Preparing for a holiday road trip!? Get your car organized and comfortable

The feeling of getting into a clean car where everything has its place can be comforting and soothing. This is exactly the type of atmosphere you want when spending a lengthy amount of time anywhere. Before you stuff your luggage into your car and fill it with snacks and precious cargo – your kids, your spouse, and YOU—make sure that this simple check list has been completed.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

Documents such as your registration, copy of your driver's license and insurance should be in its own envelope accessible in the glove box of your automobile. No one wants to be pulled over by a police officer, but if you do wind up seeing those flashing lights behind you the anxiety will lessen. With your envelope readily accessible, you will be prepared to speak with the officer, calmly and respectfully. Maybe it will even help you get out of that ticket!

PARENTS

With kids constantly in and out of your car make sure you have a bag of baby wipes accessible. They are moist, easy to use and can clean everything from hands, toys, leather interior, and even the dashboard of your car. Keeping a small bin in your trunk for select toys can be an easy way to keep them occupied in a last minute situation. The bin can also come out of the trunk when you need it for luggage for that holiday road trip!

CONSOLES and SIDE COMPARTMENTS

The center console of your car should only have a small pad of paper, two pens and your sunglasses in the case. Do not get in the habit of making the center
console a junk area. Instead, keep this area neat and clean. Place receipts in the side arms of the car or the center console, but dispose of them regularly. If they are important enough to save, file or scan them away. Always keep the side consoles of your car free of clutter, as objects will roll and shift around while you drive. However, it is convenient to keep a small cloth for wiping down windows and a small umbrella, in case of a downpour, in the side compartments of your car.

TRUNK

In your trunk, keep a small bag packed with clean clothes and shoes, a 20 dollar bill and a bottle of water. Do not use your trunk as a place to hide the miscellaneous things in your life. The bag described above, a spare tire and its tools to change a flat tire should be the only things in your trunk for longer than three days.

Following these useful car organization tips will put you at ease. Having unnecessary items in your car can also be dangerous as they tend to roll around and shift when you are driving. If you have a problem with emptying out the things you are collecting in your car, ask yourself if you really need everything and why you need it. Take a few minutes at the end of each day to clear out your car from the day. Dispose of all trash and put the items you brought with you back in their place within your home. It may seem like extra work, but it will only get worse as you let things pile up.

Justin Klosky is a professional organizer who runs Organize & Create Discipline. Check out his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/organizeandcreatediscipline for daily updates and tips. You can also check his website for videos on how to organize your life at www.ocdexperience.com .