Take a piece of trash out of your car as you leave. I've always preferred a tidy car. Even if it's a rental. I accumulate my share of used tissues, water bottles, and coffee cups. I have even been seen with the occasional bag of fast food. But I carry my litter with me when I leave the car. Now I'm not saying I always take everything.
Nope.
Sometimes I accumulate more than I can comfortably carry, so I just take what I can. I get the rest the next time. This keeps the debris manageable. If you've ever rolled a vehicle, you know the perils of a stray cream soda bottle.
But for Hank's sake, please don't make your trash our trash. And by that I mean, don't leave soda cups or Gatorade containers full of pee behind when you pull out of your parking space at Target. That's not nice, people. Not that the kind of person who would read this blog is the kind of person who would do that.
Also, if you have a disposable cup that still has some liquid in it, dump the liquid in a nearby flower bed before you ditch it in a public can. It's not mandatory but it's a nice gesture toward the person who has to empty the trash. Sure that person signed up for the job, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't use our manners.
Oh, an aside to those who have children in diapers: ziplocs. I know that diapers occasionally have to be changed in a public bathroom, and I sure as heck don't expect you to carry a poopy home, but if you could just see your way to tucking that bad boy into a ziploc and sealing it tight, well, I for one would appreciate it.
yeah, that's a good word for me. i have two sleeping bags and an air mattress in my back seat (not inflated) as well as a front seat full of mail. i swear, i'm usually a tidy person, but i've been traveling a lot. As far as the diapers, i think it depends on whether it's an outdoor or indoor trash. The gesture is nice though, i agree.
Posted by: White Rabbit | May 28, 2007 at 06:11 PM
My husband used the restroom at Nordstrom the other day. He came out and said there was a huge brown pile right in the middle of the floor. Ew. Of course he let someone know. See, this is the kind of thing that just bothers me. I'm not even so much bothered about the gross-out factor for my husband as I am by the poor schmuck who has to clean that up. I'm a clean-up-your-own-messes kind of person. (Is that in my personality type, Polly?) The funny thing is, I'm sort of messy personally. But I also don't go Number Two on the floor.
Posted by: The Dol | May 28, 2007 at 06:41 PM
I wish there were a public forum for shaming those who inflict the byproducts of their bodily functions on the unsuspecting public. I'm thinking, you know, bring back the stocks and hand out rotting vegetables.
Posted by: Polly Poppins | May 28, 2007 at 06:49 PM
You've really seen people leave behind cups of pee in the parking lot? Ewwwwww! People are disgusting! Agree about the dipies.
Hey, thanks for the comment on my blog. I really appreciate it. Obviously an emotional subject for me.
Posted by: Glenna | May 29, 2007 at 12:26 AM
Glenna, I've seen cups of pee, Gatorade bottles of pee, and 40 oz beer bottles of pee. That's all in parking lots. But from what I hear our freeways are just littered with "trucker bombs" because, hey, time is money. Makes you want to shake somebody, doesn't it?
Posted by: Polly Poppins | May 29, 2007 at 06:32 AM
About taking trash out of my car: i'm just very bad at it! one time my best friend asked me if i'm secretly living out of my car because of all the junk in it.
As for public nastyness... i happened upon a nice example of that myself yesterday... i just posted it if you're curious (and/or bored).
Posted by: Liza | May 29, 2007 at 09:20 AM
You can even buy packages of scented bags at Babies R Us to secure dirty diapers in. Absolutely genius invention. As for keeping my car clear of junk, I make a concious effort for a mother of two working full time. Though often lugging my lunch bag, purse, gym bag, and whatever else I can handle out of the car at night only makes a dent.
Posted by: Diosa | May 29, 2007 at 10:05 AM
I have recently run across a great way to keep my car tidy. Every time I pump gas now I clean out the trash in my car. Before I would just stand there staring off into space. Then it occurred to me that sitting right next to the pump is a trashcan begging me to use it. So about every two weeks or so all the crap that accumulates now gets left behind at the gas station.
Posted by: Jesska | June 02, 2007 at 12:43 PM
Jesska,
I do that too! But my car is still a disaster. My three-year-old leaves half her possessions in the back seat and I'm usually carrying an armload of groceries or some other crap, so they just pile up. I think she has in my car currently: three pairs of shoes (including pink cowgirl boots), an Easter hat, some dirty socks and possibly a Barbie doll. Ack. I hate being messy but it just is part of the way I am, I guess.
Posted by: The Dol | June 02, 2007 at 08:49 PM