While South Africa is still in lockdown, travel for necessities and work is allowed. That means that, while you might not be driving that often, you’ll still be using your vehicle from time to time. If that’s the case, then you need clean and sanitize your car frequently.
How frequently? We answer that question, and several others, in our article below. It’s essential to keep yourself and your family safe, and keeping your vehicle disinfected is one of the best ways to do so.
Here’s everything you need to know about cleaning and sanitizing your vehicle during the coronavirus pandemic.
How Often Should You Sanitize Your Car During COVID
Washing the car used to be something you did over the weekends. However, COVID demands that we pay more attention to our cleaning habits. In fact, how frequently you drive doesn’t matter. What does matter is sanitizing it after every use.
There are a lot of porous areas in your vehicle that you often touch, which increases the chances of transmission. That’s one of the reasons why it’s highly recommended to wash and disinfect your vehicle every time you use it.
Which Areas You Need to Sanitize
Think about which areas of your interior and exterior you touch the most. Most people would answer that the steering wheel sees the contact – and you’d be right. Your hands are almost always on the wheel.
Here’s something you might not know: your steering wheel is probably four times dirtier than a public toilet! Interestingly, it’s not even the filthiest part of your car. That dubious honour goes to the radio button and the seatbelt, so make sure you include these in your routine.
Most people forget to clean things like the window buttons, door handles, gear shift, or even the trunk handle. It would be best if you kept all these areas clean, as well as the trunk handle.
Finally, remember to sanitize your car keys as well. You’re continually handling them, so they, too, need to get sanitized.
Which Cleaning Products to Use to Sanitize Your Car
Before you use any chemicals, start by washing away most of the grime and dirt with water and soap. This is still an effective way to clean almost any surface, leather included. That makes it safe to use on virtually any part of your interior. You can also use cleaning wipes and disinfectant spray.
If your vehicle has any displays, use microfiber cloths to clean them. Covers and upholstery, on the other hand, can be washed like laundry.
Finally, use a solution with 70% alcohol or more – like Isopropyl Alcohol – to clean all other surfaces. According to the CDC, it’s effective against the Coronavirus, and it’s a great way to disinfect your car.
What You Shouldn’t Use
Many cleaning products can permanently damage your interior. That’s why you need to be very careful about what you use. For example, undiluted bleach and abrasive chemicals like hydrogen peroxide and benzene can destroy a car’s surfaces.
If you have any screens in your vehicle, avoid using ammonia-based chemicals. These will remove the protective layering, causing permanent damage.
Remember, you want to protect and sanitize your car, not ruin it!
Bonus: Take a Drive
If you don’t drive a car, it will start taking damage from sitting idle. Unfortunately, due to the lockdown, there aren’t that many chances to take regular drives. As a result, you risk your battery losing charge, tires getting flat spots and rubber components drying out.
Insects may also start taking up residence in your engine, which can cause a lot of damage. It’s highly recommended that you take a 20-minute drive, at least once a week. That’ll help you shake off a little cabin fever, while also giving your vehicle the workout it needs.
Conclusion
With the coronavirus numbers on the rise, it’s vital to sanitize your car. Making sure that you clean and disinfect it after every use will keep you and your family safe and help protect against infection.
Always try to use the right tools so that you don’t damage your interior. Isopropyl Alcohol, water and soap, and microfiber cloths are your best options. Make sure that you clean all the areas you frequently touch, including the steering wheel and the seatbelt.
Finally, try to take a short drive at least once a week to keep your car’s insides as clean as the outside. As long as you follow these steps, you and your vehicle should remain protected.
