Holiday madness is upon us – and you know what that means – pleasant family get-togethers, dinners, road trips, and a whole lot of messy games and activities. We’ve rounded up the top tips on how you can keep the mess and chaos out of your family car this holiday season. From keeping an eye on what the kids are dragging in after their runarounds in the snow to visiting your trusted car wash near you for regular and periodic maintenance, we’ve got you covered. Read on to know more!
This blog has been updated on May 6th, 2021.
Family get-togethers, meals, and messy events such as pumpkin carving, going sledding, and enjoying the great snow-laden outdoors are just another part of the holidays. Unfortunately, a lot of these cherished-memory moments can also be incredibly rough on your vehicle, leaving you with an interior that’s dirty or worse, permanently damaged. Here are three ways you can keep your family car tidy this holiday season so that it’s only the memories that remain, while the messes become a thing of the past.
Keeping a close eye on the kids
Kids, particularly before they have learned well-established hand-washing regimes, are notorious for sporting dirty hands. Unfortunately, the interior of your car is easily subject to staining – and in order to make the fabric linings and interior materials of your car filthy, all it just takes are a few carelessly placed touches. Odor and disease-causing microbes that come off of food, candy, and cake frosting, the inside of the vehicle tends to hold up badly does when children are loaded into the backseat with filthy hands and shoes.
Get into the practice of inspecting your kids’ palms, clothes, and the undersides of their shoes before going out to the car to avoid smudges and stains. You could also try stocking up on baby wipes and spray-on/wipe-off disinfectant. When on a road trip, it’s crucial you make enough rest stops so that your children can wash up at a rest area or use the restroom at a diner or restaurant.
The smallest things tend to make the biggest messes – art items like crayons and even tiny toys tend to make a mess of the interior of your car. Before you lock up the car, make it a habit to gather these items and stash them away in a separate container and place it tucked away in the trunk. While this may seem like an added hassle, even at the busiest time of the year, this move might just save you a whole lot of dollars on interior cleaning services.
Transporting food, the right way
Long road trips and roads slick with sleet and half-melted snow make for some particularly difficult situations. On days where the weather causes slippery roads, food can be exceptionally difficult to transport. All it takes is a moment for a pie you’re taking to your mother’s house to roll over your back seat and fall over, even if strategically placed on a large towel.
Fortunately, this is a relatively easy fix – simply throw a few big plastic totes or even adequately-sized disposable garbage bags in your trunk or tuck them away under the seat of your car. Plastic totes with lids that are roughly the size of the inner dimensions of your car will help greatly. Line the underside of the totes and their inner bottom with plastic, a non-slip liner to prevent any accidental slippage of the food you’re transporting. Try and ensure any plastic containers or bins you’re transporting food have the right sized lids that can form an airtight seal. In addition to preventing any spills from staining the upholstery of your vehicle, you will also be able to prevent smells from lasting for days in the car.
Practice regular car cleaning and make the most of car wash services
Soap is highly efficient at eliminating grit, grime, and dirt – however, stains can potentially attract dirt if soap residue is left behind on carpets and car‘s upholstery, leaving the car fabrics soiled again in no time at all. For this reason, professional detailing is essential to maintain and even extend the life cycle of the carpets and fabrics that line the interiors of your vehicle.
The carpets, chairs, and armrests need to be thoroughly vacuumed to eliminate surface grime – a feat that is easily achieved when using a professional detailing and/or car cleaning service/car wash near you. Most professionals use efficient hot water extraction machines to shampoo surfaces simultaneously while sweeping away excess soap and water, making for fabrics that remain clean for longer.
Experts recommend scheduling competent cars every 4 to 6 months to keep your vehicle safe, so try booking their services just before and after the holidays – you’ll find everything you’ll need for keeping your car and shiny at websites like Way.com and the Way app. From finding parking in notoriously packed cities to getting the cheapest auto insurance quotes and highly affordable and top-rated car washes near you, Way, your car’s best friend, has your back!
Websites and apps like Way offer professional and top-rated car wash services at great prices. What’s more, the whole family can get in on the sudsy action thanks to Way’s Carwash Voucher and Family Car Wash Pass. The Family Car Wash Pass can be used on multiple (that’s right, multiple) vehicles!
Looking for more choices for car washes near you? Way.com has you covered – get online or book your car wash through our iOS or Android apps now!
