May is a great month for those working the 9 to 5, with two bank holidays to look forward to in the space of a few weeks. A prized three-day weekend is a real treat at the best of times, but when there are two in quick succession, it truly is cause for celebration.
Unfortunately, sunny May bank holidays do come with a downside, and that’s traffic. Give the whole country an extra day off at the same time, and a mass motorway migration begins as people look to make the most of the early summer weather — putting additional strain on the already stretched British road network.
If you’re one of the thousands planning on driving during the next bank holiday, make your journey that bit more comfortable and hassle-free with these simple DIY car hacks.
Quick Links
- Get Creative with Extra Storage
- Find Your Car Quickly in Car Parks
- No Phone Holder? Try a Rubber Band
- Keep Your Boot in Order with Shoe Organisers
- Keep the Kids Entertained with a DIY Tablet Holder
- Use a Mini Binder to Keep Your Documents in Check
- Use a Utensil Caddy to Keep Your Fluids Together
- Protect Your Pets, and Your Seats, with a DIY Seat Cover
1. Get Creative with Extra Storage
No bank holiday road trip would be complete without a trusty sat-nav, flask of tea and the obligatory bag of Win Gums — but where do you store them if your car’s already full of luggage? If you’re a little tight on space, add improvised storage to your car using items you’ve sourced from your house. By crafting your very own self-adhesive phone or cup holder, you’ll enjoy added convenience — ensuring your valuable bits and bobs are only an arm’s reach away.
2. Find Your Car Quickly in Car Parks
Car parks are getting bigger, and when you’re in an unfamiliar place, it can be almost impossible to find your car among the others that look just like it; frustrating when you’re on a tight schedule or are carrying armfuls of luggage. Let’s be honest we’ve all wandered into a car park and realised we have no idea how to find our car.
To prevent playing a game of cat and mouse with your car, take a picture of it before you leave, along with any notable landmarks nearby. This should help you find your car quickly when you return to it after a day of sightseeing.
Forgot to take a picture? Stick your remote key fob high in the air to increase the likelihood of it finding your car in a big car park.
3. No Phone Holder? Try a Rubber Band
While some new cars come with fancy multimedia screens that let you link up your phone, most people need to find other ways of keeping their phone or sat nav in plain sight when driving. If you don’t have a holder to hand, but need to follow the navigation screen on your smartphone, use a rubber band to secure your phone to the car’s air vents. This simple hack lets you use your phone hands-free, meaning complete safety and convenience.
4. Keep Your Boot in Order with Shoe Organisers
Make sure your journey is 100% stress-free by adding organisational tools to your boot, such as a shoes organiser. A cluttered, haphazard boot will leave you with a sense of dread upon reaching your destination — not so with an organiser. Using hanging organisers attached to the back of the rear seats, it’s possible to keep all of your essential bits and bobs within easy reach, so you won’t be left scrambling inside your luggage by the side of the road.
5. Keep the Kids Entertained with a DIY Tablet Holder
If you’ve a long drive ahead of you, the last thing you need is nagging from the back seat as the kids ask that most reviled of questions, are we there yet? To guarantee peace and quiet on long bank holiday drives, why not make a DIY tablet holder which affixes to your headrest, giving the kids the option to watch their favourite film while the miles whiz by. Here’s how to make your very own DIY in-car tablet holder.
6. Use a Mini Binder to Keep Your Documents in Check
Not only is a mini binder (or organiser) great for keeping your vehicle’s documentation safe (things like the V5, MOT certificates, service history, breakdown cover), it’s also the perfect place to store important travel documents, such as hotel booking confirmations and passports if you’re travelling overseas. Get yourself a glove box binder, and you’re guaranteed hassle-free motoring in the short and long term.
7. Use a Utensil Caddy to Keep Your Fluids Together
If you’re going on a long drive on the open road, you should always carry essential fluids in your boot, including engine oil, coolant/antifreeze, screen wash and, of course, Tyreweld Emergency Puncture Repair. To ensure such products aren’t left to bounce around in your boot, increasing the likelihood of a spillage, use a plastic utensil holder to keep them all together, upright and in one place.
8. Protect Your Pets, and Your Seats, with a DIY Seat Cover
Travelling with your furry friends this coming bank holiday? Don’t just stick them in the back, where they’re free to cause damage to themselves and your car. Instead, make a DIY cushioned seat cover that protects both your dog and your car seats. Because it covers the entire boot, or the back seats depending on where you put your pooch, you won’t have to worry about pet hair and scratches on your upholstery — while they’ll be free to travel in complete style and comfort.
At Holts, our handy DIY car care products can be used quickly and easily by the roadside — helping you enjoy stress-free driving no matter how long your journey. To find out more, visit the Holts website.
Image credits: TygerByte, Wicker Paradise