“The trunk is a great space – but it can quickly become a black hole.” – Dana Meyer
Depending on the size of your trunk or cargo area, you can potentially store or transport a great number of items for either business or fun. But how you organize them will determine whether they are easily accessible, arrive at your destination in one piece, or end up in a giant messy pile.
The first task is to thoroughly clean out everything and vacuum the space. Divide what’s in your trunk into categories that make sense to you: car maintenance, first aid and emergency supplies, pet supplies, baby and child necessities, reusable bags, sports equipment, work items, and random things that you always forget you need. If you frequently travel for business, you may need extra items in several categories, just in case.
Some sports equipment (such as baseball mitts) may be able to be stored in a cooler in your garage until you’re ready to take it all to your child’s game. At that point, your work items (in their storage container) can be temporarily removed to the garage.
If you are a micro organizer, a lidded bin with smaller containers for individual items is essential. For combination micro/macro people, just a lidded bin for each major category is plenty. If you are someone who needs to be able to see everything (but keep it contained), a sturdy trunk organizer with individual components is perfect.
My daughter and I share a car. I’m a micro-organizer; she is macro. The compromise is we have one lidded bin for all car emergencies or care: flares, jumper cables, various tools, vacuum, extra dusters, etc. The second bin has first aid supplies, my as-needed work items, soap nuts for the laundromat, books for her to read on car rides, etc. Our reusable bags are in an insulated bag on the far right of the rear of our trunk. I make sure that everything stays in place with a tension rod. Some cars, SUVs and trucks have netting for this purpose.
When you open your trunk lid, the goal is that everything is contained and easy to locate by you and others in your family. You want your entire, organized car to bring you peace.
Speaking of peace, one thing you *never* keep in your trunk when you aren’t in your car is your valuables. Thieves watch you hide your purse, gifts and laptops under blankets from their car in parking lots. When you return, your items are long gone. They also have scanning apps on their smartphones that can detect any electronics that may be hidden out of sight. Always use caution.
Los Altos Hills resident Lyn Rogers is a professional organizer and owner and CEO of Lyn At Your Service. For more information, see LynAtYourService.com.
