After a long summer of traveling and hauling your kiddos to and from camp, your car could probably use a little TLC before the school year begins. Here are some tips for getting rid of that “summer” car scent and starting the school year fresh.
Remove anything that doesn’t belong in your car
Go through your vehicle and sort the things you find into two bags: one for trash and one for things that just don’t belong in the car. Anything that needs to stay in your vehicle should stay. While you’re at it, be sure to check your stash of hand sanitizer, wipes/diapers, first aid kit, etc. and re-stock as necessary.
Thoroughly vacuum and wash your vehicle, inside and out
Cars are filled with countless nooks and crevices that collect dirt, rocks, and small pieces of trash. So take advantage of a local car wash and give your car a good vacuum (most places let you do this for free!). Then drive through the car wash. For an extra clean vehicle, get your car’s interior detailed as well.
Double-check car documents & give your vehicle a checkup
Now is a great time to consider other vehicle-related tasks you may need to take care of before your kids head back to school! For example:
- Does your registration need renewing?
- Is your license about to expire?
- Do any of your teens need to get their driver’s license before school begins?
- Do you have your school’s carpool card in your windshield?
- When was the last time you gave your car a checkup, changed the oil, etc?
- Do you need to re-arrange car seats/booster seats?
Checking these tasks off your to-do list before the school year begins can really make things easier once the hectic fall schedule gets underway.