We had absolutely no intentions to buy a new car when we took mine in for maintenance last week, but two days and a helluva deal later we walked out with our second brand spanking new {and bigger} car!
With two kids, my expectations of keeping this car in great condition are pretty low, but there are some tricks I’ve learned over the past three years about keeping a car clean and organized and making the most of space if you don’t have a ton. Since I’m naturally not inclined to keeping cars clean (I have a hard time caring) these are all super basic things that I do and carry with me to keep my car as organized with as little effort as possible!
Car Cell Phone Mount – Since we just moved to a new city I need Google Maps to tell me how to get pretty much everywhere! I like this mount because it can stick to your dash or windshield, and the magnet holds your phone securely in place. I stuck mine on the windshield and frequently adjust the position, and it has never fallen off or dropped my phone!
Trunk Organizer – This trunk organizer is perfect for small spaces! It hooks onto the back seat headrests and still hangs a few inches above the floor so you lose no trunk space but gain tons of storage! I keep extra diapers, wipes, outfits, sunscreen, towels, burp cloths, and bibs in here and have used these items on several occasions. It’s nice to keep those extra “just in case” items close by without having to carry them in a diaper bag!
Potty – While I don’t love toting this around all the time, I have used it more times than I can count and it has saved us from lots of potty accidents! Reagan always seems to need to go potty at the most inconvenient times–like at the park with no bathrooms (or horrible port a potties) or while we’re waiting for someplace to open, or on a road trip through the middle of nowhere–so having a potty while she learns how to hold it has been crucial for us!
Car Diffusers – We LOVE these essential oil diffusers! They are tiny metal clips that slide onto your air vents with felt pads that diffuse oils. I keep little bottles of my favorite oils in the car so I can always have a good smell blasting through our air vents. They work really well, and 1-2 drops of oil will usually smell good for a few days! They come with 12 different felt pads in fun colors for lots of oil diffusing options!
Sun Shades – These are an absolute must for cars carrying little ones! These shades help protect car seats from the sun, protect sensitive eyes from bright light, and can keep car seats cooler even when parked in direct sunlight. I prefer these shades because you can take them off and put them on quickly and easily, and the suction cups actually hold really well! We’ve had our for three years and haven’t had any issues, plus at $10 for a 2 pack they are a steal!
Seat Back Organizers – I just bought these in anticipation for some road trips back home to visit my family and I am geeking out about all of the storage potential! I love that each one has an iPad sleeve and water bottle sleeve, so when Elliott turns forward facing in about a year both kids will be able to watch their own show and have their own drinks clearly separated. The Kleenex compartment is super helpful for the inevitable spills, and the pockets can hold ALL THE THINGS. I will report back on how these affect our road trips this fall!
Husky Floor Mats – Okay these are definitely an investment but they are lifesavers if you live anywhere that snows/rains/is dirty or if your kids are messy. They are heavy duty protective and keep your actual floors clean and pretty! These are also super easy to vacuum out or just lift out and shake everything off, so much easier than vacuuming carpet!
That’s it! I am so much more likely to keep things clean if I have a good organization system in place, and these items have definitely helped with that!