Clutter is chaos. And in driving, chaos equals distraction. We’re all about driving distraction-free and one of the best ways to achieve this is to maintain an organized set of wheels. We’ll offer details about the advantages of cleaning and how to get that neat car feeling.
The motivation behind keeping your car clean
Each of us has our own ways of managing stress–a exercise routine, meditating, listening to music or having a cleaning session. Yes, cleaning. As a leading mood booster, cleaning and organizing are beneficial to your mental health (there’s even some research to back this up).
If your home or office is overcrowded the chaos that is present in your car, home and office space impedes your ability to concentrate. Confusion can lead to distraction and distraction reduces your ability to process information.
For instance, consider driving. If you’re surrounded by clutter in your car, do you find yourself more distracted and unable to focus on the road? The pile of junk mail lying on the floor of your car is telling you something.
The benefits of cleaning our surroundings (car, home, office space garage, home office space) are more than just a clutter-free, more organized area. It’s been demonstrated that cleaning can help alleviate stress in many ways.
If done properly, the act of cleaning your car (exercise) can help bump into the creation of endorphins, the feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain. The endorphins produced by the exercise can cause less anxiety and a happier day.
The first step to cleanliness is mindfulness.
It’s rare to associate the routine chore of cleaning our living spaces with mindfulness. But, contrary to what teens might think, there’s the strong link in mental wellness and cleaning. It is possible to turn your daily chores into a time of reflection.
Your car is filthy and cluttered, full with food debris and junk mail can be your way towards a more mindful drive. When we do small chores in our living spaces that require little, but gentle concentration, we can free our minds away from concerns and gain a sense control.
Being and in the present moment is a great way to relax while you tidy. Results from a study conducted by Ipsos found that the majority of participants believed that clean-up provided peace of mind and the feeling of being in control of their environment. The participants also stated the feeling of becoming more determined at work, inspired, and proud and less nervous or hostile.
If we’re focused on car cleaning we relax the body as well as calm the mind. This can increase a sense that we have achieved. Craig Sawchuk, psychologist at Mayo Clinic, says, “In the context of all the uncertainty, here’s a thing that is beneficial and tangible that can boost our resilience and help buffer against all the stressors in our lives.”
As you dedicate yourself to keeping your home clean, you allow yourself to have a healthy relationship with the people around you and with yourself.
The advantages of keeping your vehicle in good condition
Now that we’ve explored the psychological benefits of having the clean car and the mental benefits of a clean car, it’s time to look into more practical benefits of cleaning and washing your car–regularly.
The germ buster
It’s possible to stay clear of touching the porta-potty or holding the rail in the subway but what do you think about the cleanliness of your car? Sure there are the juice bottle stains that were left from last year in the backseat and only a few millimeters of dirt on your dashboard.
It’s not hurting anyone Does it?
Bacteria are a joy to ride through your vehicle shotgun. As an invisible passenger–millions of germs, microbes and bacteria thrive in enclosed spaces, such as the one between your seats, where packets of ketchup disappear.
A study on the effects of bacteria discovered that there are five places inside of a car which are believed to be major sources of germs and bacteria: the steering wheel, the gear shifter, door handles window switches, and even the center console.
There are more than 100 colony-forming germs with culturable culture in 6.5 square centimeters inside your car.
Clean, disinfected vehicles will help keep you and its passengers secure from threats that may be unknown. Before you head off to clean the interior of your vehicle, Charles Gerba, professor at the University of Arizona, recommends the following cleaning method for cars: disinfect it [your careach week. Begin with food-related stain and move downwards from the dashboard down to the change holder and the steering wheel, where our hands are in close contact.
More bang for your dollar
It may seem to be obvious, but having an organized and clean vehicle can protect the value of your vehicle. There are various other factors that impact the value of your car maintaining its condition (inside the vehicle and outside) is a big component.
Here’s a tip: When you schedule routine maintenance for your car, for instance an oil change, also schedule a local auto detailing service for your car, or set a date to DIY clean it yourself. Both will be worth it to you and your vehicle in the end run, should you decide to sell your vehicle in the future.
Less stress during an emergency
Emergencies on the road can happen, however we’d like to think they will. One benefit from having clean vehicle is knowing precisely where things are at the time you need them the most. For instance, taking a collision on the freeway , and knowing exactly where your phone is located to gain access to your insurance details.
or, knowing precisely where to store the wipes and diapers you’ll need for the diaper blowouts that occur when you least anticipate them to happen, such as in the middle of an excursion. Having an organized car during those moments of chaos can make an overwhelming situation make it less stressful as you know exactly where things are.
Less clutter equals less distraction
You’re probably aware that your car is a significant part of your day, yes? In the course of your life, you want that aspect of your life to be as un-distracting as possible, right? Because let’s face it, the road can be distracting enough as it is.
Although we do our best to keep inside our cars as quiet as possible, we’re human and sometimes our cars are a place to eat, make calls, fix our hair and makeup, work on exams, and listen to music in.
(For for the truthful record, we wouldn’t suggest taking these actions while traveling.)
All of this creates chaos within your car, distracting you. When you make the effort to remove the distractions in your car, you’ll be able to focus on the road ahead and enjoy the journey.
The ultimate guide to car cleaning techniques
Cleaning and organizing our spaces isn’t always at the top of the list. Since cleaning can be a boring experience. Even though it might not be like binge watching your favourite sitcom, it’s a necessary chore to keep your car clear of any distractions. It is possible to find the most efficient methods of simplifying our lives by following these tips for cleaning your car.
Start by making a playlist so that cleaning is less monotonous
Get everything out of your car , yes you should take everything out of your car.
Clean and fresh from the top to the bottom
Make sure you keep the things that bring joy. Also, don’t forget the things that are necessary (like evidence of insurance for your car)
Organize and give each item an appropriate space in your vehicle
Set up a schedule of taking care of your car every day
When everything in your car is designed to serve a purpose and you’re able to eliminate the clutter, like those receipts that have been tucked away in the corners and crevices of your car.
The high-road is a journey from the inside, out
As we consider the changes that we make to our lives every day, we know that the majority of that change happens on the inside. This same idea applies to how we manage the mess, cleanliness and organization of our cars–it is an inside job that can influence what happens on the outside.
Cleaning your car is beneficial to your mental health , and help you to bring mindfulness into your daily routine. Then, by keeping your car clean and well-organized and organized, you’re less likely be distracted when driving.