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While we’ve been worried about nasties like germs and viruses for the past seven months, no doubt we’ve been industriously sanitising surfaces with vim and vigour like our lives depended on it.
Keeping the car clean and tidy is not quite the same. Firstly, our lives don’t directly depend on it, unless the Coke can rolls under the brake pedal as you drive up to a set of red traffic lights, for instance. Secondly, it doesn’t have to be a chore in the elbow-grease kind of way that you would apply to vigorous disinfecting. In fact, all it takes are a few simple rules.
Rule 1: Don’t use the floor as a rubbish bin
But don’t use the window either.
Recycle a plastic or paper grocery bag. Collect a few bags beforehand and leave them in your car’s side and back pockets. All waste goes into the bag the second you’re done with it. Not later, not tomorrow. Immediately.
When and where you dispose of the bag depends on how full it is at your next pit stop. A pit stop means a place where there is an accessible waste bin. If there is no bin on the side of the road where you had to heed the call of nature, then the bag stays in the car.
Rule 2: Use the storage compartments
That’s what they’re there for.
Water bottles go into drink holders. Paper-based maps (if anyone still uses them) go into side pockets. Snacks, drinks, and padkos don’t – they have their own special place in the cooler bag in the middle of the back passenger seat! Just don’t try to retrieve anything from there while you’re steering the wheel.
The point is, everything should have their place. This way, you also won’t lose things or forget where you put them. And because you started off with complying to this rule, you won’t be tearing the car up looking for stuff you don’t know where you put, and the car won’t end up in a horrible messy situation.
Rule 3: Think of your car as your home
You do keep your house clean and tidy, don’t you?
When you enter your home from being outside, whether it’s from working in the garden, running off the street, or strolling off the beach (lucky you), you might try not to drag the dirt and debris in with you. It helps keep the house cleaner for longer. It helps save you some floor sweeping and mopping time.
When you eat a mango or a melting ice cream cone at home, you go outside to eat it – and then rinse your hands before touching anything. Of course you do! So go ahead and do the same with your car.
In summary
You’re on holiday for goodness sakes, so there’s no need to get all pedantic about folding towels and not eating crusty rolls for fear of crumbs. Just relax, print out this car tidiness strategy, distribute amongst all potential occupants a week ahead so they can study it – and maybe you won’t be looking for lost socks or peeling chewing gum off the carpets until the next long trip.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational or informational purposes only. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of thisinformation. Views expressed in this article are of the author and not necessarily the views of Supa Quick.
