Last week I wrote about how your car is a multi-use space, and how making to-go kits for different activities can reduce clutter and save you time. For these, you’ll need containers and labels!

To make these kits, categorize the items you want to keep in your car for each purpose. For example, if you’re going to the office, you might need: 

• Your work ID badge
• A parking pass for your building
• Hand sanitizer
• A mask

Or if you’re going to the beach, you might need: 

• Sunscreen
• Beach towels
• Hand sanitizer
• A cooler for beverages

A camping trip kit could have: 

• Mosquito spray
• Sleeping bags
• Extra toilet paper
• Hand sanitizer

Notice how some of these items span all the lists, like the hand sanitizer. If an item appears in most or all of your activity lists, that’s something that needs a permanent place in the car. Items that you only need for grocery runs go in a (preferably labeled) container that you can grab on your way out the door. Bring the container back inside when you come home, and when it’s time to take the kids to school, grab the go-to-school kit and get out the door!

Containers

When you make these kits, it’s important to put them in the appropriate kind of containers. Containers should be: 

Transparent: Picking out the right to-go kit is so much easier if you can see what’s in there! Use a label (always label!) and it’ll be even easier to grab the right items when you want them. 

Stackable: Hitting the brakes while driving and hearing items roll around in your trunk or backseat is not the best feeling. When items in your car are loose or in containers that don’t stack together, things are a lot more likely to be broken or spill. Stackable containers are more likely to stay put while you drive around, ensuring your items are in good shape at the end of your trip. 

The right size for YOUR car: It’s really annoying to have ½ a box worth of space left in the car. Use containers that fit the space well, and maximize your storage options. 

Easy to carry/lift: if you’re making a camping to-go kit, it might contain some heavy items. Instead of packing everything into one container that you can’t lift, opt for two smaller containers instead. There’s no sense in throwing your back out to grab everything in one trip! 

If you have the right containers and labels, making to-go kits is a breeze. Tell me what you’d put in yours!