How to Travel with Children and Maintain a Clean Car

There are few better ways to bring a family closer together than to embark on a fun, carefree road trip together. Of course, there are also few better ways to completely dirty a previously clean vehicle than to embark on a road trip—especially if there are kids involved! Road trips mean snacks and drinks in the vehicle. They mean dirty shoes. They may even mean pets, or potentially messy toys.

But not to worry. There's no sense in avoiding a family trip just because you're concerned about the cleanliness of the vehicle. After all, there are plenty of practical measures you can take to ensure that the car doesn't get too dirty—the messy habits of your kids notwithstanding!

For instance, one of the biggest sources of dirtiness in the vehicle is food. Kids are going to want snacks in the car, and there's really no way around that. However, you can always choose snacks that are slightly less messy than others. This means avoiding items that could be dropped and potentially ground into the carpet—items like chips, pretzels, or even candy. Instead of these items, why not pack some fresh fruit—apples or bananas, perhaps? These items don't really make crumbs, and, as an added bonus, they are obviously a lot more nutritious. Just one thing: Make sure you bring a trash bag for the cores and peels!

Of equal importance is choosing the right drinks. Juice and soda, of course, can stain, and a spill will not only make the trip less pleasant, but it might also go unattended until it has set into the upholstery. Water, meanwhile, will not leave a trace. And of course, it comes with the same added bonus—it's healthy!

Another tip is to clean out the vehicle every time you make a stop—and if you've got kids, stops for the bathroom or for food are likely to be fairly numerous! This may seem like a no-brainer, but it's amazing how many dads and moms think it's fine to leave the mess until the whole trip is over. If you want to prevent filth from building up, though—and also, ultimately, make the whole cleaning process a lot easier—just clean out the car at every stop. It's that simple.

And here's one final tip. Make sure you bring the right supplies. Of course, this means bringing a small trash bag with you—remember those apple cores and banana peels? Also bring along some handy cleaning products. If nothing else, a roll of paper towels could really come in handy—or even better, some antibacterial wipes. Diaper wipes can also be helpful, even if you don't have an infant; they will help pick up little messes that result because of spilled food or drink. Following all these guidelines, there's no reason your summer road trips shouldn't be perfectly enjoyable—and clean!

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