9 Simple Car Hacks That Cost Almost Nothing

AuroraGlyph Updated: 2025-07-26

4. Use your noodle

Modern cars' ergonomic design has advanced significantly in offering safe and comfortable travel from point A to point B. Still, the small space between the car seats and the center console keeps drivers and passengers both annoyed. Often at the most inconvenient times, this apparently little area has become well-known for eating small objects including phones, keys, cash, and other basics. If the effort to rescue these objects diverts the driver's attention while the car is in motion, it may also be rather dangerous.
The difficulty of getting objects from this automobile black hole has inspired the creation of several original ideas. One such fix that has become well-known for its simplicity and efficiency is using a common pool toy—the foam noodle. Family Handyman's creative approach—which emphasizes cost-effective and practical ways to keep objects from tumbling between your seats and the center console—offers a means of prevention.
The procedure is simple: measure the distance between your seat and the console, then cut a section of a foam pool noodle to fit tightly into this area. The foam's flexible character lets it fit the curves of the gap, therefore forming a strong barrier that stops little items from passing through. This basic but clever fix not only helps you avoid the aggravation of missing objects but also removes the possible distraction of trying to find them while behind the wheel.
The simplicity of this answer resides in its availability and cost. Particularly in the summer, pool noodles are somewhat common and usually obtained at neighborhood dollar stores for a modest cost. Though you might not have a spare pool noodle on hand, the expense of buying one especially for this use is small in relation to the possible worth of the objects it could prevent from being lost.
A wire clothes hanger is a good recovery item for people who want a more conventional method or find themselves in instant need of a solution. Carefully untwisting and bending the hanger will produce a long, thin hook able of fish out missing objects from confined areas. Although maintaining a modified clothesline in your car could be a lifesaver when you need to quickly recover something, it is not as preventative as the pool noodle technique.
These clever ideas reflect a larger trend in car maintenance and modification: the do-it-yourself attitude. Many car owners are looking to imaginative, handcrafted ways to solve typical issues as vehicles becoming more sophisticated and specialized gear more costly. Along with saving money, this lets one customize to suit own tastes and needs.
Furthermore, these little tips might greatly affect the general driving experience. Knowing your basic goods is safe helps you to have piece of mind that will help you to avoid attention and worry while driving. This therefore supports more fun travel and safer driving habits.
Although many automobiles benefit from these solutions, the particular measurements and design of your car may call for some modification in the method. Make sure any additions or changes to your car don't compromise the correct functioning of any safety elements, seatbelts, or seats.
Finally, the simple pool noodle and the adaptable clothes hanger show only two ways that ordinary objects may be used to address typical automotive problems. These fixes capture the essence of sensible problem-solving that has long been a feature of automotive culture. Drivers can improve the operation of their car and their individual driving experience without breaking the budget by being creative and using easily obtained components. These easy tips will save you time, annoyance, and maybe even valuable items from being lost to the automobile abyss whether you choose the prophylactic strategy of the pool noodle or keep a modified hanger on available for crises.