Keeping your car organized can make your daily drive much more pleasant and stress-free. Clutter and mess can quickly pile up, leaving you feeling frustrated when searching for items or like you’re driving around in a junkyard. Applying some organization habits and tools can transform your car into an efficient, tidy space you enjoy spending time in.

Here are 5 pro tips for organizing your car:

1. Declutter Regularly

Decluttering your car routinely prevents mess and disorder from building up over time. Set reminders to tidy up your car weekly or biweekly to stay on top of the clutter.

Go through all areas of your car:

• Glove compartments
• Door pockets
• Console storage
• Trunk
• Under and behind seats

Remove trash, unnecessary papers, random personal items, empty food containers, and anything else that doesn’t need to be in your car. Only keep essentials like registration and insurance paperwork, an ice scraper, jumper cables, and an emergency kit.

Designating a bag, box, or bin specifically for your car helps collect clutter to throw out or bring inside your home. Regular decluttering stops junk from accumulating and creates space for organizing tools and systems.

2. Use Storage Solutions

Installing storage solutions customizes your car’s organization system to suit your needs. Look for containers, racks, hooks, and holders that fit your make and model.

Door and Seatback Organizers

Mesh or fabric organizers that hang on door pockets or wrap around seatbacks provide handy storage for small items. Use them to store:

• Tissues
• Hand sanitizer
• Snacks
• Sunglasses
• Chargers and cables

Center Console Organizers

Console trays, dividers, and inserts optimize this space. Store frequently used items like:

• Phone and wallet
• Keys
• Pens
• Lip balm
• Hand wipes

Trunk Organizers

Collapsible bins, trays, and cargo nets neatly contain trunk items. Use them to separate:

• Emergency kit
• Non-slip mats
• Umbrella
• Windshield wiper fluid
• Jumper cables
• Tools

Seatback Organizers

Hooks, pouches, and pockets on the back of front seats keep items handy for rear passengers. Place:

• Tablets
• Books
• Toys
• Snacks
• Trash bag

Under Seat Storage

Use the space under seats to stow larger or rarely used items. Store:

• Umbrella
• Roll of paper towels
• Jumper cables
• Ice scraper
• First aid kit

3. Design Designated Places

Giving everything a designated spot prevents lost and scattered items. Decide what you use most and assign storage areas accordingly.

Console

Prioritize high-use items like phones, sunglasses, and hand sanitizer in the console nearest the driver’s seat.

Door Pockets

Use for items needed when entering/exiting like masks and parking pass.

Seatback Pockets

Handy for passengers to reach, so place snacks, books, tablets here.

Trunk

Designate part of the trunk for emergency supplies like jumper cables, first aid kit, tools.

Under Seats

Good for bulky items not needed while driving like umbrella, cleaning supplies, documents.

Labeling storage areas makes it obvious where things go. Use drawer dividers, bins, or adhesive labels to designate gadget chargers, mask/glove compartment, cleaning supplies, etc.

4. Contain Loose Items

Loose items like charging cables, pens, tissues inevitably end up scattered throughout your car. Containing them keeps mess at bay.

Small Items

Use organizers with multiple compartments and pockets to corral these little objects. Pouches adhered to seatbacks, center console inserts with dividers, and hanging door organizers all work well.

Charging Cables

Coil cables neatly and secure with velcro ties or rubber bands. Store them in a mesh pouch to avoid tangling.

Tissues

Keep boxed tissues in a door or seatback organizer where you can easily grab one.

Snacks

Designate resealable plastic bags or reusable containers for storing snacks to minimize spills and mess.

Garbage

Place small trash bags in door pockets or hang a grocery bag from handles for easy access when you need to dispose of trash.

5. Maintain the System

Establishing an organizational system is useless unless you maintain it. Make organization a habit every time you drive.

Put Items Back

Return belongings to their designated spots after using so they don’t get left behind or lost.

Remove Trash

Don’t let wrappers, bottles or other trash accumulate. Toss regularly.

Restock Supplies

Replenish tissues, cleaning wipes, and other consumables so they’re always available when needed.

Adjust and Improve

If some items don’t have a good spot, re-assign locations to better suit your needs.

Do Quick Cleans

Do a quick 5-minute tidy of high clutter areas like the console before longer trips.

Deep Clean Regularly

Do a thorough interior car clean 1-2 times per month to keep it looking and feeling fresh.

Frequently Asked Questions about Organizing Your Car

Organizing your car effectively takes some effort but pays off in a less stressful driving experience. Here are answers to common questions about getting your car tidy.

Why is it important to keep my car organized?

An organized car helps you in several key ways:

• Saves time – Quickly find items instead of rummaging around
• Reduces stress – Keeping clutter at bay provides a calming environment
• Increases safety – Eliminates loose objects that could interfere with driving
• Boosts productivity – Provides storage for devices, snacks, and items for work or family errands
• Improves cleanliness – Makes dirt and grime less likely to accumulate

What are the best containers for organizing a car?

Some of the most useful containers for car organization include:

• Door pocket organizers – Great for smaller items you need quick access to
• Hanging organizers – Perfect to utilize excessive space on the back of seats
• Center console trays – Customizable dividers keep contents separated
• Collapsible trunk organizers – Low-profile when not in use but provide ample storage
• Pouches – Adhere to surfaces and hold loose items together
• Bins and storage boxes – Useful for containing bigger objects like emergency tools

Look for containers made of durable materials like heavy-duty nylon or sturdy plastic. Flexible options that conform to your car’s unique spaces tend to work best.

Where are the best places to store items I use frequently?

Prioritize quick access for frequently used items:

• Driver’s door and console – Essentials like phone, sunglasses, and hand sanitizer
• Passenger seat door and console – Items for passengers like snacks, tablets, tissues
• Seatback – Entertainment items, books, tablets for ease of rear passenger access
• Front seat back pockets – Maps, directions, parking pass for when entering/exiting car

Designate specific spots like cup holders, console trays, or door pockets for your most used belongings.

How can I keep loose items contained?

Loose items inevitably end up strewn about your car’s interior over time. Here are great ways to contain them:

• Store charging cables in rubber banded coils or velcro wraps
• Adhere small pouches to surfaces to hold phones, keys, and other loose objects
• Use reusable bags clipped onto handles or hooks to collect trash
• Place snacks in lidded containers to prevent spills
• Use door organizers with mesh pockets and dividers for smaller objects

What are some quick cleaning tips for maintaining my organized car?

To keep your organized interior maintained:

• Shake out floor mats weekly
• Use a handheld vacuum for quick cleanups
• Keep cleaning wipes or a duster in the center console
• Set reminders to empty trash bags and clear out clutter
• Clean up immediately after spills or messes
• Wipe down surfaces with protectant to repel dust
• Deep clean the interior every 1-2 months

Maintaining organization systems through quick and regular cleanings ensures your efforts don’t go to waste.

Conclusion

Implementing some organization habits makes time spent driving much more enjoyable and calming. Decluttering, installing storage solutions, designating spots for items, containing loose objects, and maintaining the system are pro tips for organizing any vehicle. Driving in a cluttered mess leads to frustration, while an organized interior creates a peaceful space you want to be in. Use these 5 key tips to transform your car into an efficient, tidy environment that simplifies your life on the road.