Get Your Car Organized for Summer Road Trips - RealEstate.com

Summer is well underway and the peak car travel season has arrived. Make sure you are ready for it ? whether you are traveling across town from one barbeque to the next or across the state to your summer destination of choice. These vehicle-organizing tips are sure to keep you cool regardless of where your destination may be.

Day-to-Day Necessities

Preparation for the day-to-day tasks that take place in your car, such as commuting or running errands, is the first place to start. Of course, this list will be different for everyone, but I frequently find myself being glad I have wet wipes and antibacterial gel, a pen and notepad, small packs of tissues, a lint-roller, a pair of sunglasses, and reusable shopping bags in my car at all times. You may also appreciate having a few travel-size toiletry necessities like sunscreen, hand lotion, breath freshener and lipstick. To keep a clear and nourished mind, always keep water, snacks and pain relief medicine for when your day turns out to be longer or more tiring than expected. Use medium-size travel toiletry pouches to contain these items in the car.

Be Ready for the Unexpected

One benefit of being organized is you are ready for the unexpected.? When organizing your car, be sure to include items for those unexpected emergencies, which hopefully will never happen! The unexpected drained cell phone can be avoided with a power inverter that turns your cigarette lighter into a standard three-prong outlet along with an extra phone charger. The unexpected dead battery or flat tire can be resolved with a flashlight, extra batteries, a can of Fix-a-Flat and jumper cables. A small auto tool kit and first-aid kit should also be on hand for emergencies. When traveling long distances in cold temperatures, also be sure to have a blanket in the car in case you are forced to wait in your cold car for help to arrive. These emergency items can be stored in a small bin in your trunk or possibly with the spare tire in the stow area, depending on your vehicle?s layout.

Ensure Your Items are Properly Stowed

With the above list of items in your vehicle, you are ready for the everyday and the unexpected, but now you need to store them. Here are some products for keeping your car items neat and stowed.

• Car Wallet - Keep your vehicle?s registration and insurance cards tidy in a car wallet or a just a rigid plastic envelope.

• Auto Trash Bag ? Keep any trash generated in the car off of the ground and out of your purse by purchasing a small trash bag. There are numerous types of car trash bags on the market, but I like something simple, fairly small and made of dark, cleanable material that I can hang on the back of the front passenger seat.

• Front Seat Organizer - When traveling alone, keep the items you need within reach and contained. Don?t set them on the passenger seat where they are sure to shift during driving. When you have a passenger in the front with you, just swing the organizing unit around to be stored on the backside of the passenger seat.

• Rear-Seat Organizer ? When traveling with passengers in the backseat, especially children, utilize a backseat organizer. This will store items within easy reach and keep each passenger entertained during the car ride.

• Keepin? it Cool - If you are packing lunches, snacks or drinks, a combined cooler and organizer is great. You get the advantage of a built-in cooler with storage on the outside as well. This is great for backseat passengers to be able to access, and it can also be used to keep groceries cold while running errands.

• Trunk Organizer - To keep the larger items you tote in your trunk from shifting around and toppling over, utilize one of the many types of trunk organizers. I prefer the organizers that have flexible Velcro dividers for sectioning off items as your needs change. The one shown below is just the right size for keeping file folders upright and tidy and has a seatbelt strap if you choose to strap it into a passenger seat. It also features a lid that folds back to hide the contents and keep the inside free of dust and debris. When looking at trunk organizers, I also recommend finding an option that collapses when not in use to maximize your trunk space. The trunk organizer featured is a size that likely will fit the average need; however, if you are often toting many items, you may prefer having a larger trunk organizer.

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Enjoy your organized summer travels!

Warmly,

Laura Leist, CPO
Organizing with Laura

Tagged as: auto, car, organization, organize, organized, organizing, vehicle

Source: http://www.realestate.com/advice/get-your-car-organized-for-summer-road-trips-13714/

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