The LNK Guide to decluttering your car !
What state is the inside of your car in? For many people, their motor is their pride and joy, but for others – well!
If you can no longer see the floor of your car because it’s covered in clutter, then it’s time to take action - and for good reason.
First, there’s the infection risk...recent research revealed that family cars can contain 23 times the bacteria of a public bus. In fact, 40 per cent of cars tested contained the same level of bacterial infection as a toilet flush, and 20 per cent contained double that level!
And that’s not to mention the danger aspect – for example, an abandoned drinks can which rolls under the brake pedal could be potentially life-threatening, as a result of ignoring the build-up of junk.
Lastly, it’s just far nicer to be driving around in a clean set of wheels.
So all in all, it’s worth spending a few hours getting things ship shape – and LNK Motors will show you how.
Getting Started
Before tackling the task of cleaning, begin by taking everything out of the car and dividing it into three piles:
1. Rubbish
2. Items to be stored in the garage
3. Items to keep in the car
This way it will be easier to identify what needs to go where. The first tip is to stop letting unnecessary items to pile up in the first place – do you really still need a windbreak and suncream in your boot? Stick to essentials such as driving documentation and vehicle maintenance manual, torch, phone charger, First Aid kit and tyre gauge.
The Next Step
Now that you have made the interior of your car visible again, the cleaning process can commence!
If your job involves travel meaning that you eat on the go, or if you have children, then it’s highly likely that food debris and stains will have accumulated in your vehicle.
The Good Housekeeping Institute recommends baking soda for removing food stains from the upholstery and it’s also a useful method of dealing with unpleasant odours such as spilt milk.
Floor mats can also be treated with this product-try sprinkling some over the mats once you have removed them from your vehicle and leaving them overnight prior to vacuuming the next day.
Wiping all the surfaces with an antibacterial cleaning agent will combat grime levels-remember that the gear stick, control centre and steering wheel are high frequency touchpoints which make them prone to continuous bacterial contamination.
A thorough vacuuming is also in order. Don’t forget the nooks and crannies which harbour crumbs, dust and other particles of dirt.
Maintaining Order
Now that you have created order from chaos, you will be keen to ensure your vehicle remains tidy.
It’s worth considering a hanging organiser for the back of the front seat which provides handy storage for kids’ books, toys and other bits and pieces they might need on a journey.
£ 21.99, Amazon
One option to reduce the risk of a new mountain of clutter emerging in the boot, is to invest in a storage container for keeping useful items together in an organised manner.
£5.45, Amazon
Decluttering the car might be one of those tasks many of us postpone until it can no longer be avoided but equally we feel a real sense of accomplishment once it’s completed!
The challenge is to change our habits so that we manage to keep our vehicles as clutter-free as possible on an ongoing basis. If an incentive is needed-just imagine no longer feeling embarrassed to offer anyone a lift!