How Do You Keep Your Car Organized When You Have Kids?

Keeping a car organized with kids can feel impossible. Between backpacks, sports equipment, toys, jackets and everything that comes home from school, an empty back seat can turn into a pile of stuff surprisingly quickly. 

The easiest approach is to give everyday items a designated place, remove things regularly and avoid treating your trunk like permanent storage. 

What Should You Keep in the Car for Kids?

Start by deciding what actually needs to stay in the car. 

Depending on your kids’ ages and your family’s routine, that might include: 

• Wipes or tissues 
• A change of clothes 
• Reusable water bottles 
• A small first-aid kit 
• A few car-friendly activities 
• Reusable shopping bags 
• Weather-appropriate extras 
• Necessary sports or activity gear 

Try not to pack for every possible scenario. The more “just in case” items you add, the harder it becomes to find the things you actually use. 

How Do You Organize Kids’ Stuff in the Back Seat?

Give frequently used items a designated spot instead of letting them collect on the seats and floor. 

Seat-back organizers can work well for smaller items such as books, sunglasses, tissues and activity supplies. A small bin or basket can also help contain things that would otherwise roll around the car. 

Keep the system simple enough that kids can use it themselves. If putting something away requires opening three containers and rearranging the trunk, it probably will not stay organized for long. 

How Do You Keep Toys from Taking Over the Car?

Limit the number of toys that live in the car at one time. 

Let each child choose a few car-friendly toys or books and periodically swap them for something different from home. Avoid turning the car into a second toy box. 

A small basket can create a natural limit: once it is full, something has to come out before another toy goes in. 

How Do You Organize Sports Gear in the Car?

Sports equipment can quickly take over a trunk, especially when multiple kids have practices throughout the week. 

Use separate bags or bins for each activity so you can grab what you need without unloading everything else. After practices or games, bring home anything that needs to be washed, cleaned or dried instead of leaving it in the car indefinitely. 

If a sport is out of season, remove the equipment completely. There is no reason for baseball gear to take up trunk space all winter if nobody will use it for months. 

How Can You Keep the Trunk Organized?

Divide your trunk based on what you use regularly. 

A trunk organizer or a few sturdy bins can help separate categories such as: 

• Sports equipment 
• Emergency supplies 
• Reusable shopping bags 
• Stroller or baby gear 
• Outdoor supplies 

Try to leave some open trunk space, too. An organized trunk is not necessarily one where every inch has been turned into storage. 

How Often Should You Clean Out a Family Car?

A quick cleanout once a week can prevent clutter from building up. 

You do not need to deep clean the entire car. Take five or 10 minutes to remove: 

• Trash 
• Empty cups and bottles 
• Clothes and shoes 
• School papers 
• Toys that belong inside 
• Sports equipment you are finished using 
• Anything that was brought into the car temporarily 

Getting kids involved can help, too. Before everyone heads inside, have each person grab something that belongs in the house. 

Where Should You Put Seasonal Kids’ Gear?

Kids can come with a surprising amount of seasonal equipment. Depending on your family, that might include sports gear, beach supplies, camping equipment, sleds or other bulky items that are only useful for part of the year. 

Instead of letting off-season gear live in the trunk or pile up in the garage, rotate it as your family’s activities change. 

If you are running short on space at home, Public Storage offers storage unit options that can give seasonal gear somewhere to go until you need it again. That can make it easier to keep your garage, closets and car focused on what your family is actually using right now. 

What Is the Easiest Way to Keep a Family Car Organized?

The best car organization system is one you can reset quickly. 

Give everyday essentials a home, limit how much stays in the car and regularly bring everything else back inside. You do not need a perfectly clean car every day. You just want to avoid reaching the point where you have to move a soccer ball, three jackets and a mystery backpack before someone can sit down.