Kari’s 5 Keys to a Clean Van

I have grown so much in this area. I have not always been a “clean” person. However, I married a cute boy that really likes clean things. He isn’t a stickler for being super organized, he just wants it to look clean. I can respect that. After 16 years of marriage, I have also learned that clean means less anxiety for me too. Seeing messes, laundry piles, dirty dishes in the sink can really make my skin crawl now. 

Who am I?!

So, I thought who better to give advice than me? Ha! I hope you laughed out loud, that was a joke. However, I do have some KEY WAYS TO KEEP MY VAN CLEAN. I am going to share them today! Maybe one or more of these can bring you a bit more peace when you are totting kids around all day. As moms, our car is like a second home almost.

KARI’S FIVE KEYS TO A CLEAN VAN

#1: Have a trash can.

I have a small plastic trash can like this one. It goes in the front middle console. It gets emptied 2-3 times per week. It is great for tissues, wrappers, tags, discarded cheetos, etc. I have it up front so I can keep an eye on it and know when to empty it.

#2: What comes in, must come out.

Whatever my kids decide to take in the car with them, it must be taken out of the van upon returning home. You want to bring a random toy or blanket? Sure- but it must be returned and taken back to its spot once we get home. This also goes for what we are wearing. If we decide to take off shoes, socks, jackets, necklaces, hair bows, and so on- all items must be removed from the van. NO ITEM LEFT BEHIND!

#3: Emergency Supplies are ALWAYS available

Puke bags? Gotta have ’em stored in the glove box. Kleenex box? Absolutely a must- you never know when a juicy sneeze can happen! Baby Wipes? C’mon- you already know these are a must. These are my emergency supply items that I must have fully stocked in my car at all times.

#4: Forbidden Snacks

Ideally, I’d like to ban all snacks from the car, but this just isn’t realistic. Kids are bouncing from one activity to the next and need to refuel on the go. However, there are some forbidden snacks that just can’t be consumed in the van. Here are a handful of my forbidden snacks… Pringles. Popcorn. Cheerios (or similar foods). I will say Goldfish are almost on my list. Those suckers fall into the most unreachable crevasses. 

#5: In a pinch? Chuck it to the back.

If life has gotten the best of us, and our car mess is overwhelming me and I am not at home to take the time to fix the issue, chuck it to the back. 

Random sock that’s inside out? Chuck it to the back trunk. You found a two week old water bottle under a seat? Chuck it to the back trunk. You find a glove, two hoodies, and 3 pairs of shoes? Chuck it to the back. Out of sight, out of mind. There may still be a low level of anxiety just knowing that crap is back there, but the weight of the mess is more wearable for the present.

And these are my 5 KEYS TO A CLEAN VAN. I hope you enjoyed reading about my *never* spotless van. I hope you feel inspired to try one or more of these strategies out. And at the very least, I hope you smiled or laughed while picturing me and my crew desperately trying to keep our van clean!

See y’all next time!