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Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Organizing Our Road Trip Essentials


The first thing I want to do after a long road trip is take the car to get washed and vacuumed.  I actually do love our local car wash, Carolina Shores Car Wash in Leland, NC.  For one price you get the wash and use of the vacuums. They also have solution to wipe away the bugs.  The solution also cleans hubcaps really well.  I like that they have window cleaning solution available also.  I love that they have plenty of clean towels for us to use on site.  After driving through the wash, Soko vacuums the car while I wipe down the inside and outside of the car. We both tackle getting the bugs off the front bumper.  And, before your know it, we have a clean car!

Our car gets very messy on a road trip because we usually eat lunch and do a lot of snacking, because somehow we have managed to convince ourselves that calories don't count when we are in the car. We use lots of napkins and then need garbage bags to throw them in so we always have a supply of both in our glove compartment. They are thrown in there along with maps, spare sunglasses and a few other things that we need when we are traveling.   


On our recent road trip, we decided to take an alternate route home and so I searched for the map that I knew was somewhere in the glove compartment.  By the time I found it, the glove compartment was in complete shambles!  So I spent most of the 5 1/2 hour drive from Maryland trying to find a way to organize the mess.  I looked on Amazon and a few other places for some kind of holder that might work.  I needed something that could contain the items and not take up much room itself.   I didn't see anything.  When that happens, I know it is time to figure out how to make what I want by myself.  I finally came up with this holder that basically is an open envelope.  It is working out exactly how I envisioned.  This is how I created our "storage envelopes".

 
1.  I measured the napkins, storage bags folded and placed side by side, and maps and added 2" to the length and width.

2.  I took card stock and measured and cut it to the size I needed for each item.  I cut duck tape an inch longer than the width of card stock and taped it onto the card stock leaving 1/2 inch on each side and along the bottom.

3.  I overlapped the strips of duck tape slightly as I continued covering the card stock.  This side is the inside of my envelope.

4.  After I completely covered the card stock with tape, I flipped it over and folded the edges of the tape to the other side of the card stock.

5.  I clipped the bulky edges.

6.  I then proceeded to cover the front of my envelope the same as I did the inside but also used a little decorative duck tape.

7.  I folded the edges over and cut the corners again.

8.  I folded the envelope in half and cut 2 pieces of duck tape to hold the sides together.

9.  I cut the edge of the tape on the open side of the envelope and folded it down into the envelope then just clipped the excess off the bottom side.

10.  Finished product.



I am really happy with how organized my glove compartment is now.  I am not fishing around for things anymore.  It is now very easy to get to whatever I need!








17 comments:

  1. what a great idea! I'm going to use your suggestion and customize the spaces in our vehicle.

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    1. I am loving that I can open my glove compartment and find whatever I need without fishing around anymore. Hope you enjoy your organized spaces!

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  2. This is a fantastic idea! Thank you for sharing with us this week at Celebrate Your Story.

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    1. Thank you and thank you for hosting your party every week!

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  3. This sounds like such a helpful way to organize and de-stress life!

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  4. Thanks for sharing your tips on organizing your roadtrip with us at #overthemoon. Your glove compartment looks so neat!

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  5. Great functional idea. Pinning to my organization board.

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  6. What a clever idea for a napkin organizer

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  7. What a great idea. I limit what I put in my glove box, but what's there ends up a mess. Thanks for sharing your organizational skills on Sunday's Best.

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  8. You're welcome. Thanks for having me at your party!

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  9. This is such an amazing idea! Saving this so I can remember it on our next road trip. They really do get messy! :D

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    1. I think you will be happy with your organized glove compartment! Have a great time on your road trip!!

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  10. Thanks so much for linking up with me at #AThemedLinkup 19 for Cleaning and Organizing, open June 15 to 25. All party entries shared if social media buttons installed.

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