Do your kids seem to keep adding crumbs, stains, and clutter to your family car? That’s just a fact of parenting, but it can be frustrating to feel like your vehicle is never clean. Fortunately, there are some practical ways to keep a clean car with kids. I will cover some easy tips below!
Buy Seat Protectors
Some of the best investments you can make are seat protectors. These covers not only shield your seats from spills and stains but also make it easier to clean up messes when they do happen. All you have to do is take the covers out and wash them—just make sure you buy machine-washable ones for your convenience.
Install a Small Trash Bag
It’s easy to let trash get strewn about your car if there isn’t an easy place to put it. That’s why installing a small trash bag in your car is a simple yet effective way to manage waste. When you or your kids have discarded snack wrappers, used tissues, or other trash, just toss it in the in-car bin or bag.
Limit Eating and Drinking in the Car
While it can be tempting to allow your children to snack on the go, limiting food and drink consumption in the car is an incredibly effective and easy way to keep mess to a minimum.
However, that doesn’t mean your kids shouldn’t snack in the car. After all, every mom knows that eating on the go is sometimes necessary—you’re busy! Still, you can establish rules about which foods are allowed. For instance, fruit slices, applesauce pouches, and string cheese are relatively easy to eat without making a mess. Additionally, you can invest in some spill-proof cups to stop drink spills.
Have Cleaning Supplies Handy
Having a small stash of cleaning supplies in your car makes managing those inevitable messes easier. Stock up on essentials like wet wipes, paper towels, and a multipurpose cleaner. Quick clean-ups prevent stains from setting and keep your car looking fresh. Plus, having those supplies makes detailing your car at home much more manageable by helping you tackle small messes promptly.
Institute a Family Car-Cleaning Day
If your kids make a mess, they should also help clean it up. However, this doesn’t have to be a grueling chore! You can have some family fun and instill good habits in your kids by instituting a family car-cleaning day.
Assign age-appropriate tasks, such as putting away toys, vacuuming, or wiping down surfaces. Make it a fun activity by playing music and working together as a team. Your kids will learn some responsibility and essential skills, and you’ll have some little helpers tackling part of your to-do list.
With these easy tips for keeping a clean car with kids, you’ll find that maintaining a tidy vehicle is not as impossible as it seems. Establishing some simple habits and involving the entire family can make all the difference. For more practical parenting tips and advice, subscribe to the That’s Total Mom Sense podcast today!
