How many times has it happened? You put something on the dash of your car for “just a second” before you start the car and take off. Then you completely forget the item until it goes flying across the car, out of reach and often broken, when you make your first turn. Sure, you could stop leaving things up there on the dash, but is that realistic? It’s a large flat surface in a space with inadequate flat surfaces and storage. Things are going to get placed there.
There are several items you can buy for this purpose, but they are typically either very expensive or they just don’t work. That is where this DIY non-skid container comes in. You only really need two inexpensive materials to make it and it takes very little time to craft. If you can apply glue, you can make this object easily.
Materials
All you really need for this project is a small, lightweight dish of some kind and a non-slip agent. The dish can be plastic, cardboard or metal, it doesn’t matter. A divided container is good, but not absolutely necessary. There are two nonskid agents that are easily obtained and applied, you can choose which you want to use. White caulk, the kind that is used for bathtubs, is great, though it will take some time to dry. Another choice is rubber cement, which is quicker, but might not be as effective.
Caulk Instructions
Turn the container upside down. Apply the caulk to the surface. You can do this in parallel lines, in a spiral or by making a dot grid. These should be about equally effective, though the dots tend to cover the most surface area. You can also brush on a full layer, but this will require extra cleanup. For extra protection, apply some of the caulk to the inside surfaces of the dish as well. Allow the caulk to dry completely and place in vehicle.
Rubber Cement Instructions
Turn the container upside down. Brush a thick coat of the cement onto the bottom, covering the whole surface. Allow to dry and place dish in vehicle.
Tips
This container is not recommended for holding change, as the nonskid element probably will not keep the change from flying around. If your container is too light, you can glue pebbles into the corners to help weigh it down, without making it too heavy.