{"id":8576,"date":"2023-05-17T09:19:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-17T09:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/?p=8576"},"modified":"2023-05-16T21:20:26","modified_gmt":"2023-05-16T21:20:26","slug":"how-keep-car-clean-with-messy-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/auto\/how-keep-car-clean-with-messy-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Keeping Your Car Interior Clean with Messy Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You probably want the relationship between messy kids and your clean car to be better… luckily it can be! We know how it starts though: after that first half-eaten raisin bounces from their mouths to the cup holders to the dirt on your floor mats, things start to get unclean pretty fast. Before you know it, there’s water sloshing around the center console and sticky-fingered children spinning around in their seats to make handprints no DIY or professional wash can resolve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’re here to tell you that there are ways to keep the interior fresh, safe (even safer when you have car insurance)<\/a> and clutter-free. The trick is this: you have to be prepared by organizing, stocking cleaning resources, and even to go so far as creating a “clean culture” (more on this later!) to give your vehicle the best chance of surviving the trail young people can leave behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You and your fellow auto owners can be ready to change the clean-car-meets-messy-kids dynamic. The following tips range from spills to empathy as you preserve the interior of your car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have a Place for Everything<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a parent, you likely spend a lot of time trying to get your kids to not do something poorly… did you know you can re-route that behavior by empowering them to do something else well?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giving items you are packing – such as travel games, wet wipes, tools, and snacks – a place or box to live in can encourage children to put them back where they belong. For instance, according to The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, research suggests including chores in a child’s routine as early as age three can be beneficial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, let’s explore exactly what goes where!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Car Organizers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Organizers are  containers, compartments, or dividers that separate the inside of your automobile into more manageable sections. For example, use storage bags to hang behind your seats.  You can organize items such as snacks, books, and toys (plus, they are easy to reach when kids are buckled up in the back). Keeping your kids entertained by having their favorite items accessible.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can keep the vehicle\u2019s interior clean simply by having a  plastic bag for trash and a cloth bag for dirty shoes.  By having organizers on hand, you’ll have more control over keeping your car – and kids! – tidy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Keep Loose Change Organized<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Loose change is just one of many things that can create a chaotic look in your automobile. Depending on your child’s age, it can also be a choking hazard. Keep coins  in a central location such as  a little purse or a box with a latch inside your glove compartment. That way, all your money can stay in one spot and is reachable when you pass through tolls or a drive-thru  (no more searching around the door panels and in the front seats for that extra 25 cents).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Keep Food Sealed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First, it is important to mention that food can easily go bad when exposed to hot temperatures. That said, with kids you may opt for more enduring snack options, such as crackers, which need to be sealed. You can seal food with Tupperware, beeswax food wraps, or even in their original packaging with little clasps to close it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sealing food keeps treats fresh and it also sends the message to your children that there is a time and place to eat. If food is left out in the open, kids are more likely to just keep eating it as well as not notice if a particular food has gone stale. Don’t let old food become part of the clutter but do make room for healthy, properly sealed snacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you decide to keep food in your ride, we also recommend having water bottles to stay hydrated, too. And, to avoid the losing battle of snack crumbs gone wrong, go ahead and keep paper towels and a mini vacuum cleaner nearby as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things You Must Have in Your Car<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At this point, we’ve walked you through things you could have, but now we’re getting to the really good part of things you must have. These must-haves are for any parent of messy kids who are ready to end their dirty streak once and for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7         Trash Can<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you don’t have a designated trash can, your entire vehicle becomes one big receptacle. It may start out as dust, but your misplaced trash collection will soon include an old toothbrush, old sock, and used baby wipes without a trash can in sight. That said, our favorite vehicle-friendly trash cans have lids. Another way to really boost the success of trash cans is to empty them after each ride… yes, we do mean every single time. Trash has no place in your beautiful, clean car and by maintaining a trash can you also let your children know that this is a trash-free zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7         Silicone Cupcake Liners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Silicone cupcake liners work best when you use them to line your cup holders. Instead of allowing liquid and small things you drop to be forever lost in the area your cup should be, place the silicone cupcake liners there as both a protective barrier and a glove mitt. Silicone cupcake liners also come in wonderful colors that you can match to other major colors in your automobile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7         Handheld Vacuum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nowadays they make small-but-mighty handheld vacuums specifically designed for your car! Not only do they have various attachments to reach tough areas, they also have their own little USB charging cords that fit right into the charging ports of your vehicle. The only thing handheld vacuums can’t really solve are stains<\/a>, pet hair<\/a>, and mold<\/a>, but we have ideas for those too, such as cleaning supplies and a lint roller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7         Glove Compartment Essentials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of getting things cleaner and cleaner while teaching your children to stay organized at the same time, dedicating the glove compartment to special cleaning items is a win-win for both parties. Here are the essentials we know you’ll be thankful to have year-round<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n