We lead a relatively organized life in our home. Containers are labeled, items have a place to land and we have systems for keeping everything in order. Because our car acts like a much smaller version of our apartment, we have zones for keeping items handy, trash has a place to go and we have systems for keeping our ride clean. We've included some organizing techniques we use in our own car after the jump.
Your Car As An Extension of Your Home
- Every compartment has a specific function so we're not searching frantically for wipes when a spill happens. For our car, we keep tissue, band-aids, pens, and a flashlight in the glove box (along with the instruction manual).
- The tray beneath the radio holds extra business cards for networking events (in case we run out) and our iPod.
- In the ashtray, we keep spare change and a spare key to our apartment, as well as a single spare key to our car to take on a long run.
- We keep a roll of duct tape at the bottom of our straight shift and it always seems to come in handy.
- Our side door pocket is for storing trash only. We're sometimes amazed at what ends up in that spot but the trash doesn't travel throughout the car because it has the appropriate place to land. When it fills up, we empty it while we're pumping gas.
- Behind the passenger seat, we always keep a spare umbrella (on the off chance it actually rains in Los Angeles).
- In our trunk, we keep a few large travel boxes to store items that tend to roll around when traveling. The boxes also help contain fragile items from rolling around when en route.
- When we arrive home, we always try to take something inside that might have found its way to our car.
What are some of your car organizing tips? Is your car an extension of your home or do you find that it is surprisingly the exact opposite?
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[Images from Toyota and Travis Hornung]
Comments (11)
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I really need to organize my car a bit better. My glove compartment is pretty organized, at least all of the important papers and such are. But the rest of my car is just a free for all. It's pretty easy to keep it clean, but it's not exactly the most organized (or "well stocked") car.
view sparkle's profile
Good job! I keep my car organized too.
view quiltmaster's profile
*duct tape!
view daniny's profile
At home, I am a bit of a packrat and not very organized. For the most part, my car stays much cleaner and organized -- the the chagrin of my wife who wishes these habits moved inside.
As for the car as an extension of the home, does using the trunk as additional storage space when the closets are full count? I've got a couple boxes that have been bouncing around in there for months now...
view Benjy's profile
ummm i drive a Smart car so there's not much space to be organized in!
my one must have is an Ikea tote bag. it is amazing how handy those things are; from carrying stuff to becoming a seat cover when needed....
oh and just one comment - don't label you spare key as a spare key. if someone steals your car and looks at your registration they now have a key to your house!
view larchgirl's profile
I always have a big book of maps, a box of tissues, a tote bag, an umbrella, and (most importantly) a frisbee in my car. :)
view splim's profile
Canvas/string bags in case you want to buy stuff and need a bag.
view piez's profile
Why do people let their cars look like the 2nd photo - and why is it that when a friend offers to drive that they always have to clear crap off the passenger seat?
view bepsf's profile
Messy car interiors are def a pet peeve of mine. I am bit insane though...I once washed and waxed my neighbor's dirty car without him knowing it because it was driving me crazy. I don't know if he even ever noticed afterward.
view gregory's profile
There must be some truth to this. My husband is a clutterbug and his car LOOKS like he lives in it: empty bottles, empty food containers/wrappers, extra clothes sometimes, paperwork, and stuff. Mine, on the other hand (small SUV) has an ice scraper and an umbrella in the back. That's it. I can't stand stuff all over my vehicle.
view williamsweyr's profile
Gregory can you be my neighbor? I want someone to wash and wax my car without having to pay for it. LOL
:o)
view Kouklah's profile