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Jen (Dual-career mom of Jacob 6, Caleb 3, and Abigail - newborn): Did you check out the Messiest Car Contest on SacMom’s?

Kelli (Stay-at-home mom of Logan 9, and Whitney 8): I don’t know if I could’ve won messiest, but I definitely could have won grossest after a recent spoiled milk disaster (Name That Putrid Smell).

Jen: I’ve had some serious car clutter, but luckily I haven’t had The Big Spill yet.

 
Kelli: I’ve had car clean-outs that have resembled archeological digs – finding that missing flip-flop wedged under the seat, a long-lost favorite toy at the bottom of an over-stuffed pocket, even still finding that random Cheerio from toddler snack days.

 
Jen: We recently got a new car and despite my best intentions and new standards, it took less than two weeks to get that mom-car lived in appearance.

Kelli: I’m familiar with it. Abandoned McDonald’s Happy Meal toys, discarded snack pack wrappers, single socks and shoes floating around.     

Jen: …debris fields on the floor mats, ½ drunken water bottles throughout the car, the bane of a mom’s existence - Goldfish cracker crumbs collecting in the car seats.

Kelli: …melted crayons in cup holders, Slurpee stains on the floor, sticky door handles.

Jen: … pockets that simply become decoration because everything that’s supposed to be in them is strewn about the car.

Kelli: The bottom line is I can maintain a clean car or I can maintain my sanity.

Jen: I agree. As moms we practically live in our cars so there’s inevitably going to be wear and tear from spending so much time in motion.
 
Kelli: I also need to be focusing on the road instead of refereeing or trying to enforce rules of conduct and cleanliness. With all the things I juggle in a day, something has to give and it becomes acceptable conditions of my car.

Jen:  I think the goal isn’t a clean car, but a functional one.

 Kelli: So when you’re chauffeuring kids on a regular basis that means there are things you need to concede and things you need to be prepared for.

Jen: Right. If you’re going to try to keep a pristine car you’re eventually going to need that one thing you took out (like a stack of rags for kid vomit or the only DVD that will pacify your grumpy kid).

Kelli: And if you’re not going to allow snacks and drinks then that means you’re ready to deal with hungry, grouchy kids and fights over where everyone wants to stop and eat.

Jen: Plus, as a seasoned mom you just know you can have a Barf Kit and Potty Accident Kit ready or you can plan on spending a good amount of time at the car wash and good cash on odor removers.

Kelli: It’s about trade-offs. I allow Goldfish and just plan on dealing with the crumbs. However, a milkshake, and now milk, are not allowed to come anywhere near my floor mats.

Jen: Even with a Clean-up Kit? 

Kelli: Even with a Clean-up Kit. If you had smelled my car after our sour milk incident, you wouldn’t have even asked.

Kelli Wheeler is a Sacramento stay-at-home mom of two who has organized clutter in her car but smooth sailing on the road. 

Jen Hall is a Sacramento dual-career mom of three who quickly lost that new car smell in her mom-car. 

The Essentials of a Mom-Car

1. Reserves. Kids are always hungry and thirsty so have water and snacks stashed or grab some out the door.
2. Barf Kit. If you haven’t had a kid barf in your car yet, it’s only a matter of time. Keep a plastic grocery bag, old rag, baby wipes and kid’s chewable Dramamine in a glove compartment, under a seat or in the center console.
3. Clean-up kit. Save napkins from fast-food stops in the glove compartment, keep baby wipes and Kleenex in the center console and have an old towel in the back for inevitable messes.
4. Diversions. Gum, candy treats, Etch-a-Sketch, Doodle Pro, a scavenger hunt list, car bingo game or other distractions should always be in the car either for kids to access themselves from a pocket or to distribute when kids need a diversion or to be redirected.
5. First Aid Kit and Sunscreen. Hopefully you’ll never need that space blanket, but you will need the band-aids at some point and who hasn’t forgotten their sunscreen at home before? You can always run back to the car for those staples of childhood.
6. Potty Accident Kit. An extra set of underwear, pants or diaper stashed under a car seat is never a bad idea during these years of misjudging just how badly you really needed to go to the bathroom.
7. Garbage Bag. Useful for muddy shoes, wet clothes, dirty towels or an impromptu cleaning/organizing of an over-cluttered car.
8. DVD Player and DVD’s. Invaluable peace keepers for those long trips. Portable DVD players can be bought for the price of filling-up the gas tank and movies can be rented for free at local libraries. Or borrow a friend’s player and swamp from personal movie libraries.
9. Seat pocket organizers. If your car doesn’t have a built-in pockets on the back of the front seats, buy a pocket organizer to sling over them. Kids can be in charge of their own stashed snacks, games, head-phones, and garbage.
10.  Air freshener. If you’re not going to commit to an at least once a month family clean of the car, be ready to keep odors at bay with some artificial scenting.