During the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting highly touched surfaces is evident. We’ve all mastered washing our hands with soap for 20 seconds, but what about your car? And how to make sure you are cleaning without damaging your vehicle? And how often to disinfect your real estate?
Car door handles, steering wheels and dashboards are all high-touch surfaces. If you or someone in your household have the virus, or if you use your car for groceries or to get to work, thoroughly cleaning your vehicle is essential. It is also crucial to make sure your vehicle is properly maintained and get you where you need to go.
The good news is that you can use many household cleaners to clean inside the car that you use on other high-touch surfaces. Here are some tips for cleaning, disinfecting, and maintaining your vehicle during the COVID-19 pandemic.
You want to make sure you are thoroughly cleaning all high-touch surfaces. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe and clean. The soft microfibers prevent scratches and trap dirt, unlike a paper towel that can scratch surfaces. And use a cleaner that can disinfect as well as clean.
High touch areas to focus on are:
- Door Handles
- Seatbelts
- Steering Wheel
- Gear shifter
- Dashboard knobs
- Trunk handle
How to Disinfect a Car With Leather Interior
The same process you use to clean your hands can be used to clean a leather interior. Leather acts a lot like skin, for a good reason, and the best way to clean leather surfaces is with a bit of soap and water. You don’t need to scour the leather, rub gently and wipe clean with a damp cloth.
If your leather interior is older and has small cracks, you should use a small amount of mild soap like Ivory with a bit of water and be sure to use a leather conditioner afterwards to help restore the moisture and prevent further cracking.
You can also use isopropyl alcohol to wipe down surfaces. Still, most car manufacturers don’t recommend this daily because although the alcohol will kill bacteria and viruses, it can also dry out the leather. Use it sparingly and discontinue if you notice it is removing the colour from your leather.
It is not a good idea to use bleach or hydrogen peroxide to clean the inside of your car. They will kill viruses, but they can also damage your car interior and upholstery. If you have cloth upholstery, be careful about using too much water. You want to clean away dirt and stains, not soak the upholstery.
Another thing to consider during the pandemic is keeping your vehicle in good repair. The last thing you want during a pandemic is for your car to break down unexpectedly.
If you notice that your tires are wearing down, take them to your local tire store in Hamilton mechanic for a check-up. If you notice a burning smell or that your car is having trouble switching gears, these could be signs that you might be needing transmission repair Whitby services.
However, you decide to clean and maintain your car, now that you have it clean, keep it clean and thoroughly wash your hands before getting into your vehicle.
