Have you been dreading back to school prep? I have, and for all the wrong reasons. On one hand, I'm ready to have our family's normal routines and schedules back on track. On the other hand, there's a ton of work involved (on my part) when it comes to getting everything ready for the kids to head back to school. They need so many new items- clothes, shoes, supplies, backpacks, lunch boxes, and there's also a ton of work to be done at home to make sure we have all of our ducks in a row so that the first week of school goes smoothly.

One of the areas I forgot to concentrate on last year as the school year was starting, was our cars! Both of our family cars were a hot mess during the first week of school last year, and it left me rather embarrassed, as I went through the drop-off and pick up line, praying that the teachers and school staff wouldn't notice how badly our cars needed a little TLC.

If you're in and out of your car a lot, like most families are, your car probbaly becomes a bit messy and disorganized fairly quickly. It happens. I'm taking the week before school starts to prep our house, and our cars, so that we can start the school year off on the right foot.

Prepping your car for the start of a new school year is pretty easy. Just follow these simple tips & you'll be good to go!

Clean the exterior

It's been a whirwind summer, right? You might have taken a couple of trips and gone through all sorts of weather, dealt with road construction, and the like. It's time to clean your car from top to bottom. You can save some money by doing it yourself. It's easy to give your car a good bath and a coat of wax to keep it protected, and looking lovely. You can also change your own oil, and replace fuilds if you have the know-how.

Take care of maintenance issues

It's a good idea to go ahead and do all the things your car needs before school starts. You will have less time to do them once you have to drop off and pick up on a daily basis again. Have your car aligned if needed, and rotate the tires. Replace windshield wipers, and check fluid levels. Make sure all of your interior and exterior lights are in proper working order, and you might want to have your A/C filter cleaned or replaced, too.

Clean the interior and keep it organized

Spruce up the inside of the car. Give it a vacuum and wipe down the dash. Clean out cup holders that may have become sticky. Organize all items that might be loose in the back seat, giving your kids a clear space for their school gear in the mornings and afternoons. Keep the car smelling fresh and clean by using an air freshener or sachet. Ask your kids to keep school items in their backpacks until you get back home at the end of the school day. This will cut down on car clutter, and also help keep school items from getting lost in the car.

It won't be long before school starts, so go ahead and make a plan to get your car in tip-top shape. If you're looking to purchase a new or used car, now would be a great time to get started!

When do your kids head back to school?

Brought to you by Thompson Hyundai.