Does your car always look like a war zone of pet fur, children's toys, food stains, and empty wrappers?

Don't worry. You're not alone. Americans spend around 17,600 minutes on average behind the wheel per year, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. That's about an hour's worth of driving 25 miles a day and a mind-boggling 84 billion driving hours for the entire country. No wonder people can't keep a tidy car! However, logging many hours behind the wheel is not a valid reason to keep it dirty.

A clean vehicle inside and out makes it look better, even on older models. For used car dealerships, professional auto detailing is mandatory before they sell a car.

Here are a few tips to keep your vehicle clean and organized.

1. What Comes In, Must Come Out

It's normal to bring stuff in the car, like shoes, coats, toys, books, and bags. The problem starts when you leave these items in the car and forget they're there. Like your house, clutter accumulates when left unattended. You have to make a conscious effort to check your vehicle for any errant house items before getting out to help make your car clutter-free.

2. Trash Cans

If you have a habit of leaving old fast-food wrappers and coffee cups in the map holder or center console, having a small trash can may come in handy. Just make sure to empty the trash cans when they're full or if they have food in them to prevent bacteria and bad odors.

3. Backseat Organizer

If you have children, backseat organizers can help keep your car tidy. You can store almost anything in a backseat organizer, such as wipes, water bottles, tissue, books, small toys, and even a tablet. These also prevent your kids from kicking the front seats.

4. Collapsible Trunk Organizer

Collapsible trunk organizers are great for keeping your trunk nice and clean. You can store anything in these, like shoes, tools, and anything you want to prevent from moving around in your boot. Trunk organizers are also great for groceries.

5. Backseat Pet Liner

Pet fur is hard to get rid of, especially if your car has fabric seats. Using a backseat pet liner can help keep your seats looking new and prevent dirt, stains, and the accumulation of fur.

6. Monthly Detailing

If you can spare a few hours on the weekends, get a detailing brush, vacuum, microfiber cloth, and cleaning materials to clean your car. Clean the first and dry it immediately to avoid water stains. Apply wax if you can to help protect from bird droppings and acid rain. Please take out the floor mats and give them a good shake plus vacuum time. Use the detailing brush for the hard to reach areas, like the seat crevices. Vacuum the seats and floor carpeting and wipe all surfaces down with a damp cloth and a little Armor All.

7. Daily Dusting and Wipe Down

Monthly detailing can help your car looking and smelling new, but cleaning it daily prevents dust and grime buildup. Use a duster or a leaf blower if you have one to remove surface dust and wipe it down with a damp microfiber cloth. Don't forget to wipe down the interior surfaces as well, especially the steering wheel.

A clean car is more fun to drive and a better place to be on the road. Imagine getting stuck in a vehicle that looks and smells like a dump? We can't either, so please follow the tips outlined in this article to help keep your car clean.

Drive safely!

Author's Biography: Patrick Peterson

Patrick Peterson is a writer/editor at AutoDetective. Born and raised in the automotive world. He's a passionate writer who crafts exquisite content pieces about everything related to cars and bikes