Declutter Your Car: Because Even Your Cup Holders Deserve a Second Chance

Let’s be brutally honest—your car is not a second closet, it’s not a recycling center, and no, it’s definitely not a museum of crusty fries and mystery receipts. And yet, if you’ve ever had to clear out a seat for a passenger by launching three gym bags and a coffee-stained hoodie into the back, congratulations: your car clutter has officially staged a hostile takeover.

But don’t panic! We’re going to take that mobile mess and turn it into a serene, clutter-free chariot of peace. (Or at least something that doesn’t scream “fast food hoarder.”)

So buckle up, friends. We’re giving our cup holders a glow-up and our trunk a life it actually deserves.

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Step 1: Accept That Your Car Is Not a Storage Unit on Wheels

I get it. Your car is your second home, your escape pod, your snack shack. That center console? A glorified junk drawer on wheels. But it’s time to reclaim your ride.

Start by taking everything out. And I mean everything—bags, receipts, granola bar wrappers, that one shoe you’ve been meaning to find the match for. Yes, especially that ketchup packet from 2021 that was probably once red but is now a suspicious beige.

Step 2: The Four-Part Sorting System

Once your car is fully gutted like a garage-sale fish, separate everything into four piles:

• Keep in the car: Think must-haves like your registration, jumper cables, or your emergency umbrella squad.
• Goes back in the house: Water bottles, rogue Tupperware, books you meant to read in 2022.
• Trash/Recycle: You know what goes here. HALF YOUR GLOVEBOX.
• Donate: Those extra reusable bags or hats rolling around in your trunk might be better off somewhere else.

Seriously, if it’s been rolling under your seat for a year, your trunk is not where it belongs.

Step 3: Re-Evaluate What You ACTUALLY Need in Your Car

Let’s talk essentials. Notice I didn’t say “absolutely everything you might need in a zombie apocalypse.” Because unless your car is doubling as a bug-out RV, it probably doesn’t need five flashlights and an inflatable kayak.

Here’s the car minimalist starter pack:

• Phone charger
• Registration + insurance
• Emergency kit (jumper cables, Band-Aids, mini flashlight, pain reliever)
• A small trash bin or reusable bag for garbage
• Hand sanitizer and wipes
• Reusable shopping bags (two, tops)
• A pen (but just one—not The Pen Army)

You can thank me later when you aren’t shuffling through melted lip balm and tangled charger cords to find your mask.

Step 4: Show Your Cup Holders Some Love

Let’s talk about those poor, unsung heroes: your cup holders.

If they’ve become a funky soup of coins, melted candy, and hardened coffee sludge, you’re not alone. Scrub them. Dry them. Line them with coasters if you’re fancy—yes, little rubber coasters exist for cup holders and they are delightful.

Bonus: Add one of those car trash cans or a hanging organizer behind the seat for tissues, snacks, or your 15 different sunglasses. (Which you probably still won’t wear.)

Step 5: Don’t Let the Clutter Creep Back

Just like in your bathroom or kitchen, the key to minimalist car bliss is maintenance. Because if you don’t stay on top of it, one forgotten smoothie cup turns into a tragic documentary (“What’s That Smell: A Trunk Tale”).

Here’s your anti-clutter ritual:

• Weekly: Remove any trash, snacks, or stowaway items.
• Monthly: Vacuum and wipe surfaces. Yes, even under the seats.
• Seasonally: Rotate any gear like blankets or window shades depending on weather.
• Every ride: Check cup holders and front seat pockets before you get out. It’s the easiest move that makes the biggest difference.

A Word About the “Mobile Office” Crowd

If you’re using your car to haul your freelance life around, I see you. But even mobile workspaces need limits.

Designate a small crate or compact file system for your backseat—no more throwing everything you own into the passenger seat like a disgruntled raccoon. Trunk organizers can also keep your gear neatly corralled.

And let’s be honest—decluttered cars feel more professional. Your clients (or whoever you’re picking up) will thank you for not having to dodge last week’s burrito wrapper to find a seat.

Need help setting up a cozy, motivating workspace when you do get to a desk? Check out Procrastination Shrines: How to Set Up a Workspace You Actually Want to Sit In.

Let’s Address the Weird Stuff in Your Glovebox

Ok, confession time: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve found in your glovebox?

One time I found a travel-size container of pickles. Why? Who knows. But it’s proof we all let our gloveboxes turn into the Bermuda Triangle eventually.

Here’s what should stay in there:

• Car manual
• Current registration and insurance
• Emergency contact card
• Tire gauge
• ONE pen (again, just one)

Everything else? Pickle-juice free, thank you very much.

Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions.

Barbara Hemphill

A Clutter-Free Car = A Calmer Commute

Look, life is messy. But your car doesn’t have to be. Even if chaos reigns supreme at home, having a tidy little mobile sanctuary where you can breathe between appointments, errands, and unexpected karaoke performances in traffic? That’s next-level peace.

Plus, with more space (and fewer fries under your seat), you’ll feel clearer, calmer, and maybe even a tiny bit smug about your new minimalist wheels.

Think you’re on a roll? Keep the momentum going and conquer your kitchen next by reading Declutter Your Kitchen Counters: How to Stop Living in Appliance Jenga.

Your Quick Declutter Cheat Sheet

Feeling overwhelmed? Here’s your action sprint to revamp your ride:

• 🧽 Empty EVERYTHING out
• 📦 Sort into keep, house, trash, donate
• 🧻 Clean all surfaces, especially cup holders
• 🧰 Return only the must-haves
• 🚘 Commit to a weekly mini-tidy
• 🛑 Say no to car clutter creep

So, what’s the weirdest thing you’ve pulled out of your car during a clean? Let me know over on Instagram. I promise I won’t judge… unless it’s pickles.

Now go give those cup holders their moment to shine. ✨