Kids books on the seat, trash from your last coffee run and gunky cup holders. Between commuting and errands we spend a lot of time in our car, About 58 minutes a day according to Oxford’s Future of Work Survey.

So today we are going to go over the tips and products to show you how to keep your car clean and organized.

Video Transcript

KAIT HOWELL: Kids books on a seat, trash from your last coffee run, and gunky cup holders. Between commuting and errands, we spend a lot of time in our car-- about 58 minutes a day, according to Oxford's Future of Work Survey. So today we're going to go over the tips and products to show you how to keep your car clean and organized.

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Let's start with cleaning. The places that accumulate the most germs are the steering wheel, gear shifter, and cup holder. According to a 2014 study, the steering wheel was almost four times dirtier than a public toilet seat. So that being said, it's important to clean your interior of your car regularly.

When cleaning the seats and dashboards, you want to avoid harsh cleaners like bleach, ammonia, or hydrogen peroxide. Some experts also suggest avoiding alcohol-based wipes as they can leave streaks and discoloration. Opt for a car safe cleaning wipes like this.

Use microfiber cloths to keep that interior germ-free. The UC Davis Medical Center found that cleaning with just a microfiber mop reduced bacteria by 99%, compared to cotton mops which only reduce bacteria by 30%. So they're a great option, especially if you only want to use soap and water on your interior.

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Arguably one of the most annoying things to clean is those dust-filled vents. Our viewers swear by this cleaning gel that takes the gunk at any nook and cranny. Alternatively, you can also use a foam paintbrush to get into those hard-to-reach vents and some people even use a coffee filter to dust in and around the car as the material it's made out of attracts dust.

Now that we have germs under control, let's talk about organization. A simple rule to follow is what goes in must also come out for every trip. Now, if you have kids, you know that this rule is a little harder to follow as you'll want to have activities and books on hand, so using a seat organizer is the perfect workaround as it also doubles to protect your seat from those muddy little boots.

Focus on the areas of your car that give you the most trouble. For me, that's the accumulation of garbage and recycling. Use a garbage that's made specifically for your car to keep all those wrappers in one place. Plus, it makes it easier to empty all in one go. Besides garbage everywhere, one place where a lot of small loose items can accumulate is your cup holder. If that's you, try using a Q-tip holder to keep all your loose change and hair elastics in one place.

Anecdotally, we all know how gross and sticky those cup holders can get. To make them easier to clean and avoid the mess, try using cup holder coasters so you can easily switch them out and wipe them down.

Maybe you have spotless cup holders and there's never any garbage in your car, but there's one place where most of us hide the mess and that's the glove box. Using a document organizer, make sure that you have all the relevant papers you need in the right place. So if you're ever caught speeding, you knew exactly where all those important documents are.

Another place that can sneakily hold a lot of misplaced clutter is between the seats. I don't know about you, but if something drops there I consider it gone for good. Well, you can avoid that by using a seat gap filler, which can save you time digging around trying to grab any loose pens or change that's fallen. So what are you waiting for, start dusting those vents, make sure to clean those cup holders, and get better at car cleaning and storage.

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