Picture this in one Honda minivan: four baseball caps, two soccer balls, a hairbrush, a three-hole punch, vitamins, a headset, a PDA, a laptop, an atlas of the United States, a box of granola bars, three folding chairs, two backpacks filled with sports gear, eight water bottles, two magazines, enough paper to fill a small filing cabinet, about 50 CDs, dozens of books and writing implements and - depending on the day - two sons, one husband and two 80-pound Labrador retrievers.

There's a reason the inside of this car looks like a neglected basement. The woman at the wheel, Claudia Lakey, not only runs errands and shuttles her sons to school and soccer, but also uses her car as an office, doing paperwork and studying for a master's in teaching. To avoid rushing home for a missing soccer cleat or grad-school book, Lakey keeps everything she may need in the car. "I'd love a family-friendly system so I can get more done while I'm in the car."

The revelation

Lakey knew it was time to clean up her car's act when it took four months to deal with a bag of rice that had spilled on the backseat floor. "Vacuuming it up was not the problem, but getting everything else cleaned up so I could get to it was overwhelming," she says. "I knew then that I desperately needed to change the way my car 'works.'"

Front passenger seat:

The mobile office

Problem: "I try to keep my files in the front seat, but they end up all over the place, and I forget what I need to do. Also, I have a PDA, laptop and cell phone that I use in the parking lot during soccer practice or while waiting in the car-pool lane. But right now I can charge only my phone."

Real Simple solutions: A compartmentalized container on the front passenger seat holds office supplies, files and electronics. Lakey uses one file as her in-box. A mat on the dashboard holds her sunglasses, and a collapsible trash bag keeps things tidy. And she can charge her laptop, PDA and phone at the same time with an adapter kit that has multiple plugs.

Backseat:

The entertainment center

Problem: "The boys need something to keep them occupied in the backseat while I'm driving. Besides toys, they always have a calculator for math drills and an atlas, but everything ends up under the seat. And without a place to keep snacks, I never know when I need to replenish the store."

Real Simple solutions: A hanging organizer behind the driver's seat holds the boys' CDs, calculator, atlas and school supplies. A removable tray behind the front passenger seat serves as a table for homework or card games. Moving the trash to the front creates room for school supplies and a removable snack container.

Trunk area: Locker room

Problem: "We have soccer balls, cleats, Tae Kwon Do uniforms - a little bit of everything - in our trunk area. Without clear spots for it all, it's hard to know if we're missing something we need."

Real Simple solutions: Items once scattered on the floor are contained in compartmentalized systems that make use of vertical space. Collapsible bins hold sports equipment, and each bin has handles so it can go to the garage during the off-season. A clothes hook holds team jerseys for quick changes.

The gear

Case Logic front-seat mobile office, $35. The Mobile Office provides room for all your road-warrior supplies, including file folders, notebooks, pens, and drinks. It also secures a 15-inch laptop.

To buy: www.caselogic.com.

Igo juice70 notebook adapter plus dual power accessory, $130. When combined, these handy devices power both a laptop and a PDA from one outlet. There are cords for wall, car and airplane outlets.

To buy: www.igo.com.

Mountainsmith modular hauler 3 system deluxe, $149. The main compartment holds three removable padded cubes, each with a zippered lid.

To buy: www.mountainsmith.com for stores.

With the help of products to help her keep things organized, Claudia Lakey uses the front seat of her minivan as a mobile office.