Organize Your Car for Summer!

Are you driving Clutter around? Do you avoid car-pooling because you are embarrassed, or because there is not room for actual people in your car?
Have you lost items in your car, never to see them again? Does something smell funny?

Spend a little time this week getting your car ready for your summer adventures!

We organize our car for the same reasons we organize our home and selves:

• to maximize the space and stuff we have;
• to allow for new opportunities;
• for safety sake; and
• Peace of Mind.

Get Started:  Organizing your car is like any other organizing project.  Think      about how you use your car. For me:  transportation and temporary holding for people and groceries.  It is occasionally my office and changing room on the way to baseball practice.  Your car may be for work, recreation, lodging, dining, the options are endless!

Get It Done:

1. Take everything out of your car.  Discard trash and lay the rest out on a sheet. 
2. Sort what is left, putting similar items together: house items to take inside, items to be dropped off like library books, dry cleaning, borrowed items or donations.
3. Based on your deductions from "Get Started," Decide what does and does not belong in your car.
4. Papers – It is ok to keep some papers in your car permanently.  Maintenance records for work done on your car – yes. Unopened mail – no. Exception: your car is your mobile office, and that could be a blog for another day!

Put It Away: 

1. You have cleaned out the car and gotten rid of what needs to go away.  Good job!
2. Now, treat your self and your car to a good exterior and interior wash. 3501 W. 95th St. does a great job!
3. Store stuff where you need it: Now that you have determined your      car’s purpose and the stuff that stays, put the stuff away!  Remember, most safety or maintenance items are not needed as you drive and can go in the trunk in a bag. Keep near you only what you need to safely drive.
4. Deliver the Clutter that’s been riding around in your car, library books and dry cleaning, mail, donations, etc. 

Playing it Safe:

1. Get a net or a tie-down for items rolling around in your car to keep them from becoming a projectile in the event of an accident.
2. According to the AAA website, you should always travel with (all can fit in a crate or bag, secured in the trunk….)

• an inflated spare tire and jack
• jumper cables and flares
• flashlight, fire extinguisher and first aid kit.
• for winter, also include: coffee can furnace (the candle generates heat); carpet strips for traction under wheels; boots; ice scraper & brush; newspapers for insulation; shovel and sand or cat litter (for traction); tools; food & blanket; tire chains (for use on secondary roads only).

So spiff up your ride, and roll down those windows to let the warm weather in! Enjoy!