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I was teaching a class the other night on clearing the clutter in our homes and lives. We all spend a lot of time in our cars going to appointments, picking up dinner, taking the kids to their activities and doing a hundred other things. Since our car has become an extension of our home it is another place where we can clear clutter in minutes that will make a dramatic difference in our lives.
Back in the 70's we owned a Volkswagen Bus. We loved that blue beetle and I loved piling the kids in and taking off to do errands or running them to school and activities. It was a casual vehicle and it had been a reliable vehicle until the day it caught fire. One day as I was pulling into the gas station one of the kids yelled, "There is smoke mommy". It took me a second to realize that the smoke was coming from the back end of our "beetle" where the engine was. I yelled for all the kids to get out and at the same time someone came rushing over with a fire extinguisher and put the fire out. I was grateful we were all safe and sound and for the quick actions of the man with the fire extinguisher.
You would think I had learned my lesson and bought an extinguisher for my car but I didn't. Nine years later I was 15 miles from home on my way to work on the freeway when I saw smoke coming out from under my hood. I immediately pulled over and before I could even get out of my car a highway patrolman had stopped right behind me and behind him a man stopped and ran up to my car with a fire extinguisher and put out the fire. Sometimes "lightening" does strike twice to get our attention.
Making our cars inviting to be in, being prepared in case of emergencies and organizing clutter is just the basics of being prepared. Winter is coming-is your car prepared? This is a good time to organize the clutter. Here are ideas and tips on the essentials of getting your car ready for cold weather:
1. Keep supplies in the back of the vehicle that you may need in case of an emergency.
·A fire extinguisher
·Some kind of deicer such as salt or kitty litter in case you get stuck in the snow.
·A small folding shovel
·A window Scraper
·Water
·Snacks such as crackers, fruit snacks, or power bars.
2. Keep a spare pair of gloves in the jockey box. A student in my class laughed at me when I said this and asked where I was from. She said it is called a glove compartment. Another woman spoke up and said they called it "the box". No matter what you call it keeping an extra pair of gloves can save you on a cold day if you forget yours. Small chemical hand warmers can also come in handy.
3. Keep a thermal blanket or quilt in the trunk or in the back. You may never need it but it is wonderful to have if you do. I have always kept one in the trunk and when my daughter had to use it when she was out in 20 degree weather on bleachers watching the 2002 Olympics we found out it was not a warm quilt at all. I recommend making sure it doesn't just look warm, but that it is warm before you need to use it.
4. Before winter has us in its grasp get your vehicle serviced. Included in this is an oil change (every 3,000 miles) engine check, tire check (depending on the weather tire pressure may need to be adjusted), wind shield fluid, and coolant fill up. This will give you peace of mind knowing your car is likely to run better in cold weather.
5. If you have a cell phone keep a phone charger in your car so you will be able to call for help if you need it and not be stuck with a dead battery.
All of the things we need to keep in our cars can become clutter if we don't have a place for them. Then we spend more of our time later to clear the clutter. Have assigned places for everything in your car. In the trunk keep a container for all the items placed there. Keep the glove compartment free of clutter so the items that need to be there will have a place to live.
Organizing clutter is easy when everything has a home and it lives in its home when not being used-just like in your home. Happy driving and be safe!
Marilyn is a professional organizer and invites you to visit her website www.marilynbohn.com, She is a sought after public speaker and author who is passionate about teaching ways to organize your life and how to reduce clutter. She works with women in their homes and offices. On her web site she teaches you to get rid of clutter by using her Lights On Organizing System. She provides practical information on how to declutter your home, office and life. In her blogs, articles, and videos she gives timely tips on how to clear clutter and how to declutter everything in your home and office. She is the author of a book called Go Organize! Conquer clutter in three simple steps which will be in major bookstores in December 2009.
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