Is Your Car a Mess? Danny’s Upholstery offers tips to Organize Your Car in Five Steps
Do you avoid driving with friends in your car? Do you first have to clean off the seat or the floor — or both? Maybe it’s time to clean out and clean up!
Many people spend more time in their cars than in most rooms of their homes, yet they neglect their auto interior when it comes to regular "housekeeping." When it gets really messy, organizing your car can seem as overwhelming as keeping a closet in order. In the past, I know I have “cleaned” out my car, just to throw all the junk in my trunk and glovebox! So Danny’s Upholstery in Virginia Beach took some time to search out ways to Clean Up and Keep the “Junk out of your Trunk”!
Step one: Sort and clean up (make sure you have a garbage bag)
Take everything out of the car, glovebox, door pockets, consoles and car seats. You will be surprised what you will find once you get those car seats out. Don't forget to remove all items the trunk and cargo area!
Chances are you'll find all kinds of trash to throw out. Organize the rest of the items into three piles: items you use all the time, things you use occasionally and emergency/car maintenance items. Whatever doesn't fall into these categories should be stored in your home or garage.
Danny’s Upholstery Tip: Many of us find ourselves driving up to our mailboxes or going straight to our cars after checking the mailbox. Break this habit and this will save you the hassle of missing bills and piles of junk mail in your car.
Step two: Analyze
Ask yourself, "How do I use my car?" Do you need to keep work items or samples on hand in your truck or cargo area? Do you need room for groceries? Do you transport clients? Are you a soccer mom or have small children in car seats? Do you work from your vehicle?
What are you always struggling to find? Tools or Files, a Pen and Note pad, Snacks or Tissues or Change and your Phone? The answers to these questions should determine your priorities.
Danny’s Upholstery Tip: Try to make sure you have a place to store the items you need to have on hand. Many auto parts stores carry over the seat storage and you can also purchase various size containers to hold items. We purchased organizational items for our vehicles at our office supply store.
Step three: Prioritize
Now it is time to go through your three piles and prioritize the most important items in each group. Basically, split the piles into what you need to be kept close and what can be relegated to the back seat or cargo/trunk area. And just like seasonal clothes in a closet, many items such as ice scrapers and tire chains can be packed away in summer.
Danny’s Upholstery Tip: Do you listen to CDs? How many to your really listen to? Try only keeping 2-3 in your car and change out throughout the year. Also, many car owners store cleaning products in the trunk, but how often do you actually do an impromptu cleaning of your car? You may be better off keeping all car cleaning products in a bucket in your garage and just grab when needed.
Step four: Contain your needs
Loose objects throughout the car can not only make a mess but also become a safety hazard. Local stores offer a variety of cargo containers and organizers for every part of the car, from litter bags, CD storage, drink coolers and holders to trunk organizers, and folding hangers. For the family car, they sell individual “entertainment” centers for children, these hold books, toys, snacks, drinks and some even have a fold down table for drawing and coloring. For the “Business Office on the Go”, they sell centers that hold folders with a writing surface and detachable briefcases. Great organizers, whether it is for your kids, business or just the trunk/cargo area can make a world of difference.
Danny’s Upholstery Tip: Try an online container store, this could save you money. Be creative, you just may have something in your home that would work great. Example: do you have a travel make up bag with several different sections. This could work great to hold various items for your toddler or infant. Last years backpacks from school are great for storing video games and movies for the car.
Step five: Store
Store items you use regularly in places where you can reach them. Can't find a place to store that big box of facial tissue? Try a "tissue cup," a paper cup that fits into a cup holder and dispenses tissues one at a time. Of course, keep insurance information, maps, directions and other documents together in the glovebox. And be creative about storing lesser-used and seasonal items — there are often nooks and crannies around the spare tire or in the rear walls of the car.
Danny’s Upholstery Tip: Don't put anything on the floor — even trash — unless it's designed to sit there. Once you start messing up the floor, you'll find it too easy to keep adding to it, and soon your car will be cluttered again!
Once you clean and organize your car, you may find that you want to update or repair the cars interior and upholstery. Danny’s Upholstery in Virginia Beach offers free estimates for your upholstery needs: Seat Covers, Seat Repairs, Carpets, Headliners, Sail Panels, Sun Visors, Door Panels and More! Call or stop by our shop. Our current hours are Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. Additional hours available by appointment. Evening and weekend estimates, pick ups and deliveries are also available for your convenience. We can be reached by calling 757-363-5889.
For a small sample of some of our past projects, please view the video links below or visit our Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/dannysupholstery.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HDae2JbEzA Upholstery for the Home, Office, or Business
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7s5F_1xE9M Upholstery for the Auto, Boat, Motorcycle, Marine
Danny's Upholstery is located in Virginia Beach and is Your One Stop Upholstery Shop for your auto, home, office, marine and business. Owned and operated by master craftsman, Danny White, who has over 33 years experience meeting the upholstery needs for the Hampton Roads community.
Danny’s Upholstery
Your One Stop Upholstery Shop
4904 Rutherford Rd. Ste. 103
Virginia Beach, VA 23455
www.facebook.com/dannysupholstery
757-363-5889
