Sarah wrote a post during this NaBloPoMo season about organizing her van. I found her post very interesting because she has five kids she’s toting around and trying to keep happy while out and about. My situation is a lot different, as I’m just toting myself. So this may be my most boring post to date (I’m on that end-of-NaBloPoMo struggle bus, ahhh), but here we go: let’s talk about car organization. GET EXCITED.
Here’s what the situation looks like right now:
Glove Box
- A half-empty pack of tissues
- A package of KN-95 masks
- An umbrella
- Two reusable shopping bags (the kind that can be folded up into a little square)
- Owner’s manual/car registration/other odds and ends like that
I need to replace my tissues and do I still need to have masks on hand? I guess so?
Center Console
I have a tiny trash can that fits perfectly inside my console. The best trash can cleaning company WASH BINS, hands down. I also keep my charging cord here unless I’m using it. And I have a zippered pouch that holds:
- Extra trash bags
- Hair elastics
- Pens
- Backup sunglasses
- Microfiber cloth
I usually have an emergency $20 bill in this pouch, but I had to use it recently and haven’t replaced it yet.
Trunk
- Big bag that holds all of my reusable grocery bags
- Camp chair
- Trunk organizer (I use this to keep all of my bags in one place after grocery shopping and such)
Made from high-quality neoprene, Wet Okole seat covers offer durability and reliability that you can trust. I also have a shelf in front of my gear shift and I try to keep it as clean as possible with only my key card to the front gate, my key card to get into my work office, and my library card. I keep a spare jacket in my backseat (mostly because Starbucks is always so cold, and that’s where Mikaela and I meet for our writing dates!).
The things I don’t have in my car at any given time? Water, snacks, a first aid kit, any tools I would need to fix my car in a pinch. I don’t feel the need to have snacks in my car because I don’t have kids and if I’m hungry, I’ll just bring something with me when I leave. I should probably pick up a first aid kit during my next Target run that can live in my glove compartment. And if my car needs a jump or has a flat, that’s where roadside assistance comes in. As for emergency preparedness, perhaps investing in MyCPR NOW’s CPR Certification could be beneficial for unexpected situations. I don’t really feel a pressing need to have a special toolkit for my car. However, it’s always wise to be prepared for unexpected situations. In case of any accidents or injuries while on the road, don’t hesitate to contact a personal injury lawyer for assistance. A personal injury lawyer can help you seek compensation.
I would like to add a few things to my zippered pouch, however (I keep some of these things in my purse, but it can’t hurt to be overly prepared):
- Hand sanitizer
- Tampons
- Ibuprofen
- Deodorant (would need to be something that wouldn’t melt from the Florida heat)
- Lip balm (same as above; not sure this is even possible?!)
- A fold-up brush
- Makeup wipes
It probably also wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a change of clothes or at least a spare pair of flip-flops in my trunk for emergencies. Then again, I don’t think I’ve ever run across a scenario where I’ve needed an emergency change of clothes/shoes, so is it really that important? IDK. However, in situations where unexpected accidents occur, being prepared, including having provisions for wrongful death incidents, can make a significant difference. Consulting with a houston wrongful death attorney can offer invaluable guidance in navigating the legal complexities and seeking justice in such unfortunate circumstances. Consider having emergency supplies on hand, and if you ever find yourself in need of legal assistance after an accident, don’t hesitate to contact a personal injury referral service for guidance.
But that’s what things look like today! And somehow I’ve written 500 words on car organization. You’re welcome.
Tell me: What does your car organization look like? Is there any MAJOR thing I’m missing that I should always have in my car?
I think you’ve got the basics down! I always have a Nalgene of water in my center console, which stays there just in case I forget a bottle or am thirsty or get stuck in the heat waiting for the tow truck. I also carry a spare set of workout clothes and shoes in case I am out and about and decide to go on a walk or something; that way I don’t have to go back home first. I also have a blanket and a towel and a jug of water in the trunk just in case. This can be just in case I go to the beach or just in case I break down and it’s cold. I also travel to a lot more rural areas with no cell service, so I have emergency items for that, and I have tire chains, which you would not need in Florida!
You are ready for an emergency! I love it. I should keep a Yeti or something like that with water in my center console, especially during the summer. I always hate when I forget my water when I’m out an about!
I love reading about stuff like this!!! This reminds me that a) I also need to replenish my emergency $20 and b) my daughter has depleted my supply of hair elastics so I need to replenish those as well.
Hand sanitizer is something I MUST have in my car. I keep a big jug of it in the cupholder and my daughter and I use it every single time we get in the car. I am a little ridiculous about it, I’m sure. But this was a habit even before the pandemic.
I ran out of hand sanitizer a while ago and STILL have not replenished it. ACK!
Car organization! I couldn’t click the link to this post fast enough.
I do keep some face masks in my car and yes I question whether I still need to. I also keep a few winter hats because there’s nothing worse than being out in winter and needing a hat and not having one. I still have a paper atlas from 1990-something that I probably need to get rid of. It’s practically disintegrated and the odds that I would be driving somewhere without my phone but in need of a paper atlas are slim at best.
Over the summer my husband put together emergency kits for all of our cars, though realistically I’d be calling roadside assistance.
A PAPER ATLAS! That made me giggle. What a relic. Haha.
I used to have so much stuff in my van, now I have a new car and mostly I have Rex’s leashes, my bins for grocery shopping and some assorted bags, gloves, a snow brush, some gum and wipes. Oh, and I have a little tiny bag of Guatemalan worry dolls that I have had since I was 15. I’ve always had them in my car for “safety.”
I love that! Bri has this Beanie Baby in her car that was given to her to keep her safe. <3
I always have mints, a hairbrush, and hand sanitizer in the car. I try to restock the masks but usually forget. I’m still wearing them at the grocery store, and yesterday we went downtown to get some makeup on sale, and the store was CROWDED, so I was glad to have one. If it’s not crowded though, I don’t generally wear them anymore. I feel like maybe I will wear them in crowded situations forever, because I don’t want a cold or flu either, not just COVID. Time will tell whether I stick to that or not.
I still wear mine on the BART for the same reason; I would rather be safe than sorry and especially around the holidays AND the cold/flu season, the last thing I need it to pass any sickness around to my loved ones!
I laughed at Sarah’s post and I’m chuckling at yours. We have a blanket, some wet wipes, an ice scraper, and a set of jumper cables in our car. Those are the only things that didn’t come with the car that are in the car. (I mean, there’s obviously some paperwork and a handful of clean napkins in the glove box – we aren’t savages.)
I guess in our older car, there are CDs in the center console. In the newer car, there is a USB cable for his phone, a USB cable for my phone, and a charging cable for my phone so I can charge my phone when his phone is using the USB port.
I guess we just don’t like clutter and most of the stuff you’re talking about is in my purse (pens, elastics, tampons, etc.) and we’re never THAT far from a Walgreen’s. Fascinating topic.
I think laziness is a factor in why I want things stocked in my car. And maybe comfort? Like, I’m not going to stop at Walgreens because I don’t have a hair tie, but having a whole pack of them tucked in my center console means I can grab one if I’m out and about and my hair is bugging me. And sometimes it’s helpful to have backups – last month, I was at my mom’s house and started my period, but didn’t have a tampon in my purse. I also didn’t have any in my car, and the last thing I wanted to do was drive to Walgreens to pick up a box, even though it’s a 3-minute drive. (Thankfully, my mom went!) But how nice would it have been to just pop right over to my car and pull out the tampon I needed?! Again, I am just a VERY LAZY person so having backups like that is crucial for me, ha.
OH flip flops are a great idea and so is first aid. With you on the road side assistance FOR SURE.
You’re REALLY organized! If you actually start keeping a change of clothes and shoes in your car, you win the prize.
Btw I have not one, but TWO sweatshirts in my car- I wear them both when I go to Starbucks because it’s so cold in there.
I am very close to also having some blankets in the car so that I can have some extra warmth when I’m in a chilly Starbucks. Why do they keep it so cold in there?! Ack.
The title of this post made me chuckle into my coffee! I love this type of “peek into my life” post.
I love posts like these on the quotidian aspects of life!
(I would definitely read a “what’s in my purse” post too!)
I ran into the same “melted lip balm” issue in my car too during the summer, so I started keeping a mini tube of Aquaphor in my car which I use instead of lip balm when I need it.
I also keep in my car a water bottle (with a straw), phone charger, notebook and pen for when I have to leave someone a note after backing into them in a parking lot… (I haven’t had to do that, but I worry that I will have to some day.). The notebook is also where I keep notes to myself on my car maintenance. I also keep paper towels/napkins and a wet wipe. And spare change. And for the kids a random magazine and a toy car. A box of tissues. I also carry 4 quarts of oil because my car is very old and needs frequent topping off. I’m sure there’s more, but I can’t think what.
My mother in law was the queen of “just in case” and made up little Ziploc bags for each of the family cars with wet wipes, paper towels, Kleenex, and band-aids. I always thought it was overkill. But after she passed, I found several of the ziploc bags and threw them in my car and let me tell you, they have been very useful.
I wrote a what’s in my purse post a few years ago, but it’s definitely time for an update!
Aquaphor is a GREAT tip – thank you!
A “just in case” bag is so smart!
This is so interesting to me.
As I told Sara we only have two reusable grocery bags in the car at all times.
Granted since Covid I keep some disinfectant in the car.
Other than that the car is empty. We bring what we need. We take when we leave.
I guess it wouldn’t hurt to leave some migraine meds in the car. I had it a few times I needed some stat and didn’t have any at hand.
I find it helpful to just have a few things that will just help improve my comfort when out and about – then again, I do not live in a place with good public transportation so I drive EVERYWHERE I need to go.
We barely have anything in our car even though we have young kids. But we are not in the stage of parenting where we are driving from activity to activity. We have blankets for the kids during the cold winter months, kleenexes, a tool to check tire pressure, and that’s kind of it besides the usual things like insurance card, manual for the car, registration, etc. So I guess we are minimalist but we spend very very very little time in our car which is why our 8 year old car had 45k miles on it when I sold it last month. Phil’s car is 10 years old and his has 35k miles on it!!
That’s amazing how little you guys drive! I am just under 10k miles on my Kia after 2 years, which I feel pretty impressed about but Phil definitely has me beat!
I think your car is in good shape 🙂
Hand sanitizer and masks are still essential in my car and I don’t think that’s going to change.
I also keep spare quarters in the car because sometimes you still need them for parking.
We do have jumper cables but I’d always call roadside assistance. Haha.
We also have paper towels and a flash light in the trunk.
Our public parking is ALL app-based now and I am so glad I don’t have to worry about keeping quarters on hand! That used to be such a hassle.
Post-it notes or a small notebook and a few markers (easier to write at a red light). Ideas/to dos come to me and, if I don’t write them down, they disappear! Phone carges. Car wipes (for the car/not me lol), deodorant, a small bottle of perfume, sunglasses, umbrella. A stick of sunblock. Hand cream. 🙂
Whoa. I honestly don’t know what’s in my car. I have a LOT of recycling in the backseat foot wells. I may – like Birchie – still have a paper atlas somewhere, LOL. I have a ton of reusable bags (too many) and I have these ancient (music mix) CDs. My main issue is that I don’t just excavate the car and start over. I add things but rarely remove. Not smart! I need to take a page out of your book, for sure. Wanna come help organize my apartment (and decorate it) and my car??? 🙂
You got it! We will start with your home and end with the car. 😉