Looking for some car hacks and tips to keep your family van or car organized and clean? These car hacks are perfect for any family car that needs a little help staying organized and can save you money, time and irritation. <–couldn’t we all use less irritation? Keep reading for the best car hacks…
Car Hacks To Make Life Easier
As a mom of many, we spend a ton of time in the car going to the various events. Spending so much time in the van, we need to make travel time worthwhile.
Related: Like these car hacks? Try garage organization ideas
With these easy car hacks you can make the time spent in your vehicle more organized, more efficient, and less stressful with some of these car tricks.
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Genius Family Car Hacks
1. DIY Travel Book Hack
Help entertain your kids with a DIY travel book in the car. You can create pages of activities for your kids to do independently in their carseats. via Mamma Papa Bubba
2. Write Yourself Notes Travel Entertainment
Send yourself a message in a bottle to remind yourself of all the fun you are having on an outing together. via Sarah Maker
3. Bucket Pulley System – Extreme Car Hack
Create a bucket pulley system. This is great to get things to the back of the car without stopping on long trips. Be sure to secure or remove the bucket between hauls. via Kids Activities Blog
4. Condiment Sauce Container Hack
Keep the baby binkie clean. Carry spares in condiment sauce containers. When one gets dirty, just open another container. via Amazon
5. Temporary Tattoo To Keep Your Child Safe with Travel
Create a temporary tattoo of your phone number. Put it on your child’s hand when you are traveling or at a busy event. If they get lost they can tell someone how to reach you.
6. Keep Your Child Calm In The Car
Have you tried everything and still can’t get the kids to calm down in the car? Let them play on your phone, but give them an app they can learn from! via ABCmouse
Nifty Car Hacks: Tips & Tricks
7. Silicone Cupcake Liner Cup Holder Hack
No more trying to dig coins out of a cup holder (not even to mention trying to clean the little bits of lint and crumbs that get stuck in the crevices). Use silicone cupcake liners as inserts for your cup holders. When they get grubby, wipe them out. via Amazon
8. Trunk Organizer Hack
Trunks can become the car’s catch-all. This trunk organizer can help limit the chaos. It has sections for groceries and a middle cooler. via Amazon
9. Back Seat Organizer Tip
Another option is to add an organizer to the back of the back seat, leaving floor space open. via Amazon
10. Car Tableware Hack
Have a single serving tableware ready for an unexpected meal on-the-road. Stephanie keeps a couple sets in her glove box. via Modern Parents Messy Kids
11. Easter Egg Snack Packs Trick
Use Easter Eggs as snack packs. They are easy to pass out in the car and perfect for portion control of snacks while you drive. via Amazon
Protect Your Car with these Car TRicks
12. DIY Dog Blanket For The Car
DIY Dog blanket. Bring your dog with you – and keep the car clean. This is a hammock style one that attaches to both seats. BUT, if you have a still dog, consider using a tablecloth. (Note: the original link to this post no longer exists, but here’s a similar alternative). via DIY Network
13. Seat Cover Hack
Cover the seats with a fitted crib mattress sheet. You will protect the seats. Scotchguard it for extra protection from spills and crumbs. via Kids Activities Blog
14. Grocery Hack For Your Car
I am not the only one who bought milk and then worried the whole way home wondering if it toppled over… worry no more with this nifty “stay hold” – it keeps groceries upright in the trunk. If it does spill – here are some genius car cleaning tricks that can help. via Kids Activities Blog
SAve Money with These DIY Car Hacks
15. Video: Life Hack- Make Any Mug Into A Travel Mug
Is your favorite travel mug dirty? This is a genius trick to transform any mug into a splashproof travel mug! All you need is some cling wrap! More Genius tips on One Crazy House including how to make a car smell better & how to fix car scratches.
16. Trip Bottle To Save Money Hack
Saving the funds for a vacation does not have to hurt the budget. Save up for your trip painlessly – with a vacation money jar trip-bottle.
17. Bag of Blessings Tip
Collect Bags of Blessings to keep in your car. If you come across a person in need you can “be a blessing”. via Joy’s Hope
Car Hacks for Emergencies
18. Customized Emergency Kit
Create a kit for all the little things that you might need – ideas of things to add include antacids, nail clippers, extra cash, band-aids, Advil, etc. Organized Junkie has a terrific tutorial on how to customize your emergency kit. via Organized Junkie
19. Pre-Packaged First Aid Kit
You can also purchase pre-packaged first aid kits that can help in the time of need. via Amazon
20. Jumper Cables
We have jumper cables in our car, but the times my battery has been dead, I have been lost as to how to connect the jumper cables. via Amazon
21. How To Jump A Car Hacks
Even if you don’t have a set of jumpers in your car, print this nifty tag just in case you need to jump another vehicle. via Kids Activities Blog
DIY Car Accessories You Need
22. Reusable Tote Hack For Your Car
If you use reusable tote grocery bags, you will love this idea. Fill a bin with the totes and keep it in the trunk. You have one place to go for all those bags. via Orgjunkie .
23. Inflatable Bed For Your Car
If you have a lot of driving, this might be super helpful. I know there are days when my older kids have had back-to-back games, during nap-time!! This inflatable bed would have made resting easier on my tyke while the kids played/practiced. via Amazon
24. DIY Sippy Cup To Keep Messes Out Of Your Car
Poke a hole into the lid of a water bottle and add a straw for an instant “sippy cup” for an older child. Perk: Throw it out when you reach your destination. For more ideas like this one, check out our meals-on-the-go post we love to think of as picnic ideas to the EXTREME!
25. Tension Rod Hack For Your Car
Don’t let all the bags and jackets pile on the floor. Use a tension rod – the kind designed for closets. You can hang all the kids things. Thanks Amee for the idea! via Madame Deals
Ways to Organize Your Car
26. DIY Car Seat Belt Cover
For those kids who figured out how to unbuckle their seats, but do it at all the wrong times, this trick is invaluable! Make a car seat belt “cover” using a small plastic cup. Genius! via Frugal Freebies
27. Magazine Rack Hack
Organize the car, and all the kids towels, and other items that come with activities – using a magazine rack. No more digging through stacks of things in the trunk.
28. Pool Noodle Car Hack
Put a pool noodle along the bed of a child when you are traveling, in place of a bed rail. Your kids will hopefully stay in the “new” bed. via Amazon
29. Emergency Ice Pack
Use a sponge as a back-up ice pack with this ice packs for lunch box hack. No more drips from ice! Don’t have a sponge or have a larger thing to keep cool? Try a dish towel.
More Car Organization Hacks From Kids Activities Blog
Leave a comment: What are some of your favorite car hacks, tricks, and tips?
