You finally cleaned out those soda cans under the front seat. Now
it's time to tackle the hidden mess of your glove compartment.
What Goes
Car registration (keep it in your wallet in case your
car is stolen), ketchup packets, fast-food napkins, ignored
parking tickets, old cell-phone chargers, directions to last
year's reunion, maps of areas you rarely visit.
What Stays
Your auto-insurance card, your insurance company's
emergency phone number, and a copy of your health-insurance card;
a copy of your AAA card or 24-hour roadside-assistance phone
number; maps of areas you frequently drive; the car's owner's
manual.
Travel Wipes Keep a travel-size packet of wipes (available at drugstores) to
deal with sticky hands and spilled soda.
Extras Kit The new Swiss Army glove-compartment kit (10 by 5 inches, $50,
www.swissarmyonline.com) has a road atlas, a pocketknife, a
flashlight, a tire-pressure gauge, a notepad, and a pen.
MapsKeep only regional maps. Before a trip to a new destination, print
directions from
www.mapquest.com or
www.aaa.com. Toss or file
them when you get home.
Card Case Keep auto-insurance and other loose cards in a resealable
envelope, like the new Medium Pouch from Muji (8 1/2 by 6 inches,
$2.75, 800-447-6662).
