Car Organizing Stuff I Love

Just drove back from a Thanksgiving weekend with my wife and father-in-law, after visiting Mum in Maine. For reasons that are unimportant and uninteresting, I found myself driving another car over the weekend and immediately found myself missing certain organizing conveniences from my car, including a couple of the ones I am about to list. This is, by no means, a comprehensive list of perfect car organizing tips, just a few I happen to use and like.

EZ Pass

Sorry if that is too obvious for those of you who already have it, but if you don’t yet have an EZ Pass, what are you waiting for? I’ll tell you what: an unnecessary, unending line at the toll booths. EZ Pass is one of my favorite inventions. Worth every penny.

Sticky Pad

It’s not the Post-It sticky pad, but that flat black thing that holds my iPhone to my dashboard, even on the sharpest, fastest turns. It’s simple, effective, and inexpensive. What more do you want from an organizing tool?

3M Command Hooks

These things are all the rage in homes, but have you ever thought of using them in your car. If, somehow, you haven’t heard of the 3M Command Hook, it is an adhesive hook, that won’t damage your wall. It also won’t damage your dashboard, if you want to pull wires away from your controls. The cords from my GPS (another favorite invention) and from my tape deck (have mercy) to iPod converter, dangle annoyingly in front of my controls. I keep the cords swept to the right with the 3M Command Hooks and the cords no longer interfere.

Easy Trash Bin

There are a lot of car trash receptacles you can buy, but my favorite is free. It’s a cat litter jug with the top cut off. In my car, it fits perfectly between the car seats, front and back, back left and back right. In this photo, you can see  Velcro (well maybe), which I have added to secure it.  The location is accessible for everyone. It has a great structure and is easy to unload. Dog people, make friends with cat people.

Cleaning On The GO

You never value how useful it is to have a little cleaning kit in your car, until you have one. I find myself using it ALL the time. I keep a cleaning spray, a roll of paper towels, and a sponge, in, what else, a kitty litter container. By the way, I secure this kit in my trunk with a Trunk-Eez, trunk container. Seriously, you’ll thank me for this one.

Just An Envelope of Coupons

Unless you do couponing as sport, my advice on coupons is simple. First, be highly selective. Just because you are being offered a coupon for new vanilla Cheerios, doesn’t mean you should feel obligated to use it. Pick your very favorites. I like, among others, Bed Bath & Beyond, which is always good, since it never “really” expires. Second, keep them closest to where you use them. If they are online coupons, keep them next to your computer, but if they are coupons for brick-and-mortar stores, that you might reach by car, keep them in your car. I like to keep them in a clear plastic envelope in my door pocket. That way, I always have the coupon I need, WHEN I need it.

Like I said, I don’t pretend to have a monopoly on the best car organizing advice. This is just a sampling of what I like. What are YOUR best car organizing tips?