How Can I Clean and Disinfect the Inside of My Car?
Posted on June 11, 2020
Why You Need to Sanitize Your Car Interior During the COVID-19 Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to pay close attention to all high-contact surfaces in your life. This includes door handles, cell phones, railings and even your car. Although we might not always think about it, there are many high-contact surfaces in your car. The steering wheel, door handles, controls and gear shift are all touched while driving your vehicle. Without access to a sink, it is harder to ensure that your hands are sanitized before touching these surfaces. To keep you and your family safe during the pandemic, it is important to regularly clean and disinfect the inside of your car, especially if you are a frontline worker.
What is the Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Car?
Many people like the smell of a clean car, free of old food wrappers and clutter that accumulate in your vehicle overtime. However, there is a difference between cleaning and properly disinfecting your car. Cleaning your car usually involves throwing out garbage, vacuuming the floors and seats, wiping up any spills and removing built-up clutter. Although each of these tasks will leave your car cleaner, it is not the same as disinfecting your car to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. Based on public health guidelines from the federal government, there are a list off approved cleaning products that can kill the COVID-19 virus. Only these approved cleaning products will be able to disinfect your car and prevent the spread of the virus. Therefore, the only way to disinfect your car is to use these approved cleaning products on all high-contact surfaces.
How to Disinfect a Car Interior During the COVID-19 Pandemic
To disinfect your car interior, you must first begin with a government-approved disinfect that is able to kill the COVID-19 virus. Some of these approved disinfectants include Lysol and household bleach. The most cost-effective solution is to use household bleach by diluting it to 1-part bleach per 6-parts water. Using a rag, sponge, or paper towel, use bleach to clean the steering wheel, controls, gear shift, door handle, window controls and any other plastic surfaces in your vehicle. If you are concerned about bleach getting on fabric seats, you can also use Lysol or even Lysol or Clorox wipes which are able to disinfect your surfaces without the risk of drips affecting the colour of your car interior. If you have leather seats, you can also wipe them down with a disinfectant. Finally, we recommend keeping hand sanitizer in your car so that you can sanitize your hands as soon as you enter the car and before you leave the car anytime you need to leave your home.
During these uncertain times, Modern Automotive is dedicated to keeping our customers and employees safe. We have many updated policies to ensure the safety of our customers while still providing our services to the Greater Toronto Area. For information on our updated safety procedures for vehicle maintenance and auto body repairs, contact us today at 905-660-6100.