Five Effective Ways to Sanitize Your Vehicle

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These days, people are going to great lengths to keep their homes clean and virus-free. And as important as it is to keep your home clean, it’s equally crucial to keep your vehicle clean. Whether you’re renting a car or you’re in your daily driver, you should take a few steps to keep your vehicle clean. Follow these tips to sanitize your vehicle and prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

Frequently Wipe Down High-Touch Areas

You touch some areas of your car much more frequently than others. Those areas should be sanitized regularly, or infections and germs will linger in your car.

Use disinfecting spray or disinfecting wipes to clean off surfaces that you touch frequently. This includes the steering wheel, window controls, gear shift, and door handles. To keep your car as germ-free as possible, you should clean them every time you get into or out of your vehicle.

According to research, a steering wheel has four times as many germs as a toilet seat. The average steering wheel has a bacteria count of 612, which makes it a hot-spot for sickness.

Don’t let wearing gloves fool you into a false sense of security. Even if you wear gloves every time you go out in public, you still pick up germs. You should still disinfect your steering wheel as frequently as possible.

Use Alcohol in the Cabin

Even though there are some areas of your car that you don’t often touch, you should still clean them. Use an alcohol-based cleaner to get germs and fingerprints off of your air conditioner vents, cupholders, and other surfaces.

Alcohol is so effective that it’s the product of choice for auto detailers and car manufacturers. Not only does it work well, but it’s affordable.

When All Else Fails, Use Soap and Water

Although alcohol is the most effective, you might not be able to find any in stores. If this is the case, you can use soap and water to sanitize your vehicle. Mix some soap and water in a small bucket, then dunk a rag in the mixture.

When using soap and water, be sure not to drench the rag. Too much water could damage certain elements of your vehicle. After you rub down surfaces, use a dry microfiber cloth to remove excess moisture.

Vacuum Your Car Well

Part of sanitizing your vehicle is vacuuming out the seats and floorboards. While you have the vacuum out, be sure to give the ceiling a good clean. You never know what particles are lingering on the surfaces of your car.

For the best results, use a vacuum that has a HEPA filter. If yours doesn’t have a filter, small particles will circulate back into your car. It’s worth investing in a vacuum that has a HEPA filter and one that can navigate all of the nooks and crannies in your car.

Use the Right Product for the Job

Certain surfaces, like touch screens and leather seats, require specific cleaning products. For touch screens, use a solution of vinegar mixed with distilled water. You can clean leather seats with a leather cleaner.

Following these tips isn’t a fool-proof way to avoid getting sick, but doing so can prevent germs from remaining in your vehicle. When you sanitize your car and frequently wash your hands, you can limit the spread of the virus.

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