If you want to declutter your car in less than 60 minutes, you’re at the right place!
I bought my first vehicle from a man who didn’t use it very much (especially not in the city), and let me tell you that it looked rather terrible: dusty, with all types of grime on the floor, with candy hidden under the seats, and even corn on the floor. It looked like the automobile went through some tough times.
Yes, the seller didn’t have time to clean it because he listed the vehicle, and a couple of hours later I was in his neighborhood, asking him to close the sale. I was excited to drive, but I was also eager to make it look clean and pretty.
If you’re in a similar situation and you want to declutter your car in less than 60 minutes, I know a few tips that can be helpful. Roll up your sleeves and get ready to dust, vacuum, and get rid of those napkins, tissue paper, garbage, and any other items you might be storing in there. Are you ready? Let’s get to work!
1. Clear it out
The first thing you have to do when you declutter your car is to clear it out. Start from the front, and then work your way to the back, and grab all those things that don’t serve your vehicle any good: straws, old beverages, food packages, napkins, tickets, etc.
Don’t forget to check under the seats, in the glove compartment, your cup holders, the storage that’s built into your doors, and also the storage pockets on the back of your front seats. To make things even quicker, organize everything in three piles: items that will stay in your vehicle, things you need at home or in the garage, and items you can dispose of.
2. Vacuum
If the floor is clean, everything looks better. Or at least, in my opinion. You can easily declutter your car if you grab a vacuum (such as this tiny and amazing one from Amazon) and start giving your floors a fresh look and feel. There won’t be any grime particles, and everything will look better. This will probably take you 10 minutes or less, so no excuses here.
What’s your least favorite activity when it comes to cleaning your car?
3. Wipe up
Now that your vehicle’s floors are nice and clean, grab a soft and dry washcloth and start wiping. Show your dashboard, armrests, and steering wheel some life and dust them. You can keep your washcloth in the vehicle and use it any time you need it. This one will make a big difference, and it will make your automobile look as good as new.
You can also use special wipes for this task, such as these ones, and the great thing about them is that they’ll leave a pretty and clean smell behind. Some people say that if you don’t want to spend money on a specialty product, baby wipes work just as fine. Try on a small piece of your car and see if it’s effective or not.
Keep reading for some amazing tips on how to declutter your car fast and efficiently!
4. Your mats deserve some TLC
Yes, you vacuum your floor mats but don’t forget to take them out and give them a little shake so that everything comes off quickly. If you notice any stains and spills, a carpet cleaner and a damp cloth are everything you need to get rid of them in no time.
In case there are any lingering odors in your mats, don’t worry; I know a trick you can try. Sprinkle them with some bicarbonate of soda, and let it do its magic overnight. Grab your vacuum the next morning, and your mats will be just as good as new ones.
PS: If you want to declutter your car as fast as possible, I suggest you put on some high-energy music, roll up your sleeves, and get going!
5. Clear out your glove compartment
This next tip to declutter your car isn’t going to take you longer than 5 to 10 minutes, but it will make you feel a lot better, trust me. This space should contain only important items, such as registration documents, insurance, and roadside assistance information. You can add a notepad and a pen in there, just in case you need them.
Besides that, additional items, such as coins, face masks, sunglasses, and wallets, might only cramp your space. If they’re useful during your drive, of course, keep them in there, as the passenger can easily reach them, but otherwise, it’s best to keep other belongings someplace else.
6. Don’t forget about the back seats
How often do you declutter your car? People who have small children in their families are more likely to have cluttered vehicles due to food wrappers, toys, kids’ seats, colored books, extra outfits, shoes, or any other item a tiny human might need.
This is understandable and normal, but if you want to keep your automobile neat and tidy, you need to organize it better. You can purchase a backseat organizer and use it to store extra pairs of shoes, snacks, toys, outfits, or anything else you might need to have with you. This will save you space, time, and money in the long run, so the investment is worth it!
How long does it usually take you to declutter your car?
7. Vehicle boot
Whether you like to declutter your car or not, it’s a task you need to do at least every season. One of the areas people forget to clean is their vehicle boots, and honestly, I’m one of them too. You probably store a lot of things in there, like first aid kits, tools in case something breaks down and you need to assist it ASAP, your spare tire, and in some cases, even bags, additional outfits, shoes, snacks, and so many other things.
Unless you don’t need all of these items to stay in your vehicle at all times, you’d better have them during your drive and then place them in the garage or in your home. The reason I tell you this is because it might save you a Tetris game later when you need to find or add something in there.
If you need to store multiple items in your boot and not have to feel like you can’t find anything when you need something, a boot organizer might be your best friend in this case.
8. Attach tiny trash cans to your car’s door compartments
Another thing that will help you declutter your car is taking better care of your disposable items. One suggestion I have for you is to purchase small trash cans for every door compartment in your vehicle, put a small trash bag in there, and you’ll have the cleanest car ever.
Of course, you can skip the purchasing part and store the garbage in a bag that you can throw away at the end of the ride, but these small trash cans will make your vehicle look more organized and overall better.
Do you have any other tips on how to easily declutter your car? Try out these tips, and you’ll see a huge difference! Even if it takes you longer than 60 minutes, depending on how much you need to clean, this task will motivate you to become a more organized person! If you have any tips for us, feel free to leave them in the comments below!
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