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By C. Gordon/Dec. 26, 2023 5:15 pm EST
Seeing a “Clean Me” written on dust on your car is a sign it probably needs a wash, but when you somehow see another “Clean Me” on the inside of your car, it’s time for a complete overhaul. Letting a vehicle get dirty inside and out is natural, because you don’t live there. This isn’t a living room, it’s a tool we hop in and out of on the way to living rooms, and we tend not to notice the swirl of garbage left behind upon exiting.
The little things dropped on the floor or backseat while driving usually build over time until they spill out when you open the door on a date. To prevent this or having to drive your car into the lake because it’s so dirty inside and out, here are a few quick cleaning steps and tips to make part of a weekly routine, so cleaning your car doesn’t end up requiring a sabbatical from work.
Get a portable trash can
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This sounds like something your parents would say, but it rarely occurs to people to keep one in the car. Trash like bottles, windshield flyers, and that crumpled burger wrapper are often thrown in every direction under the mistaken assumption that we’ll pick it up later. We won’t. It will stay unnoticed for ages, even though you can clearly hear it wobbling around while taking turns. “That’s probably the muffler,” you tell yourself.
We don’t throw things on the floor at home (for the most part), so why do this to our poor vehicle? A tiny can placed on your back seat floor is a lifesaver. There are purpose-made automotive trash cans available through places like Amazon, but you can also simply use a trash bag stored in the back seat or a small plastic bin. Now that candy bar wrapper has a home to go to, and you can easily empty it at any gas station while filling up. Your floor pads will thank you.
Clean that spill now, not later
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The car is among the most popular dining destinations in the country. The ambiance may be terrible, but the convenience is undeniable. Here’s the problem: cars tend not to have tables, so any food that misses your mouth ends up falling on the upholstery, or maybe you go to put that 80 oz Coke in the cup holder and miss, spilling everywhere. The windshield wipers unfortunately only cover the outside of the vehicle.
Because we’re on the road, we figure we’ll get it later. Do it now. A spill or fallen piece of food will only get harder to clean over time, begin to stain whatever it landed on, and eventually, smell. No one wants to be the guy with a smelly car. Be late to wherever you’re going and clean it up,
