How are you keeping your car more clean and sanitary?
I know people have really started to pay more attention since the virus outbreak but I have always been a bit of a germophobe since going through nursing school. I am not really doing much differently. I keep both alcohol and peroxide in spray bottles in my car along with sanitizing car wipes and rags. After every ride, I wipe down the seats, handles, and so on. I also keep gloves and masks on hand, always have. If someone is sick, I just pop on some gloves and a mask.
How are you keeping your car more clean and sanitary?
Most of us are guilty of snacking or full-on dining in the driver’s seat from time to time. But some research indicates that food spilled on a dashboard has 10 times the bacteria than the seat belt or radio dial, so make sure you promptly clean up any soda spills, sandwich crumbs, or other food-related deposits.
Shampoo and vacuum the upholstery. It’s one of those tasks we often ignore, but vacuuming the upholstery in your vehicle can make a big difference in removing dust mites, food crumbs, and all sorts of icky substances that can get you sick.
Alcohol works best in your automobile or SUV’s cabin. It is the cleaner most used by manufacturers of most automotive interiors today. All it takes is a quick wipe to clean most germs and fingerprints. Soap and water will work, too.
While you may think some of these hotspots are obvious, we don’t often give these areas a proper deep clean.
To test if your car has been properly cleaned, take a white wet wipe and rub it along some of these surfaces to see what you pick up. If after wiping an area your wet wipe is brown, it shows that the area is dirty and probably has a higher concentration of germs. With the high risk at the moment, you should ask that your dealer sanitises the vehicle in front of you.
Right now, as we face an unprecedented phenomenon with the outbreak of coronavirus, it is as important as ever to maintain a clean living area – and this extends to areas we occupy for travel, like our cars. It is up to all of us to do everything we can to ensure the safety of ourselves, our family, our friends, and our community by doing our part.
The owner's manual for my Crown Vic disallows almost every cleaning solution other than a damp rag and your car's manual probably says the same. Bearing that in mind, and leaving the final decision to you, let's get real and see what you have under the sink that claims to kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses.
- Get Rid of Trash
- You can’t keep your car clean if it’s not clean to begin with. Time for an initial spring car cleaning. Take your car to a car wash for a complete cleaning inside and out. Or save money by doing the interior cleaning yourself. Start by getting rid of all the trash that probably has accumulated on the floors, under the seats, in the console and glove box, and on the back ledge.
- Vacuum Everywhere
- Shake out the floor mats and then vacuum everywhere. Don’t forget under and between the seats, down in all the seat crevices, and the backs of sun visors.
- Clean Surfaces, Windows, and Mirrors
- Wipe down all hard surfaces with wet wipes or with an all-purpose spray cleaner and paper towels. Clean the windows and mirror the same way. Use wet cotton swabs for hard-to-reach places, such as cup holders and air vents.
- Hang a Car Deodorizer
- Whew! That was hard work, but everything looks almost new, so reward yourself. Hang a car deodorizer from your rearview mirror. It’s unobtrusive, and you can buy one at any car wash. They come in all shapes and scents – some even smell like a new car.
- Organize the Glove and Console Boxes
- Put a first aid kit in your glove box for those little roadside emergencies. Some of today’s first aid kits are self-organized and fold up to the size of a woman’s clutch purse. Also add a small box of wet wipes for cleaning dirty or dusty hands and dusting interior surfaces whenever needed. Don’t forget to put in several packets of tissues for those inevitable sneezes and runny noses.