No matter what you do, your car always ends up a mess. Thankfully, Jalopnik readers are here with ten simple ways to keep your car from becoming a rolling trashbag.
Welcome back to Answers of the Day — our daily Jalopnik feature where we take the best ten responses from the previous day's Question of the Day and shine it up to show off. It's by you and for you, the Jalopnik readers. Enjoy!
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Photo Credit: John Goodridge
10.) Don't eat in there
Suggested By: Demon-Xanth
Why it's effective: If you can avoid eating in your car, you won't have to deal with all the wrappers, cartons, stains and crumbs that inevitably follow.
Photo Credit: bluemonkey.
9.) Wax it occasionally
Suggested By: Demon-Xanth
Why it's effective: It means you have to buy something and it means you have to spend some time after washing your car, but it's an investment that pays off. Waxing your car occasionally makes washing it the next time easier.
Photo Credit: Shannon Coffey
8.) Knock your shoes before getting in
Suggested By: Charles Mallari
Why it's effective: Wherever it snows and gets slushy, you really can't keep your car from getting dirty on the inside, but you can do a lot just by knocking your boots before you get in.
Sit down on the seat with your legs outside and knock your cold, block-like feet together. Then you just swivel in. It means your footwells won't be quite so grimy and icy.
Photo Credit: akseabird
7.) Keep kids out
Suggested By: Nibby4WD
Why it's effective: If at all possible, don't have kids and your car will stay much cleaner. If you do have kids, try and contain them in the family truckster and keep your car out of their grubby, dirty, smearing hands.
This may be a lost cause for many of you parents out there, but the rest of you need to stay vigilant.
Photo Credit: william c hutton jr
6.) Clean messes up quick
Suggested By: oyumurtaci
Why it's effective: If you let a spill or a stain linger for any period of time in your car, it quickly becomes "character" and is impossible to remove.
Remember that time when Jim smacked his head on the doorframe and got blood on the armrest? Of course you do, because you didn't clean it up right away and now it's a stain you never have the time or the wherewithal to scrub away.
Photo Credit: Dimmit Auto Group and Insurance Auto Auction
5.) Garage it
Suggested By: Ash78
Why it's effective: While not everyone has a garage available, if you can find some enclosed space for your car, it will stay much cleaner. Mother Nature has a way of bringing every living bird to roost in the tree just above your parked car.
There are a thousand other things the elements can bring unto your vehicle, so clear out your old BowFlex and stick your car in there.
Photo Credit: David A. LaSpina
4.) Keep a trashbag in the car
Suggested By: JJohn
Why it's effective: Get either a small trash can or just a trash bag and keep it in your car. It keeps your junk from falling into the tiny cracks around the seats, or from rolling under the seats, and generally getting where you're too lazy to clean.
Photo Credit: rmkoske
3.) Every time you leave, take something out
Suggested By: mcdbrendan, Right Foot to Boxer, BrtStlnd
Why it's effective: There are three cleaning regimens that will keep your car clean. Each one requires a different degree of diligence, but they all work.
Every time you stop for gas, reach into all the cubby holes and pull out the trash so you can throw it out.
Every time you stop and get out of your car for any reason, grab all the trash in your car.
If you stop and your car already looks clean, look around for one thing in your car that doesn't strictly need to be there and take it out.
Photo Credit: 8one6
2.) Make a routine for washing
Why it's effective: There's no quick fix to keeping your car washed regularly. You have to either set up a schedule for taking your car to a carwash, or you need to start a routine for washing your own car.
Mark it out on your calendar and use the two-bucket method. One bucket has clean water and the other bucket is soapy. Scrub your car clean, soap it up, then wash it all off from the top down. Stay regimented and your car won't ever stay dirty.
Video Credit: Ben Bunch
1.) Keep it clean so it stays clean
Suggested By: horspowr1001
Why it's effective: The easiest way to keep your car from getting dirty is to clean it once and make sure it stays that way. Once it's clean, it's easy to keep it clean, as reader horspowr1001 explains:
If your car is always clean, you will be more inclined to toss out any trash right away. Similar to the dirty laundry analogy: If you have one pair of dirty socks on the floor, it's much easier to put that second pair there, then the third, then the.... Eventually it becomes a mess.
Also, if your passengers see a clean car, they will notice and clean up after themselves, not to mention compliment your ride.
Photo Credit: puuikibeach