With COVID-19 on the rise, sanitation has become more important now than ever. Sanitation doesn’t stop at your hands or your home. You may not be spending a lot of time in your car lately, but it still needs to be cleaned. Not just cleaned, but sanitized. It may not seem like a big deal to you but think about it. When you get in your car, you may not be alone. Or you may need to get out and go to the store and then get back in. Or get out and run errands. You’re handling items and then getting back in your car and touching things. The virus can live on different surfaces for a time, so you don’t know what you are bringing into your car with you. It needs to be cleaned regularly.
Floors First
Start at the bottom and work your way up. First, vacuum your car. Dirt and debris travel on your shoes and are deposited on the floor of your car. Also, some scientists say that the virus can travel in your shoes. Because of this, vacuuming your car is very important. Remove any floor mats and vacuum the floor. Make sure to get in the corners. Also, vacuum the seats if possible to remove any crumbs or other debris.
After you vacuum, it is time to wipe everything down. This is going to be a long process, but it needs to be done, especially if you’ve had multiple people in your car.
Disinfect the Interior
You need to wipe down the surfaces in your car you touch daily. And the ones you don’t. Our vehicles’ interiors are made with different materials. Before you wipe everything down, you need to know the best cleaners to use. Isopropyl alcohol is good for disinfecting surfaces. It is also a safe cleaner to use on most car surfaces. This is a good method unless your car has a leather surface.
It isn’t wise to use the alcohol on a leather surface because it could rub off the protective stain and cause the leather to discolor.
If you have leather seats, then you should use dish soap and water. Most dish soaps are mild enough to be used on any surface. To clean the interior of your car, soak a clean rag in the water and soap mixture, ring it out, and wipe down the surfaces you touch most. Start with the steering wheel and work your way through the components on the dashboard.
Don’t forget your radio, seatbelts, glove box. Also, the console and the armrest should be wiped too. Think of everything that you touch, from the visor to the mirror to the headrest.
Cleaning your car’s interior regularly is more important now than ever. While you are washing your hands and cleaning your home, all to keep you and your family safe. Think of cleaning your car as an extension of that. Traveling back and forth frequently or not, you can still be exposed to the virus. It is always better to be safe than sorry.