Car Disinfecting: While new and potent variants of the Covid-19 are coming in, our defence towards all variants stay the same – wear a mask, wash hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Adding to this, the coronavirus is believed to stay on surfaces from hours to days, so a lot of focus is on disinfecting indoor spaces like homes and offices as well.
Amidst protecting ourselves and disinfecting indoor spaces, we often forget to consider that cars can be a breeding spot for germs, viruses and bacteria. Many people spend a lot of time in their cars – entering and exiting the car throughout the day – but they do not disinfect the surfaces in the car where innumerable germs might be disguising.
Because of the various surfaces, crevices and openings, sanitizing a vehicle can be more complicated than cleaning a home. Vehicle surfaces are also not made to resist a constant barrage of tough cleansers and can wither away if cleaned too frequently.
Regardless of that, cleaning and disinfecting the car are essential to safeguard yourself and your loved ones. So, here goes a detailed list of ways to clean the interiors of your car and keep it germs & bacteria-free.
What Supplies You Will Need to Disinfect Your Car from Inside?
As recommended by CDC, soap, water and alcohol solutions that include at least 70% isopropyl alcohol are the most efficacious cleaning agents to kill the coronavirus. You can use this solution in the car interior, as it is considered safe.
You should avoid using car sanitizer or car disinfectant sprays that contain bleach, ammonia and hydrogen peroxide since they discolour the fabrics and harm leather & upholstery like car seats. Even though such car cleaning products are useful to kill coronavirus, they can lead to skin and eye irritation and burns.
In addition to the cleaning solution, you’ll need to gather a few supplies when preparing to disinfect a interior car cleaning products. These are some examples:
- Microfibre cloths
- Gloves
- Face mask
- Vacuum
- Screen wipes for touchscreen
- Bucket to mix soap and water
- Glass cleaner
Here’s a Step-by-Step Process to Clean and Disinfect the Car to keep it Germ-free:
At the time of car cleaning, keep the windows and car door open because some cleaning solutions may irritate your eyes or throat – read below the process to sanitize your car:
- Start by washing your hands and wearing disposable gloves. To protect yourselves from dust, chemicals and viruses like SARs-CoV-2, ensure that you wear a mask.
- Remove the floor mats and shake them to get the dust outside. Use a vacuum cleaner in crevices; remove the dust and debris build-up.
- Take a bucket and mix warm water with the soapy solution. Next, take a microfibre cloth and dip it into the bucket. Now, wipe the car seats properly.
- Scrub the car seat, but do not overuse the soap solution on leather or upholstery. Then, scrub the floor mats that you have kept outside using the microfibre cloth and soap solution.
- Wipe the floor mat using another moist cloth and let it air-dry.
- Use a soft moist cloth to wipe the dust, dirt or grime and ensure every surface of the car gets cleaned.
- Next, soak the microfibre cloth in the isopropyl alcohol cleaning solution and wipe down the high-touched surfaces in the car, such as handles, steering wheel, levers and more.
- Allow 5 to 10 minutes to dry. For the cleaner to be effective at killing viruses and bacteria, the surface should be left wet for several minutes.
- Use soap and water or alcohol to clean windows and mirrors. After disinfecting, spray the windows with a window cleaner solution and wipe them clean with soft microfiber.
- Remove the face mask and gloves; wash your hands for at least 20 seconds using soap and water. Wash the clothes that you wear while cleaning the car in warm water.
After the whole car cleaning process gets done, you should use a car air freshener to purify and freshen the air in your car for disinfecting. You can try a car freshener + sanitizer from RxSAFE that not just ensures a great smell in the car but is also made to kill 99.9% of germs, viruses and bacteria present in the car.
Additional Quick and Easy Tips to Keep Germs, Viruses and Bacteria Away from the Car:
Clean the Air Filter
So, a cabin air filter makes sure that you get clean and fresh in your car. Now, when your cabin air filter fails to fill your car with cool air or imparts unpleasant air, then it’s time that you get your cabin air filter cleaned or replaced. While you do not change the cabin air filter, you increase your chance of breathing bacteria along with air. Ideally, you should replace the air filter in your car every 7 months and more often if you use it more.
Allow Some Sunlight in the Car
Let your car get some sunlight because sunlight can be considered a natural disinfectant. After you have cleaned the car with a car disinfectant solution, let it get exposed to the sun rays. With sunlight, some fresh air can also enter the car, which is good. However, you should not rely solely on sunlight to disinfect your car because it may not reach every nook and cranny.
Use Disinfectant Wipes
To prevent the spread of germs, viruses, and bacteria, disinfect all high-touch surfaces in your vehicle. Disinfect the door handles, steering wheel, armrest, buttons, mirrors, gear stick, seat belts, and so on with disinfectant wipes. If surfaces are kept clean, the chances of becoming infected are reduced. Cleaning your car every time following the above-stated process can be a hassle – disinfectant wipes would be handy.
Get Rid of Dust from the Car
Since a car is enclosed, it becomes a breeding ground for dust, and dust is the favourite habitat for germs, viruses and bacteria. So, in a car, the odds of germs bearing inside are much higher than in the open areas. Clean the interiors of your car using a brush. Moreover, avoid the development of bacteria and molds in your car by removing leftover food particles from the inside.
Have a Pet? Get a Squeegee.
If your pet enjoys riding in your car, it could be waiting by the hallway when you approach for the keys. If you have cloth upholstery, it may be essential to withdraw the fur after a few rides. Consider spritzing the fabric with tiny droplets of water to dampen it. The fur can be then removed with a squeegee. Have a vacuum ready to pick it up.
Get Your Car Cleaned Professionally,
If someone in your household has COVID-19 or another infection, such as the flu. It is essential to disinfecting your car and clean high-contact surfaces in your home and cars when someone is infected. In such a case, getting the car cleaned professionally should be preferred.
Now you know the importance of cleaning and disinfecting your car. Just like you wash your hands and disinfect surfaces in your home and workspace, take some time out and do the same in your car. This will help you stay as safe as possible from the coronavirus and other germs, viruses and bacteria.
Wish you safe and happy rides!
