Tips on How to Clean Your Vehicle for COVID-19
At Videon Chevrolet, we fully understand the concerns our customers have about exposure to COVID-19, or coronavirus. While many people in Pheonixville, PA, are being vigilant about staying safe, you may not consider cleaning the interior of your vehicle. According to the World Health Organization, studies suggest that coronaviruses may live on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. That means that you should be sanitizing the interior of your car to kill any germs it may have collected on your last visit to the grocery store or last time you had kids or other individuals in your car.
How Long Does Coronavirus Survive on Surfaces?
From leather to plastic and other materials, there are many different surfaces inside your vehicle. It's important to clean each surface thoroughly to reduce the spread of COVID-19. According to National Institutes of Health, the virus that causes COVID-19 is stable for up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic or stainless steel. Another study suggests that similar viruses can live on "inanimate surfaces like metal, glass or plastic for up to nine days."
What's the Best Way to Sanitize My Car's Interior?
Before you begin, wash your hands and put on disposable gloves if you have any available. Then, collect your cleaning supplies. Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work well for sanitizing your vehicle. Just be sure to read the product's label to make sure it's safe for the surface you're planning to use it on. If you're able to, it's a good idea to keep a bottle of hand sanitizer and some cleaning wipes in your vehicle at all times.
How to Clean Leather in my Car
Regardless of which leather cleaner you go with, spot test it in a hidden area to ensure it works well for the material in your vehicle. Use a microfiber cloth to avoid scratching the leather, and if you don't have any leather cleaner, you can mix two parts vinegar and one part water for a DIY solution. After cleaning, apply a leather conditioner if you have any on hand.
How to Disinfect Surfaces in My Car
The most important areas of your vehicle to keep clean are the dashboard and the steering wheel. Bacteria tends to collect in these spots, as air is cycled throughout the vehicle. To clean your dash, simply use soap and water. Dish soap can work well, and for key areas like your steering wheel and dashboard you should use a disinfecting solution. Other high-touch areas should be prioritized as well. These surfaces can include:
-Door Handles
-Door Buttons
-Key Fob
-Steering Wheel
-Inside Door Buttons
-Seat Belts
-Gear Shifters
-Touchscreens
-Buttons on the Dash
-Buttons for Lights
-Buttons for Windshield Wipers
-Glove Compartment
Do I Need to Disinfect My Car's Exterior?
Even though germs are less likely to survive on the outside of your vehicle, it's a good idea to routinely give it a once-over, especially high-touch areas like the door handles.
Are There Disinfectants I Should
Avoid
Using in My Car?If you want to avoid damaging your vehicle's interior surfaces, don't use bleach or hydrogen peroxide to disinfect. These can damage the vinyl and plastics in your cabin. You should also avoid any ammonia-based cleaning products used to clean glass, as they can break down the vinyl on the dashboard. Heat and light may then cause your dashboard to become sticky.