5 Tips To Properly Disinfect Your Vehicle During The Coronavirus Pandemic
5 Tips To Properly Disinfect Your Vehicle During The Coronavirus Pandemic
As COVID-19 moves across the country, we all know that is is contagious. Washing our hands and disinfecting surfaces are the best way to defend against the coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). With everyone donning masks and gloves each time we go out in public, are we making sure our cars are clean and disinfected as well?
If you are using your car during this time, it is a good idea to give it an initial cleanup and periodically go over your car’s interior to make sure there are no germs lingering around. Hopefully, this article will help you understand how important cleaning and disinfecting your car’s interior is without damaging it in the process.
Here are a few tips:
- Use cleaners that disinfect – It isn’t enough to just make your car smell clean; it has to be disinfected in order to kill the coronavirus germs. Most of the same household cleaners that kill coronaviruses on hard surfaces at home can also clean a car’s interior surfaces without damaging its interior. Chances are, you may already have some of these products at home. According to the CDC, alcohol solutions that contain at least 70 percent alcohol are effective against coronavirus. For the most part, nearly every interior surface of a vehicle can be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol without any damage to it. You can even use disinfecting wipes to wipe down the interior of your car and any other area that could be considered a high-touch area.
- Don’t use bleach or hydrogen peroxide – While they both kill coronaviruses on surfaces, they will most likely damage your car’s upholstery. They can cause damage to the vinyl and plastics used in most modern vehicles today. Don’t use ammonia-based cleaners on car touch screens either. These cleaners can damage the anti-glare and anti-fingerprint coatings.
- Protect your leather – Most car leathers and imitation leathers have a urethane coating protecting it, which is safe to clean with alcohol. But over time, cleaning leather with alcohol can leave it prone to damage and discoloration. You should use a good leather cleaner, then a good leather conditioner afterward.
- Clean all surfaces touched by hands – steering wheel, door handles, shift lever, any buttons or touch screens, wiper knob, turn signal stalk, passenger and driver door armrests, grab handles and seat adjusters.
- Keep a sanitizing kit in your car – Keeping supplies inside your car is a good idea. You can make a kit of hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and spray, masks, and gloves to keep you going. Make sure you remove your gloves before you open your car door and get inside. You don’t want to cross-contaminate your vehicle when you get inside with your gloves and masks. You can clean your door handle and steering wheel all day long, but if you have dirty hands, you put that dirt back on when you touch it.
It’s virtually impossible to turn on the television, radio, or computer without hearing about the coronavirus (COVID-19). Don’t panic, just be as prepared as you can. Nothing can guarantee you will avoid catching the bug, but these tips can help to minimize the risk. We hope you can use this information to help keep your vehicle as clean as possible while reducing the spread of the virus.
Other Tips & Advice – If you are looking for Tips To Keep Your Car Cool in the Arizona Heat, visit our blog. Stay safe out there!