Comments on: What’s on your summer to do list? Organizing your car

By: Cautionary tale

Cautionary tale — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 03:46:57 +0000

A cautionary note: I had my fifteen year old Honda stolen a week ago. The police told me that Hondas are big theft items, stolen then stripped for parts, so my chances of getting it back are virtually nil. That said, the loss of wheels was annoying, but what really got my goat was what I lost with the car: a huge load of laundry (about half my wardrobe), about $20 in quarters, a pair of binoculars, some gift cards, a Swiss Army knife, road maps, reading material, my favorite sweater. It’s great to keep stuff handy in your car, but be careful, if your car goes, so does it. (And be extra careful about keeping documents in the car, it could cause identity theft as well as auto theft. )

By: VikzAtl

VikzAtl — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 14:08:26 +0000

I’m a hypermiler… I keep nothing in my car except for a tire inflator, gauge & flashlight. If I could toss out the rear seats I would. One note to fellow hypermilers, use caution when tossing out that box of kleenex, your wife will not be appreciative when traveling in your car.

By: Marjoryt

Marjoryt — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 12:49:42 +0000

Some other things I keep in the vehicle, based on years of traveling with 4 kids, a husband, and various animals:
A plastic bowl (most often used for watering animals, but has also held snacks, berries, flowers, and change).
Tape: I usually keep duct tape or masking tape, the end of the roll with no more than a yard or two left. A new roll usually does not last well, but a little works ok. We have mended, fastened, attached all types of things.
A twin blanket we don’t mind losing. Very useful for getting under the vehicle, leaving behind if it gets dirty, or giving to someone who needs it more. Most often, I’ve given them to people whose animals were hurt, or to a homeless person in need.
Cheap sunglasses – in case we forget or lose a pair.
A telephone book. Even with my cell phone capabilities, you’d be surprised just how useful a phone book can be!

By: Another Deb

Another Deb — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 02:07:44 +0000

I keep three potholders in the car; two for the steering wheel and one for the hip belt. In Phoenix it can get heated up so much that you get branded right through your clothes! Today I got into the car after work and drove one mile before stopping at the store. The key had only been in the ignition for ten minutes or so, but was already too hot to touch!

Of course we carry water in the car and the flexible sunshades. Yesterday I held the shade over my husband as he installed a new battery in his vehicle at an auto parts store. It made a great difference!

I recently stopped to help a young lady who had been in an accident on a busy highway. It was 105 degrees out and her small dog needed to be held while she dealt with the police and such. There was no collar on this sweet, but hairy critter, and I held that thing in my lap for over an hour. A bit of rope in the glove box would have been a handy thing to have at that point!

By: luxcat

luxcat — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 00:36:43 +0000

@Julia

It might depend on what sort of climate you live in and what emergency you are preparing for. Here for example, we do not get blizzards but we do get earthquakes, so it’s fine for the kit to be in the trunk.

By: Patty@homemakersdaily.com

Patty@homemakersdaily.com — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 18:48:57 +0000

Wow! I have next to nothing in my car! In the glove box I have my registration and instruction book and my current insurance card. There’s an ice scraper under the seat (not that I need that right now!) and my dog’s leash in case we’re out. Oh, and in the very back I have jumper cables. You never know when you might need those. But that’s it.

I’m really good about keeping it clean. The main reason is because I HATE cleaning the car so if I can keep it clean, I don’t have to clean it as often and that makes me really happy!!!!!

By: Julia

Julia — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 18:00:11 +0000

You really shouldn’t keep emergency kits in the trunk – at least during winter. If you get stranded in bad weather, you DO NOT want to get out of your car unless you absolutely have to. Stay in your car to stay dry and warm.

So, in the fall when it starts to get cold, move your emergency kit (and blankets, and extra clothes) into the cab where you can access it without getting out of the car.

So, for the purpose of this post, where would you keep an emergency kit IN YOUR CAR (not trunk) during winter?

By: J.B.C

J.B.C — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 17:40:23 +0000

I just cleaned the car on Saturday, vacuumed, washed everything. All of the necessities fit nicely in the glove compartment and center console. Each car trip to the park or out if town for the day I take out the toys, sippy cups, pieces of food and food wrappers so the car is never cluttered. The trunk is a different story…. my husband is very handy and it has become a miniature disorganized garage. There is just enough space to fit groceries. Ironically we helped a guy on the side of the road t last week. His serpentine belt had come loose, and my husband found the exact bolt and nut in the trunk that he needed to help secure it. And things like that happen all the time. Interesting.

By: pru

pru — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 16:22:31 +0000

Once I used to keep rolls of quarters in my door for tolls and parking, but over time the weight destroyed the plastic pins holding the pocket to the door. I had to have it professionally repaired. I’d suggest to others that they make room for this in a center console or globe box area. But yea, yea on the suggestion for keeping change in the car.

By: luxcat

luxcat — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 16:18:44 +0000

also a package of hand wipes, a small foldable umbrella, and a rain poncho or extra jacket. I don’t keep sunscreen in the car because when the car heats up the lotion seperates and gets quite nasty. sunscreen wipes might work.

By: Debra

Debra — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 14:48:19 +0000

I would add reusable grocery bags to the list. I keep a few in the trunk because the fact is that no matter how much you think you will get them from the hook in the garage or whatever, you Significant Other will text “can you pick up milk, eggs, cheese, and some fruit on your way home from work…”

By: Dorothy

Dorothy — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 14:07:36 +0000

I live in a rural area, and my mailbox is accessible by car several hundred feet from my house. I keep a cloth tote bag hanging from the back of my passenger seat. I sort junk mail directly into the tote for recycling. That way it NEVER COMES INTO THE HOUSE!