If you have children, you know how quickly your car turns from a pristine, new car, into a landfill. You never know when you’ll find a rotting banana peel beneath the piles of wrappers, crumbs, and melted crayons. It may not be possible to alleviate all messes in your car, but here are four ways to protect your vehicle.
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Cupcake Liners
Cup holders always seems to attract the stickiest messes. Things like lollipops, juice, melted chocolate, and spare coins usually mix into a nightmare that most of us just give up on. Try using cupcake liners to protect them. Simply place the cupcake liner inside the cup holder, and you automatically have a shield against the stickiness. When it gets messy, simply replace the liner. You may want to use silicone liners, as they will be more durable and won’t leak through.
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Travel-Safe Snacks
Your kids are going to eat in the car. It is inevitable. Whether you are bouncing back and forth between soccer games, or you are on a long road trip, snacks are necessary to keep the little (and big) ones happy. But you have control over what type of snacks make it into the car. Avoid anything sticky or greasy, like applesauce, yogurt, or fries. Instead, opt for food that can easily be vacuumed up, like crackers or trail mix. Bite-size fruits or vegetables are another great snack to bring along. Just make sure you are cleaning out the car on a regular basis so you don’t discover squished grapes that have been ground into the seat or carpet. You will also want to make sure that water is the only drink allowed in the car. That way, if it spills, it’s not a big deal.
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Clean-Up Kits
You will be able to limit the extent of the messes in your car, but you won’t be able to alleviate them completely. Sticky snacks will still sneak into your car, or that last fast food run will leave its evidence in the form of greasy fingerprints and spilled ketchup. There are also times when a little one will decide to draw on the door and/or window, or you may have one (or more) kids with car sickness. Have a clean-up kit handy so that you can take care of the messes quickly for easy cleanup. The kit should include things like baby wipes, stain remover, and extra grocery bags to contain anything gross.
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Trash Cans
Garbage piles up at an incredible speed even when you don’t have children, but it tends to accumulate at an exponential rate when you do. Keep a small trash can or two, depending on the size of your vehicle, so that the garbage makes it into the trash before it ever hits the floor. Then, at the end of the day, it is easy to empty and replace with a new liner. Your car will stay clean longer, and you won’t have to worry about any lingering smells.
Whether you have small children, teenagers, or no children at all, these four tips will help keep your car clean for longer and will help to keep suspicious odors from taking hold.
Image by Bre LaRow, Licensed via CC BY 2.0
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