What You Need to Know About Car Cleaning During Coronavirus Pandemic
Posted by admin at 31 July 2020, at 06 : 53 AM
While most of us aren’t going anywhere, some people still need to travel for work or to buy necessities. Therefore, it’s crucial to make sure that the interior of your car stays clean and disinfected to keep you and your family safe.
Not sure how to thoroughly clean your vehicle? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know about cleaning a car during the pandemic!
Where and When to Clean
How often you use your vehicle doesn’t matter – you should still clean and sanitize it after every use.
The most frequently touched part of the car is probably the steering wheel. According to Expedia, your steering wheel is likely four times filthier than a public toilet – so grab the soap, water, and wipes, and get cleaning!
Take care to clean other frequently touched areas like handles, the dashboard, gear shift, window control buttons, and the trunk handle.
You can also steam clean a car. According to Fortador, it can clean and sanitize both the interior and exterior of your car. You can check out Fortador USA here.
Don’t forget to clean your keys and the seatbelt! You’ll be touching these as well, and it’s easy to forget them while you clean out the car.
What You Should Use
There are a few steps to the cleaning process. First, start by using plain old soap and water to wash off any dirt. It’s usable on most surfaces, including leather. For other areas, use a disinfectant spray or cleaning wipes.
If you have any displays, use microfiber cloths to clean them, and wash any fabrics or covers like your laundry. Your final secret weapon is a solution with 70% alcohol or more, such as Isopropyl Alcohol.
You can clean almost any surface in your car with Isopropyl Alcohol, and according to the CDC, it’s very effective against the Coronavirus.
What Not to Use
You want your car’s interior to be clean, not permanently damaged. Even though the CDC recommends using diluted bleach and high alcohol content solutions, it doesn’t mean that every bleach is the right choice for cleaning.
Avoid using undiluted bleaches, hydrogen peroxide, benzene, thinners, or any other harsh or abrasive cleaning products. Instead of cleaning the interior, you’ll just end up damaging it. You should also avoid using any ammonia-based cleaners, especially on screens.
Bonus: Take a Drive
An idle car is a very unhappy car. Unfortunately, with the epidemic and lockdown in many places, it’s likely not seeing much use. This increases the risk of the battery losing charge, rubber components drying out, and your tires getting flat spots.
You might also end up with rust, or bugs and insects taking up residence in the engine. Try to take your car for a short 20-minute drive at least once a week. It won’t just keep your car’s insides clean and working properly; it’ll also help you shake off a little cabin fever.
Take Away
It’s essential to maintain the cleanliness of your car, regardless of the pandemic. However, with the spread of COVID, it’s vital to keep your interior clean and disinfected.
Make sure that you clean everywhere, especially the areas you touch. Use the right equipment and cleaning supplies, so that it’s effective while still being safe. You don’t want to damage your interior.
Finally, take your car for a drive, just to give all the moving parts a bit of exercise! By taking these steps, you’ll ensure that it stays clean, safe, and in good working condition.