Want a clean car? Start by adopting these habits

Habits. They’re the building blocks of our everyday lives. And, when it comes to keeping things tidy, little habits add up to big results.

Maybe you keep up on dishes and laundry, but what about your car? Cars aren’t part of the house, so it can be easy to forget the upkeep. Here are a few habits you can foster to keep your car (at least mostly) clean all the time.

Establish rules for the kids. If you routinely have kids in your back seat, make sure they know what the rules are for taking care of the car. You might have a ban on messy food or markers and glue. You might require them to take off — or at least brush off — dirty shoes and clothes. One smart habit to establish is an “In-n-out” rule: If a toy or other item goes into the car, it must come out.

Always take some trash out with you. Inevitably, even with the best of intentions, trash builds up in the car. Receipts, fast food wrappers, toys and who knows what else slide just beyond your reach into the crack between the console and passenger seat and then migrate down to the deep, dark abyss beneath the seats. Stop this horror before it happens and always grab visible trash when you leave the car.

Keep cleaning supplies in the car. The worst part of climbing into a car and realizing it’s disgusting because you forgot to clean it is not having any cleaning supplies to fix it. Always keep some wipes in your dash, some paper towels in your center console and a portable vacuum cleaner in your trunk. You’ll be ready for any mess and passengers can help tidy up while you drive.

Schedule regular car maintenance. Air filters in particular can get dirty over time and make your car smell bad, so make sure you take your vehicle in regularly for a tune-up. They will no doubt fix other issues that could have left you stranded on the highway if you ignored them.

And, when your car’s exterior needs some attention, visit Scrubby’s. Check out our Dollar Monday specials where a dollar buys you a four minutes’ wash time for just a buck!