Organising Your Car for Summer Road Trips

Whether it’s day trips to the beach, weekend getaways, or chauffeuring the kids around during the holidays, your car gets a lot of action in the summer. And if it’s full of receipts, empty bottles, random toys and tangled cables, every journey starts with a bit of chaos.

A quick pre-summer declutter can make your car feel calmer, cleaner, and much more enjoyable to be in — whether you’re stuck in traffic or cruising to Fujairah.

Start with a Rubbish Sweep

Grab a bag and clear out:

• Empty water bottles

• Takeaway cups or food wrappers

• Old receipts and parking slips

• Broken sunglasses or dried-up pens

Check all the nooks — glovebox, door pockets, centre console and under the seats. You’ll be surprised what’s lurking in there.

Clear the Boot

Summer often means packing for activities, but if your boot is already full of forgotten shopping bags and a rogue sandcastle mould, you won’t have space.

Take everything out, vacuum if needed, and only put back the essentials. You might want:

• Foldable chairs or picnic blankets

• Cooler bag or ice packs

• Reusable shopping bags

• Emergency kit (jumper cables, first aid, torch)

Use boot organisers or crates to keep everything contained and avoid the “boot avalanche” every time you open it.

Set Up a Front-Seat System

Your driving area should be free from clutter. All you need to keep handy are:

• Tissues or wet wipes

• Sunglasses

• Phone holder and charger

• A small bin or bag for rubbish

Try not to keep anything loose on the dashboard — not only is it distracting, but it can fly off when you brake suddenly.

Back Seat Sanity (Especially for Kids)

If you’ve got little passengers, set up a simple system to avoid car chaos:

• One bag or basket per child with their chosen toys or books

• Hanging organisers on the seat backs for crayons, tablets, snacks

• A rule that everyone clears their area after the trip (or as close as possible!)

For longer trips, pop in a bin bag or reusable car bin so you’re not finding crusty wrappers under the seat weeks later.

Quick Clean and Comfort Additions

Give the car a wipe-down with a microfibre cloth and dashboard cleaner. A little hoovering goes a long way too.

Then add:

• A car diffuser or air freshener (citrus or mint is lovely for summer)

• A sunshade for when it’s parked

• A small bottle of water or mist spray for cooling off

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Your car doesn’t need to be showroom perfect — just practical and pleasant. By getting it in shape now, you’ll save time and reduce stress every time you head out this summer.