10 things in your car to throw out ASAP, according to pro organisers
Clutter in the car is unsightly—and dangerous.
Between morning commutes, school drop-offs, and shopping hauls, car clutter builds fast. Items scattered on the floor, overcrowding the centre console, or sitting on the passenger seat causes distractions and can become projectiles. To straighten up your messy car, there are certain things you should get rid of in the car right away—from obvious rubbish to the forgotten bag of donations.
While there are some things pro organisers always keep in their car, there are many things you should toss immediately. "I approach decluttering and organising a car just like any other space," says Melissa Gugni, pro organiser. "First things first, get all of the rubbish and recycling out, and it will immediately feel so much better. Next up, take out everything else—and I mean everything! Categorise what you find, then go through each pile." Throw out any trash, take care of action items (like bringing back library books), and bring unwanted items to a donation centre.
Obvious rubbish
"Start by tossing out the obvious offenders: old receipts, fast-food wrappers, and empty water bottles that have rolled under the seats," says Sarit Weiss, founder of Neat & Orderly. Look out for gum wrappers, plastic utensils, and tissues.
Charging cords
Sort through that tangled mess of wires in your centre console. "Make sure you have the one that fits your phone, and eliminate everything else," says Elsa Elbert, organising expert and founder of Composed Living.
Summer gear
"Any seasonal outdoor items, like blankets or beach gear, should be removed from your car," says Shaniece Jones, a professional organiser. Clear up space in your boot by putting beach chairs, blankets, and portable coolers into storage for next spring.
Loose change
Coins can be helpful, but don't let them takeover your centre console. "I added a small mason jar into my centre console to corral loose change and a few bills for emergencies," says Elbert. "Just make sure you clear it out from time to time—you probably aren't using those pennies for parking meters."
Library books
The car can quickly clutter with drop-off items—think overdue library books. "Set a goal to handle action items, like returning library books, ASAP," says Melissa Gugni, pro organiser.
Donations
Similarly, it's time to get rid of the donation bag or box that's been living in your car. "It is amazing how long we can let a bag of donations languish in the trunk so let this be the week to get them out," says Gugni.
Loose paperwork
Stray papers quickly accumulate—there's a tendency to toss new insurance bills, car registration, and recent receipts into the glove box without purging the old ones. "Old paperwork that are cluttering up your glove compartment can be recycled," says Elbert.
Reusable shopping bags
It's a great idea to store reusable bags in the truck for food shopping, but you only need a few. "Scale down your reusable shopping bags, and tuck them all inside one bag so they stay organised and easy to grab when you need them," says Elbert.
Empty air fresheners and hand sanitisers
"Check your hand sanitisers, air fresheners, and wipes—if they're dried out, toss them," says Jones. You don't need more than one of each!
Old pens
There's no need for a pile of pens in your cup holder—one or two will do. Toss any dried out pens and donate any extras.
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