How to Organize Your Car Trunk Once and For All (2024)

Organizing

Decluttering

Farima Ferguson

Divide and Conquer

Before you can organize your trunk, you need to declutter it. Take everything out of your trunk and divide it into categories. These categories can include trunk essentials, items that don't belong in your trunk but in your home or garage, and items you want to throw away or donate. Once you've separated these items, you should only be left with the items you want or need in your trunk. Some items that are good to have in your trunk include:

an emergency kit
water and nonperishable food
portable air compressor
jumper cables
a basic toolkit
trash bag and small trash can

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Use Organizers

Organizers are a great way to keep like items together and at hand. You can use different types of organizers to fit your needs, from collapsible, washable fabric organizers, to storage bins with lids. We suggest containers with easily-accessible pockets so you can keep seasonal items like sunscreen and bug spray at hand while you're on the go.

Maximize Vertical Space

Whether you have a big trunk or small, utilizing the vertical space in your trunk will leave room for more essentials and will make it easier to organize. You can use velcro strips or simple hooks to add small, loose items to your trunk, like an umbrella or flashlight. This will also prevent loose items from moving around while you're driving.

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Have an Emergency Kit

It's never a bad idea to be prepared. Keep an emergency kit in the truck of your car in case of unforeseen circ*mstances.nItems in your emergency kit can include:

first aid supplies
fire extinguisher
blanket
road flares
portable phone charger
flashlight
a multitool

You can buy an emergency kit online, or you can put your own together. If you assemble your own kit, make sure to put it in a waterproof container with a lid.

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Use Clear Bins

You have many trunk organizers to choose from, but clear bins are great if you want to keep items secure. Clear bins make it easier to locate items without having to open lids and sift through items. Plus, they look uniform and neat when stacked or lined up in your trunk.

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Rotate Seasonal Items

Just as you do with your closet, rotate out seasonal items in your trunk. During summer months, keep picnic blankets, towels, flip flops, and sunglasses in the trunk. During winter, keep warm blankets, an extra set of clothes, and nonperishable snacks in case of emergencies.

Keep It Light

Not only does keeping minimal items in your trunk help it look clutter free, but it's also fuel efficient. An overpacked trunk means a heavier car, which can affect fuel efficiency and vehicle performance. Only keep essentials in your trunk.

Schedule a Deep Clean

Now that you've organized your trunk, it's time to keep it that way. To help keep things organized, set aside time to deep clean your trunk. This means removing all items and vacuuming and removing any stains before you put items back. This is also a great time to take inventory of items in your car and remove or add items, and make sure emergency kit items are working properly.

FAQ

How do I keep my car trunk organized?

Only keep the essentials in your trunk, like seasonal items, an emergency kit and any everyday items you need. Set a schedule to deep clean and reassess the items in your car, whether that be once a month or every week.
What should I keep in my trunk?

Your trunk is a place you can store items for when you're on the go, but it's also important to have items you need in case of an emergency. Add an emergency kit, seasonal essentials like towels or blankets, nonperishable food, and an air compressor and jumper cables.