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Allison Converse

Decluttering Your Car

Updated: Jan 31, 2023

Many of us spend more time in the car than you would think.


Driving to and from work.


Dropping the kids off.


Grocery shopping.


Picking the kids back up.


Going to appointments.


If your car is full of STUFF: trash, crumbs, old toys, old cups/bottles, etc it can be super overwhelming and cause increased stress while you’re in the car.


I’m here to tell you how to make your car more peaceful through decluttering. Let’s give you more calm and less stress in your car and your mind.


Busy Mom Life


First of all, let me say I UNDERSTAND the craziness of being a Mom.


The lack of extra time in the day to add ONE more thing.


The guilt of feeling like you haven’t done “enough” (whatever “enough” even means).


The complete overwhelm and exhaustion!


The “I lost it again” yelling at my kids and “I’m the worst mom ever” thoughts.



Being a Mom is THE hardest job I have ever done!


Even if you’re not a mom, life throws SO much at us all. We all have our priorities and our car is not typically at the top of the list (at least not for me).


My car is very far from being tidy! I allow my kids to eat freely in the car and am constantly cleaning out extra goldfish and pretzels. However, when I take the time to clean it out- I really do feel more at peace in my heart and mind.


I know it sounds crazy!!


Did you know? Taking ONE small step towards decluttering ONE space may just give you the motivation to keep on going.

You may...

  • Feel that sense of satisfaction that you actually did it.

  • Be so proud of yourself that you share the accomplishment with your friend or family member and it motivates them to do it too.

  • Gain self confidence that you have not felt in years.


You never know how you will feel until you do just ONE thing.


And the car is that ONE thing that really gave me the perspective years ago that decluttering a space will also help declutter your mind.


Decluttering Your Mind


Did you know that decluttering a space can actually help declutter your mind too?


Do you ever FEEL out of control, overwhelmed, or anxious when you’re in a messy or cluttered room?


Do you ever close the door to a room that has TOO MUCH STUFF in it?


If your answer is YES, then first of all you should start to realize that decluttering is important.



And second of all, once you declutter that space, your mind should also feel more at peace.




There is actually research that decluttering your home can decrease anxiety and other negative emotions.


Go look it up!



Three Steps to Decluttering Your Car


So, how do you even BEGIN decluttering your car?? Many people want to just jump right into organizing the clutter.


I always recommend decluttering BEFORE organizing!


Otherwise, what is the point?


You will just end up organizing the SAME STUFF and end up with MORE STUFF overflowing out of the containers.


Let’s jump right in.


Take notes.


Remember this.


Save this for later!



Here are 3 easy steps to declutter your car:


Step 1: Grab 4 trash bags/boxes and a timer.

Set your timer for 20 minutes. This could take longer depending on the severity of clutter in

your car.


Try to do this when you are not distracted with little interruptions.


Step 2: Sort your car items into the bags/boxes:

Pull everything out of the car, so you can visualize it all.


Then sort into the following boxes/bags


Pro tip: LABEL the boxes: TRASH, DONATE, MOVE, and KEEP


TRASH anything and everything that’s broken, food pieces, expired, torn/ripped, etc.


Don’t overthink this!

DONATE any items you don’t want to keep, but still in good condition.



The MOVE pile is any item that should not remain in your car.


KEEP are items that belong in your car.


Step 3: Immediately get rid of the items that do not belong!


Toss the TRASH.


DONATE the items. Put this box back into your car and donate all items this week!


MOVE the items where they belong. Don’t leave them in your car.


KEEP items will need to be re-organized in your car.



Easy as 1, 2, 3!


Stay organized!


As we are discovering, clutter can build up over time and become chaotic causing increased stress and mess. Like I mentioned above, declutter then organize. The items that remain in your car now need to be re-organized.


You need an organizational system in your car!


You do not have to be an organizational guru to do this. You honestly don’t have to purchase much if you don’t want to or it’s not in your budget. I started out with cloth, cardboard, or woven baskets/boxes on the floorboards of my car.


Containing the items is the MAIN GOAL.


However, because I love to organize- here are my top 5 favorite organizational products for the car…


Do you have toddlers or furbabies that ALWAYS try to get in the front seats?


It’s one of the MOST frustrating things ever!


I finally found the SOLUTION to this problem.


This net is a lifesaver! It even has slots to store wipes, diapers, etc.


Go grab it now!!


[Image from Amazon]




Constantly losing your purse, bag, or keys. Grab these handy dandy hooks that hang over the seat. You can use them on the front or back of the seats.


Also, great for hanging up book bags, headbands, and lunch boxes.


Get your stuff off the floor and hang them up!



These bins are like magic!


We shop for our groceries in bulk each month, so these bins come in handy.


Pop them out for when you need to carry items inside the house and when you’re done fold them up and put them back in the car.



[Image from Amazon]


They fold up so easily!


Even my kids can do it. Win win!



These work great for the kids’ things: activities, sunglasses, extra clothing/wipes/pull ups, IPads, etc.


They can grab what they want/need before they get in their seats. Or if they are old enough- reach and grab independently while seated.


This item makes our job as moms EASIER!



I purchased car seat gap organizers recently because I kept dropping my phone, sunglasses, and snacks between my seats. It got so frustrating, especially while driving.


These organizers not only catch what you may drop, but make it easy to store all the smaller items. I like to put things I use regularly here: hand sanitizer, sunglasses, phone, chapstick, scissors, pens, etc


Extra item recommendation:

If you’re potty training or don’t like your kids to use public restrooms: grab yourself a potty seat for the car! It’s a lifesaver for anytime you’re in the car. We use it super often.


Pro-tip- insert a trash bag in the potty to trash after each use rather than washing the entire pot out.


Like I said, you don’t have to buy all the things, but it’s always good to know what is available in case you need it in the future.


Travel Preparation


Whether you’re driving down the road to grab the groceries or going on a vacation- you need to be prepared! As a mom, you always need SO many things. It’s hard to keep track and remember everything.


Make yourself a Necessity Bag!!


What the heck is a necessity bag?! … a purse, backpack, diaper bag that you fill with ALL the things you need when you travel.


These are typically items you need when you are on the go, not to always keep in the car.

Here’s my favorite crossbody sling back pack. It has so many spaces for everything.


This is a list of some of my favorite necessities I carry with me (especially when you’re a mom of two young children):

  • Wipes & diapers/pull ups

  • Extra clothing

  • Essential oils

  • Lotion and sunscreen

  • Hand sanitizer

  • Wallet

  • Contact/glasses

  • Air pods

  • Cough drops

  • Hair ties

  • Nail clippers

  • Pen/paper

  • Bug spray

  • Deodorant


Follow me on Instagram to see how I pack my Necessity Bag and don’t miss Mom Tip Tuesdays!


1:1 Coaching Opportunity


Still feeling overwhelmed by ALL THE THINGS?? I would love to be your Decluttering Coach!


What exactly does this look like for YOU?


I walk alongside you every step of your decluttering journey.


  • Weekly video calls


  • 1:1 accountability and encouragement


  • Tangible tools to help you on your decluttering journey


  • Opportunity to declutter up to 4 rooms in your home


  • Mindset shifting strategies





Don’t let this opportunity pass you by! I’m here for you!






[This Blog contains affiliate links.]


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