When you have kids, your car always takes a beating. At least, it seems to be that way! And most parents just learn to deal with the disorganized clutter that always seems to follow in the wake of children – but that ends up creating bad habits and teaching kids that cars are meant to be abused, not used.

Here are some tips and tools to keeping your car clean and tidy when you have kids, so you can show them great habits about neatness and also feel good every time you get in your car!

Get a car bag. No, not a diaper bag, but a handy-sized tote bag that lets you store a small first-aid kit, a couple of toys, tissues and juice boxes or snacks. Tuck in a few bags for litter duty and you’ll be all set to stay safe, keep kids occupied and have everything you need right at hand. Now that’s organized!

Make rules about food. Many parents bring along cereal snacks and juice boxes to help keep kids happy on trips. It’s a good idea, but it’s an even better one to replace the cereal with a fruit (less crumbs!) and to use leak-proof drink cups instead of juice boxes with straws (no more drips or spills).

Get a car organizer. These colourful organizers are perfect for kids. They hang over the backs of seats and have tons of pockets you can use to tuck in little games to occupy children while traveling, and they also help make sure that your kids won’t kick at the back of seats. It’s a sanity saver!

Get wipes. Keep a container or pack of baby wipes in your glove compartment for handy cleanup. You can wipe down little hands and prevent smears and streaks inside your car, or you can use these to wipe down doors or the dashboard when the car could use a fast dusting.

Take a minute (that’s all you need) after every trip to make sure the car’s neat before you walk away from it. While you’re at it, check to ensure that your child seat belt safety device is secure for your next trip.  Keeping a car clean when you have kids doesn’t have to be a chore, and you’ll soon find that having a tidy vehicle is just second nature to you and your family.