up the bin that contains what you thought may return
to the car and get comfortable. Carefully review each item and decide whether
it is necessary to carry around on a daily basis and sort them appropriately.
Step 7: Re-review your winners. Keep in mind that
extra weight in the car means less efficient gas mileage, so be selective. Sort the keepers into various piles based on
where you think you’ll store them in your vehicle. Disperse the items that
didn’t make the 2nd round cut to their proper places.
Step 8: Where is the best place to keep your
sunglasses, hand sanitizer, car insurance & registration, pens, back up
paper maps, granola bars, umbrella or kiddie toys? When considering these
things, keep the most commonly used items in close proximity for easy access.
Step 9: Organize your car. Perhaps a small box or bag
sits on the back seat or that hangs off of the front seat will keep the kids
toys within reach for them but contained to a manageable place. If you travel a
lot and tend to need snacks, try putting them in a separate bag so when the
munchies strike all of your options are in one place.
Step 10: Organize your trunk. Most important, have a
container that includes emergency items like a first aid kit, jumper cables and
a flashlight. If you and your family are involved in various activities,
perhaps designating spaces for equipment would be helpful so the groceries will
fit along with the stroller.
Step 11: Bonus: Rather than letting your
phone/navigation system rest on your lap, try using a dashboard or windshield
mount for hands-free ease. Are electronic device chargers and cords running
amuck? Some Velcro ties may help keep them tamed. For safety, keep anything of
value out of plain view.
Step 12: Enjoying freedom from the burden of clutter?
Develop the habit of replacing items in their designated places right away
rather than chuck in on the floor and it gets lost under the seat. How much extra effort does it take to open
the glove box? Train the kids too; make it a game. Who can clean their area the
fastest gets a prize. Before you realize it, this good habit will become 2nd
nature.
Believe it or not, good relationships can last. Keep it clean
folks.
