The entire world is severely affected by the terror of the Covid-19 Coronavirus. You have to be very careful about what surfaces you are touching and then sanitize your hands immediately to avoid the spread. You can protect yourself and your family by cleaning and sanitizing your home regularly. But, what about your car? Your car invites so many pollutants and germs daily. You are frequently touching these areas, which is why it is essential to sanitize your car. Let’s have a look at the seven ways to disinfect your car of the Coronavirus.
The steering wheel, hand brake, door handles(interior and exterior), seat belt buckles, touchscreens, and dashboard are the most commonly affected surfaces in a car. Even though these surfaces tend to be durable, scrubbing them using rough cloth can damage them. Wipe these surfaces with a disinfectant to kill any germs and viruses present. Choose your disinfectant very carefully to protect your vehicle’s interior. Not every home cleaning product is suitable for your car. For example, using ammonia-based products on the dashboard makes the vinyl sticky when exposed to sunlight. Bleach and hydrogen peroxide is also not advisable for a car’s interior. Disinfectant wipes are the safest to use. They neutralize the germs and keep you safe from getting infected.
In case you don’t have access to disinfectant wipes, then you can wipe the surface using soap/detergents also. Detergents can also destroy the Coronavirus, just like you wash your hands to kill viruses. To preserve your car’s interior, use a mild soap or shampoo. Use a microfiber cloth, moisten it with some soap water and wipe the dashboard, seatbelt, door handles, and touchscreens. A microfiber cloth will be soft on the surface, absorb liquid agents quicker, and prevent any scratch on the touchscreen. While cleaning the touchscreens, be cautious about not damaging them with any extra moisture. You can safely use it on the accelerator, clutch, brake, and floor mats in the car. If you use your vehicle frequently for adventure trips, then you should also clean the roof racks. Make sure to disinfect it with detergents and scrub off any sticky dirt on it. For a finishing touch and to leave no watermarks behind, wipe the surface using a polish or wax of any brand.
When we drive around with the windshield down, the inside of the vehicle gets polluted. Dust, bacteria, fungi, and viruses can get in the car through the car’s HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system. And when you switch on the system, you breathe in this polluted air. Coronavirus affects the respiratory system of the human body, which makes it more critical for you to wipe your car’s air-conditioning system. You can use disinfectant sprays to clean the vents. Spray straight into the vents of the car and run the HVAC on full blast. The best way to disinfect your HVAC is by sterilizing the central
air intake area. You can find it near the bottom of the windshield. Just spray the disinfectant there while your HVAC is running, and with your car doors closed.
As per virologists, UV rays from the sun are natural biodefense against viruses. Since your car stands under the sun most of the day, this technology protects the windows naturally but is harmful to the car’s interior. To protect the interior of the vehicle, some people have applied tints on their windows, which blocks the UV rays from doing its job. Such windows do not receive UV protection against viruses. Therefore, you must regularly clean the window panes of your automobile with a disinfectant wipe or spray.
You spend a lot of time in the car sitting, going to work, dropping kids at school, or picking up groceries. That is why it is crucial to clean and disinfect your car upholstery. The fabric and type of car seat cushion can vary like vinyl, leather, and polyester. Based on the type of material in your car, choose the right cleaning agent to clean the headrests, backrests, armrests, pockets, and other resting places. If your vehicle has leather finishing, then higher use of alcohol and vigorous scrubbing with detergents can deteriorate their quality. Additionally, the use of a lot of soap water on fabrics has a chance of water leakage into the cushions. To avoid this situation, use small amounts of soap water to moisten the microfiber cloth then wipe the seats and other areas. Therefore, keep in mind to use cleaning agents that will maintain the quality of your car’s furnishings.
While traveling in your car with your friends and family, there are chances of people coughing and sneezing. The droplets from the person can land on any surface which will survive there for several days. So, it is crucial to sterilize the covers and every corner inside your car. Before wiping with a disinfectant, you can give your vehicle a vacuum service to remove the dust particles on the mats, seats, and door pads. Once you have eliminated the dust, you can wipe the entire area. It is also a good habit to keep tissue papers and a trash bag in the car so that people can instantly grab it in need and dispose of it safely.
Now that your entire car is clean, you must maintain personal hygiene even when you and your family members are inside the car. Clean your hands before getting inside the car. It will prevent any external diseases from infecting your car. Remember to wipe off the areas in your vehicle that you were in contact with after ending every trip. It will avoid the spread of bacteria on others.
The above are the seven ways of protecting your car from Coronavirus. Keeping the vehicle sanitized is how you can minimize your exposure to COVID-19 disease. Also, practice social distancing. It is an effective way to avoid the spread to you and your vehicle. Avoid valet parking. At petrol pumps, keep a safe distance from the pump attendants. Use digital pay modes instead of the handling of cash. These sanitization tips will ensure the safety of the passengers in your car. So, follow these steps to break the chain of Coronavirus. #BreaktheChain.
