FOUR in 10 parents have been too ashamed to give someone a lift – because their kids have left their car in a mess.
Crisp crumbs (65 per cent), spilt drinks (60 per cent), and bits of biscuit (55 per cent) are the most common forms of mess in parents’ cars.
The shame of mess has resulted in 41 per cent not giving people lifts, while nine per cent have avoided parking their vehicle at work.
And nine per cent have been so embarrassed by the interior of their car they’ve parked it away from public view.
Commissioned by Škoda, the study of 2,000 motorists with children aged up to 16 found 54 per cent clean the interior of their car up to once a month.
But 14 per cent have no choice but to tidy it up once a week or more due to mess made by their little ones.
TV presenter and professional organiser Dilly Carter, who has teamed up with the car maker to share her car cleaning tips, said: “When kids are involved our cars often end up messy and cluttered.
“From the kids eating food on the go, drink spillages, to all the items they want to bring with them like books, and tablets.
“With a few simple tips and useful items, you can keep the car cleaner, and free of the things that end up making us feel embarrassed by the state of our car.”
The study found 39 per cent of respondent’s vehicles are currently dirty or untidy – and 69 per cent of them said ‘a lot’ or ‘all’ of the mess is due to their children.
For 15 per cent of everyone polled, it’s got so bad they’ve banned their kids from bringing food and drink into their cars.
Others (27 per cent) have stopped short of such measures but have thought about making their car completely off limits to their kids.
Almost a quarter (23 per cent) said the mess caused by their little ones has made them “want to cry.”
While 15 per cent have considered never cleaning their car ever again and nine per cent have even thought about scrapping their vehicle altogether.
But their children aren’t always the guilty party – 11 per cent admitted they’ve blamed the state of their car on their kids even though they were the cause of the mess.
Others don’t share such feelings of shame – 22 per cent believe a messy or untidy car is proof their family has had a good time.
And 25 per cent said, even though their kids are prone to dirtying their car, they “wouldn’t have it any other way.”
A fifth (21 per cent) have simply given up on keeping their vehicle clean, and 12 per cent claim they “don’t care” if their car is a mess.
Here are some tips to help you clean your home like a pro:
While 23 per cent revealed they tend to get the outside of their car cleaned and neglect the interior because fewer people see it.
Although they might want to reconsider this approach – the study carried out through OnePoll found 12 per cent of cars have become so messy their owners have lost belongings in them.
A spokesperson for Škoda added: “Keeping your car nice and clean can feel like a never-ending battle – especially if you’re hands are tied with young children.
“Thankfully modern cars are resilient – especially vehicles designed to cope with the needs of families.”
1. BIN YOUR RUBBISH
If you’re going on a long trip, take a bag with you to put all the rubbish in, or use car bins.
2. ORGANISE AND DECLUTTER
We often end up with shoes, wellies, books, coats and everything in our car from children – these can be stored in boxes, nets and other storage.
3. WIPE AWAY SPILLS
No matter the stain – chocolate or sticky drinks – try and get to it as soon as you can, and nothing cleans these better than baby wipes.
4. SECURE YOUR GADGETS
Use tablet holders in the back seat – not only will this help reduce the number of sticky hands on them but also avoids them being broken and keeps their mind off more messy activities.
5. CARRY CLEANING CLOTHS
Children aren’t the only problem, clean marks and mess on touchscreens and surfaces with a micro fibre cloth and clever cleaners.
