Summer is the perfect time to take those long drives down to the coast or up to see family and friends in other parts of the country. Whilst the holiday might be great when you get there, the long drive is not always the most comfortable experience for drivers or passengers.
Here are a few tips and tricks of some simple adjustments you can make to your car’s interior to make it more comfortable for everyone this summer.
Storage
Whenever we go anywhere, the temptation is to fill the car with as much stuff as it will hold. This can make it uncomfortable for passengers who find themselves squashed in the back with next to no leg room. Hanging a fabric shoe rack over the back of the front seats can provide a great set of pockets so that the kids don’t lose their toys in the back. Stringing a net from the handles in the roof can also provide a great place to store light but bulky items so that they don’t get in the way.
Air Fresheners
With lots of people in a confined space for a long period of time, the inside of the car can start to smell after a while. Air fresheners are often over-priced and are not necessarily that effective in getting rid of bad odours. Instead, keep a box of tumble dryer freshener sheets open somewhere in the car and this will keep it smelling fresh as a daisy. Keeping all of your rubbish in a sealed container, such as a clip and lock storage box, can also stop food smells from building up.
Cup holders
Not all cars have enough cup holders for all of their passengers. It’s important to stay hydrated in the summer heat, but you might not want to keep taking long stops to allow people to finish their drinks before they get back in the car. Using a muffin tray propped up inside a suitcase or a laundry basket can be a brilliant way to get around this. Alternatively, if you only find yourself a couple of cup holders short, using a couple of trainers on the floor of the car could also work very well.
Sun shades
If you’re sharing the driving then you might want to get a bit of sleep whilst someone else is at the wheel. This can be harder if the sun is shining in through your window. You can make really effective DIY sun shades for next to nothing just by using cardboard and a pair of scissors. Take a large piece of cardboard, hold it up to the open car window and get someone to trace around the edge from inside the car. Simply cut out the right shape! If you make it slightly longer at the top, you can trap the upper edge in the window itself to keep it in place whilst you sleep.
