FOUR out of ten parents are embarrassed to take someone with them because their children have left their car in ruins.
Crumbs from chips (65 percent), spilled drinks (60 percent) and bits of cookie (55 percent) are the most common messes found in parents’ cars.
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The shame of littering has led to 41 percent of employees no longer offering a lift, while nine percent forbid parking their car at work.
Nine percent are so ashamed of the interior of their car that they park it out of sight of the public.
On the instructions of SkodaA survey of 2,000 drivers with children under the age of 16 showed that 54 percent of them clean the interior of their car a maximum of once a month.
But 14 percent have no choice but to clean the house at least once a week because of the mess their little ones make.
TV presenter and professional organiser Dilly Carter, who has teamed up with the car manufacturer to share her car cleaning tips, said: “When children are involved, our cars often become messy and cluttered.
“From the children eating on the go, spilled drinks, to all the stuff they want to take with them, like books and tablets.
“With a few simple tips and handy supplies, you can keep your car cleaner and free of the things that ultimately make us feel ashamed about the condition of our car.”
The survey found that 39 percent of respondents currently consider their cars to be dirty or messy, with 69 percent saying that ‘a lot’ or ‘all’ of their mess is caused by their children.
For 15 percent of respondents, it is so bad that they forbid their children to take food and drinks in the car.
Others (27 percent) have not yet taken such measures, but have considered making their car completely inaccessible to their children.
Nearly a quarter (23 percent) said the mess their little ones make makes them “want to cry.”
15 percent have considered never cleaning their car again and nine percent have even thought about scrapping their vehicle altogether.
But their children aren’t always to blame: 11 percent admitted to blaming the condition of their car on their children, even though they were the cause of the mess.
Others do not suffer from such feelings of shame: 22 percent believe that a messy or unkempt car proves that the family had a good time.
And 25 percent said that even though their children often get their car dirty, they “wouldn’t have it any other way.”
A fifth (21 percent) have simply given up on keeping their car clean, with 12 percent claiming they “don’t care” if their car is a mess.
Cleaning Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips to clean your home like a pro:
While 23 percent said they clean the exterior of their car more often than the interior because fewer people see it.
While they may want to reconsider this approach, research conducted through OnePoll found that 12 percent of cars have become so dirty that their owners have lost belongings in them.
A Škoda spokesperson added: “It can feel like a never-ending battle to keep your car neat and clean, especially when your hands are tied with young children.
“Fortunately, modern cars are resilient – especially vehicles designed to meet the needs of families.”
DILLY CARTER’S BEST TIPS FOR CLEANING YOUR CAR’S INTERIOR
1. THROW YOUR TRASH IN THE GOOI
If you are going on a long journey, take a bag with you to put all the waste in. You can also use the waste bins in the car.
2. ORGANIZE AND CLEAN UP
Often in our car there are shoes, boots, books, coats and other things of children. These things can be stored in boxes, nets and other storage spaces.
3. WIPE AWAY STAINS
Whatever the stain (chocolate or sticky drinks) try to remove it as soon as possible. Nothing cleans these stains better than baby wipes.
4. PROTECT YOUR GADGETS
Use tablet holders in the backseat. This not only keeps your child from getting dirty hands, it also prevents the tablet from breaking and keeps your child from having to think about dirty activities.
5. CARRY CLEANING WIPES
Kids aren’t the only problem: remove stains and grime from touchscreens and surfaces with a microfiber cloth and smart cleaning products.
