Ah, the car, a little oasis for you to shuttle yourself and your passengers to various destinations. There is not that much to a car, seats, steering wheel, seat belts, trunk but yet cars are notorious for collecting stuff.

What kind of stuff? Receipts, take-out containers, maps, directions, CD’s makeup, combs and brushes, toys, books, mail, spare change, work papers, etc. etc. We spend so much time in our cars that things just build up little by little over time.

Stuff in your car is actually pretty dangerous. I was once in an automobile accident where I was a backseat passenger in a head-on collision. Fortunately, no one was severely injured. I learned in that crash however, that all the loose junk that gathers in the backseat (and everywhere else in the car) becomes very dangerous in a crash. My legs were cut and bruised from various objects on the floor of the backseat that knocked into me. . . little stuff like snow scrapers and tissue boxes. For your own safety, you really want to get all that stuff out of your car or store it securely.

Today’s post outlines options for streamlining your car and finding places for all of your car-related stuff.

Keys

Looking for lost car keys is an incredible pain. Designate one place for your keys and be religious about returning them to that spot every time you get out of the car. No exceptions. Pick someplace easy for you – your purse, a designated hook, your dresser drawer, or a key safe.

Garage Door Opener/Garage Access Card

If you are lucky enough to have a garage door opener or secure parking facility, you will also inherit the problem of what to do with the garage door opener. Most people might clip it on the driver’s sun visor, in the car door or glove compartment. Some cars come with special programmable buttons that allow you to get rid of the garage door opener completely. If you don’t have these programmable buttons in your car, you can also purchase a remote for your keychain that does the same thing.

Sunglasses

When you are driving into the sun, sunglasses are a must. If you don’t normally wear sunglasses, tuck a pair into the car so they are readily available. Some cars have built-in sunglasses compartments. If your car does not, tuck them above the driver’s sun visor, in the driver’s side door compartment or in a center console.

Purse

While it would seem relatively easy to just toss your purse in the empty passenger seat or backseat it just never seems to work out well. The purse always tips over if you stop suddenly, perhaps spilling the contents on the floor. Alternative? Storing your purse in the trunk might be a good idea (unless you are prone to forgetting it) or you might invest in a purse hook to clip on to the back of your seat.

Cell phone/GPS/iPod

We all know that driving while talking on a cell phone is dangerous. Some states require that you have a hands-free device installed. If you get a lot of calls, try to get into the habit of connecting such a device every time you get into your car, just like clicking your seat belt. This is an area I need to work on myself. Fumbling for the phone trying to answer it or driving one-handed while you talk on the phone is dangerous and distracting. To make it easier to find your cell phone, GPS or iPod, there are many universal mounting options available for cars. Some fit in the cup holders, some are attached by suction cup to the windshield and others clip on to the air vent in the car.

Glove compartment

It is quaint that we still call it the glove compartment when almost no one uses it for gloves any more! What might we call it today? How about the document compartment? This is the spot where most of us store our registration, car inspection, proof of insurance and the owners manual for the car. Some of these documents can be so thick that there is really no room for much else! If the car dealer did not give you a pouch to hold all of these things, a glove compartment organizer or just a simple plastic accordion coupon organizer is a great way to keep track of these items. Add a simple toiletries bag to carry things like a comb, toothbrush, band-aids, headache or other medicines, gum or mints and safety pins. What else goes in the glove compartment? A pocket knife or Leatherman (or in my case, a pair of scissors) can be very handy.

Tissues

Whether it is cold or allergy season or you have a spill to wipe up, tissues are a wonderful thing to have in the car. The typical tissue box, however, is often hard to fit in the car, though. If I try hard, I can jam a box into the glove compartment but it is not easy to access. For now, the tissue box resides on the center console where it is convenient but bulky and yes, a tad dangerous. I will be looking for a tissue holder. It seems there are two general options, in the visor or behind the seat.

Trash

Trash is one thing you don’t want building up in the car. While there are many trash organizers you can hang on the back of a seat, I personally prefer the strategy of just emptying out the car at every opportunity. If you stop for gas, dump your trash. There are trash cans in most parking lots and at most stores. When you get home, take all the trash out and throw it away. We keep a supply of plastic grocery sacks in one of the doors (that we hope to remember to use for our groceries) that we use for trash if we have to eat in the car or otherwise generate a lot of trash all at once.

Back seat organizers

There are a lot of back seat organizers out there that hang over the backs of the driver or passenger seats. If you find one that exactly meets your needs, wonderful! I have never needed one and have found that most items I need to store (maps, extra blanket or change of clothes for the children, snacks, etc.) can fit in the pocket on the back of the seat. If the pocket is too full, chances are we have too much stuff and need to get rid of some things. The danger with these back seat organizers is that you might be tempted to put all kinds of things in them that you are never going to use or remember to use and it will just become a repository for junk. It is also nice to keep the back of the seats relatively clear so it is easier to get in and out of the car.

Trunk organizers/Emergency kits

There are a couple of things that are really nice to have in your car at all times but which you rarely use. An umbrella, a set of jumper cables, a first aid kit, a flashlight, and a snowbrush/ice scraper if you live in a cold climate. We generally like to carry a few bottles of water in the car too. Unless you contain these items, they will be rattling around in your trunk or back seat. A backpack or bag is great for this purpose. You particularly want something that can be moved easily and squished if you are carrying a large load in your trunk.

Now that we have covered most of the “essential” items, I will throw in two treats as well.

Coat Caddy

If you have a job where you have to dress formally and wear a suit jacket, you might invest in a special hanger for the back of your seat to keep your jacket fresh and crisp for your important meetings. However, if you regularly have people in your backseat, you might opt for a hanger on the dry cleaning hook instead or putting your jacket in the trunk.

Seat Cushion

If you have an extra-long commute or make regular lengthy car trips, you might as well be comfortable! If your back is hurting from your uncomfortable seat, find a supportive cushion to make your ride more enjoyable.

What else do you store in your car and where do you put it? Please share in the comments.