Hey guys!
Happy Wednesday!
I hope your weeks are off to a great start and you are staying healthy and warm, especially if you are living in a chilly place like myself.
After all the Christmas and New Years celebrations are over, I always love to reset for the month of January. I think its a great time to get organized, do some deep cleaning, maybe even get rid of things you may not need, and start on some new goals for the year.
I’ve been doing pretty well with my resolutions which is always a good feeling.
For many people, a goal for the new year may be to keep spaces clean or get things organized, whether it’s a specific room in your home, your workspace in the office, or your car.
While I wish I could offer advice for cleaning and organizing all these areas, you would be reading this post for the next day, but I can offer you some tips for cleaning specific areas.
Today, we are talking about to keep your car clean and organized.
Must-Haves
Here’s my must haves for your car (these can be kept in your trunk or in the back of your car):
-Emergency kit for cars or first aid
-Blanket
-Water
-Non-perishable snacks (nuts or crackers-filling and something that lasts long)
-Change of seasonal clothes (in case of emergency or you get stuck and are in need of a quick change)
-Jumper Cables
*all of these can be put in the trunk or back of the car*
-Cell phone charger
-Important Car Documents
-Hand Sanitizer or Wipes
-Extra masks (in today’s day and age, it’s a must)
*these can go in your glove compartment or center console*
Other things that I keep in my car that aren’t musts but are useful to have:
-Body spray/perfume/cologne (depending on girls or guys, I always have travel bottle of body spray in my car whenever you need a quick refresher)
– Towel (for rain storms, messes or a quick clean-up)
– Go-to toiletry bag (this is just any must-haves you may need in a pinch (for girls- hair tie, chapstick, contact solution, tissues, gum, anything you may think you could need in an emergency)
-Recyclable bags (these are helpful for trash or any wet towels or clothes)
Keeping it Clean
Once a week I do a quick car clean. I use a Clorox wipe to clean off the high touch point areas like the handles, the wheel, and the controls. I use a leather wipe to clean the seats and headsets.
I got a mini car vacuum for Christmas (yes, you know you are old when you get excited about getting a vacuum for a gift) and I like to use that for quick cleaning.
Now, for a more extensive cleaning, I turned to an expert in car cleaning, someone who taught me everything I know about cleaning, my boyfriend, Ethan. He helped me write the second half of this post!
“Routine car detailing doesn’t have to be hard, time consuming or expensive. With the right mix of affordable products and a little bit of know-how, keeping a car in top-notch condition is a relatively simple task.
Exterior Cleaning
The first step is to clean your car. Start with the outside, and rinsed the vehicle. Then, using a dedicated car wash soap that you can buy at any auto store, fill one bucket with soapy water according to the instructions on your soap. Fill a second bucket with clean water. Then, using a microfiber washing mitt or cloth, liberally cover the car in soapy water. As you wash, make sure to rinse the mitt periodically in the clear bucket.
After thoroughly washing the car from top to bottom, rinse it off with a hose and dry it with a microfiber drying product like a towel or cloth.
Interior Cleaning
Then, move to the inside, and when it comes to car detailing, if you can only do one thing, vacuum. Vacuuming will make the biggest difference in the appearance of your car, and it’s fairly quick to do. Make sure to thoroughly vacuum every interior surface including seats floors and floor mats. Make sure to remove the mats and vacuum beneath them.
After a very thorough vacuuming, it’s time to zero in. If your mats have not been cleaned in a long time, use a cleaning product like Tuff Stuff. It’s an aerosol spray, and it works wonders lifting out dirt. It’s also super versatile and can be used on most surfaces in your car. Best of all, it’s affordable. Handle the mats with tuff stuff and a stiff-bristled brush, mixed with some elbow grease. Wipe them dry with a microfiber towel, and then vacuum again. On your car’s interior, I like a two-in-one clean and shine. Unless your car is especially grimy, this will clean and polish in one step. If your car is beyond belief, use tuff stuff to blast away dirt, and then apply the polish with a microfiber towel. Cloth seats can be cleaned with tuff stuff, and leather ones need a dedicated leather cleaner.
Finally, clean the windows, but DO NOT USE WINDEX. It can ruin the tint. Use a dedicated car window product, and make sure to roll the windows down to get the tops.
When you’re done, stand back and admire your work.
For emergencies, I always keep a few microfiber towels in my trunk. That way, I can touch-up my interior in a moment, and if I spill something, I have a super absorbent towel ready to limit the damage.”
So there you have it, some tips on how to keep your car clean and organized and some must-haves. I’m by no means an expert but I hope this helped you with some ideas on how to get started when cleaning your car can seem like a daunting task.
Happy cleaning!