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Step 1
Take everything out. Many trunk cleaning sessions have failed due to lack of thoroughness. You can organize things without going all the way, but to really get your trunk in top condition, take out all items and arrange them so you can see all of what was inside.
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Step 2
Begin with the spare tire well. Many car trunks have a separate space underneath a thin plywood/carpet divider that is where the spare tire and tools are kept. During your use of the car, some items may have fallen down into that area, and the divider may be offset or otherwise in disarray. Get EVERYTHING out of the spare tire well, then place the tire carefully in its designated spot along with necessary tools and replace the divider properly. Then you can go ahead with arranging the rest of your trunk, knowing that there are no stray items.
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Step 3
Offset tiny things like change, pens and pencils, cards, nuts and bolts, etc. Small items can be moved to the glove compartment or other containers in the car. Small stuff in the trunk is a bad idea: it will inevitably shift around and get lost. You can include a box in the trunk for a collection of small stuff, but get as much of it out as you can.
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Step 4
Keep only what's useful. Things like jumper cables and maps belong in your trunk. Old clothes, gifts, kitchen items or other non-essentials do not. Try to find other storage spaces for your stray accessories and get them out of your trunk space.
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Step 5
Install a rack. If you do need to keep a whole bunch of "contingency" items in your trunk (a toothbrush? a set of pajamas?) then you might want to put a simple wire rack toward the back of your trunk that will hold all of this and keep it from hurtling from one side of your trunk to the other as you race around town. Check out some organizing tools at kaboodle.com. Other types of car trunk systems are pending patents. Find a light system that is easy to install in your vehicle.
