Build a better glove box for trip

Commuter chaos got you down? Feeling frustrated with computer cables, cold weather gear and general car clutter? Whether you are on the road for school sports, business or long-term recreation, rethinking front-of-vehicle storage solutions can mean the difference between frustration and functionality. One of the most overlooked options for increasing on-the-fly efficiency is an area of the automobile typically relegated to mangled receipts and owner manuals. Following are my top budget-friendly tips for building a better glove box.

• Alternatives

While manuals may have their place, consider whether or not the one for yours is in the front dash compartment typically used as the default location. Personally, I rarely need mine. On the rare occasion I need to reference the material, chances are I’m using my smartphone to do so. While there may come a time when I need to solve a car situation without cell service, odds are it won’t make a difference if my manual is in the glove box or stored in the back pocket of the driver’s seat.

If you choose to keep registration and insurance paperwork in this compartment instead of attached to the sun visor, extra room can be created through the selection of space-efficient storage. Zippered document pouches with thick padding can take up as much room as a small notebook. A notebook you may very well need to access quickly if you find yourself dealing with a fender bender. Instead, consider thinner file inserts designed for pocket planners, or perhaps a quart-sized freezer bag for storing your essential auto papers. Arguably, vehicle maintenance records might also be deserving of an alternate location, making room for more useful items during your daily commute.

• Strategy

Once you’ve committed to building a better glove box, spend a bit of time thinking about how you and your family might get the most out of the transition. People spend a great deal of time in their vehicles, so putting as much effort into planning how you will organize it as you do planning your kitchen and pantry functionality certainly isn’t out of line. Anything you or a family member find yourself struggling to grab quickly on a regular basis is fair game for your glove box efforts.

Charging cables and a small kit of emergency essentials are on the short list for my husband and me. After-school snacks and sticky pads for teacher notes might be top picks for your household. Items you rarely need, but still prefer to have in your vehicle can be relocated to other areas within the automobile.

When it comes to organizing this space, transparency is key. Being able to see what’s inside speeds up the location process tremendously. I purchase small, clear, plastic retail bags online, and choose the multisize option for the large quantity package. They’re used for storing everything from smaller documents and broken necklaces awaiting repair, to tiny amounts of over-the-counter medication in my travel kit. See-through pencil cases from dollar stores have also served me well on numerous occasions.

• Suggestions

For those interested in stocking for more significant emergencies, online videos abound for supply stashes stored in repurposed Altoid tins. Things like wire saws, small fire-starting kits, electrical tape and lengths of parachute cord all regularly make the cut for these kits. If you are opting to carry these sorts of survival items in the front storage compartment, you may also want to include a pair of the box’s actual namesake. Gloves.

Need to keep things even thriftier? The dental hygiene kits in the travel section of the personal care department come in sturdy clear pouches with an easy top closure. I save and set them aside for supplemental emergency kits. Stocked with things like small adhesive bandages, cotton swabs and alcohol wipes, they can provide basic wound support without needing to dig in the back for the more extensive first-aid box. You can also create other types of kits you might find helpful to have stashed in your glove compartment.

Your vehicle’s glove box is prime organizational real estate, and treating it like the road trip equivalent of a desk organizer might mean travel meltdowns are now in your rearview mirror.