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Driving with kids? Here's how to keep your car clean

Baby wipes are a must.
Credit: Nadezhda1906 / Thinkstock

With all the demands of family life, making time to clean the family car usually ends up far down on the never-ending list of things to do. But sometimes, the clutter and grime just get too much to take anymore, often resulting in a daunting clean-up job. I've been there myself; it's not pretty.

Fortunately, with a little planning you can keep your car looking clean and shiny long after you've scrubbed and vacuumed the interior. Here are some things that have worked for us.

1. Protect your car with all-weather floor liners

Since spills and messes are an inevitable part of life with kids, protecting as much of the cabin as possible is key. All-weather floor liners are great ways to prevent dirt, slush and mud from ruining your car's carpet and are easy to wipe clean or vacuum. Thin seat protectors provide similar protection for your upholstery if you have child-safety seats installed. Just be sure to make sure it's OK to use a protector with your child's seat. Water bottles with tough lids and covered snack cups can help minimize the size of messes, too.

2. Keep baby wipes, paper towels and plastic bags handy

And when messes do happen, they're usually easier to deal with right away rather than a few days later after they've baked in the sun. That's why it's handy to have a pack of baby wipes on hand to wipe up any spills. For bigger messes, paper towels work better, and Ziploc bags can keep it all together when you're done wiping things up. Plastic shopping bags also make great in-car trash containers, too.

3. Get rid of bad smells with baking soda

Finally, if a spill has left a foul odor in your car, try covering the area with baking soda for a few days and then vacuuming it up. With any luck, the smell will be sucked up with it.

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