If you’re anything like me, you practically live out of your car. If you’re not careful, there can be a mass pileup of trash and grime all over the place so fast you’ll wonder how it even happened. The obvious answer, of course, is not leaving anything in there at the end of the day, which is the best advice, but sometimes you just want to go straight to the couch when you get home from a long day. If you don’t have it in you to maintain your car daily, or can’t justify paying for someone else to clean it for you every week, try these helpful tips on keeping your car from becoming a hazard and an eyesore.
Keep A Trash Bag Where You Can Easily Reach It From The Drivers’ Seat.
That way, you don’t have to worry about food wrappers and miscellaneous trash ending up on the car floor. Keep extra bags under the seat, so that when you take the trash out, you can instantly replace the bag. If you have kids (NOT small children,) anchor a bag somewhere in the backseat for them to dispose of any trash they have as well.
Shake Out The Floor Mats and Vacuum The Seats Once A Week Or As Needed.
If your car regularly accomodates more than just yourself, you will want to do this once a week, to keep out any unwanted snacks, leaves, dirt, etc. from building up in your car. If you have the car to yourself most of the time, you could probably get away with doing it just as needed, but no less than once a month.
Keep Cleaning Supplies In Your Dashboard.
You always want to have baby wipes, disinfecting wipes, and window cleaner in your dashboard. Baby wipes work well for minor messes, such as removing liquid from the cupholder that spills out of the cup. Disinfecting wipes are a must, such as if you sneeze on your steering wheel. It is a good idea to use a wipe on the wheel and door handles regularly as well, to prevent spreading bacteria and viruses. Window cleaners are also a great tool. Being able to see clearly out of your winshield and windows is vital to your safety and of those riding with you. If you have leather seats, keep leather conditioner with you and give them a good wipe down once in a while, to keep them from drying out and cracking.
Go Ahead And Splurge On The Professional Cleaning Once In A While.
By keeping up with the basic maintenance of your car, it won’t be necessary to pay for a professional cleaning regularly, but it is still a good idea to do it at least a couple times a year. They will do things that you may not want to make time for, such as shampooing the rugs and upholstry, and detailing and dusting.
Keeping your car in good condition is beneficial to your health and safety, and can also have a great impact on the resale value of your car. For more great information on keeping your car interior clean, check out Ehow.com’s Article On Detailing Your Car Interior!