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It’s dirty -

We spend a lot of time in our cars. Some of us eat in our cars, we transport people and things, and germs do get pretty much everywhere.

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Seriously, it’s really, really dirty -

According to carrentals.com, there are about 700 different types of bacteria living in our cars.

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Coronavirus -

Particularly now, with the COVID-19 pandemic, it has never been so important to maintain a clean, germ-free car.

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Dirtiest areas -

With so many hard-to-reach and warm areas in your car, bacteria have the perfect conditions to grow. Let’s take a look at the most critical ones.

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Dirtiest areas -

The gear stick, hand brake, seat belts, and all dashboard buttons do get really dirty. But among all these, the one that gets dirtier is the steering wheel.

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Steering wheel -

Did you know that the steering wheel is six times dirtier than an average cell phone screen, four times dirtier than a public toilet seat, and two times dirtier than public elevator buttons?

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Before you start -

Before you start cleaning and disinfecting your car, make sure you wash your hands and, if possible, wear a pair of disposable gloves.

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How to clean those areas -

You should wipe the steering wheel and other high-touch areas with an antibacterial wipe on a regular basis.

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How to clean those areas -

Look for wipes with ingredients such as benzylkonium, benzylammonium chloride, and sodium hypochlorite.

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Prevention -

If possible, use hand sanitizer when you get in and out of your car.

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Prevention -

Make sure you always have a pack of tissues at hand to catch coughs and sneezes.

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Seats -

Seats also get really dirty. Germs can easily spread through contact with clothing, sweat, and dead skin cells, as well as food and/or drink spillages.

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How to clean seats -

Vacuuming is always the first step when cleaning seats, though it won't disinfect them.

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How to clean seats -

Next, you will want to use a product to clean your seats. The product you use will depend on the type of seats.

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How to clean seats -

If your car seats are made of fabric (e.g. nylon or vinyl), you can use a fabric cleaner or even a multi-surfaces cleaner.

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How to clean seats -

If you have leather seats, a wet cloth with soap and water will do. Just make sure you don’t leave any residue and apply a leather conditioner at the end.

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Carpets and mats -

It’s pretty obvious how and why these get dirty. Like the seats, we tend to just vacuum them, but this won’t necessarily kill the germs.

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Clean carpets and mats regularly -

Up your vacuum game. Ideally, you should be doing this once a week.

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How to clean carpets and mats -

Use a carpet or fabric cleaner to get rid of any stains and keep things nice and clean.

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Alternative mats -

Consider buying rubber mats for your car. They’re cheap, easier to clean, and last a long time.

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Products to avoid -

While alcohol is safe to use on some surfaces, you should avoid any cleaning products containing bleach, ammonia, or hydrogen peroxide.

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Tips for keeping your car germ-free -

If you spend a lot of time in your car (e.g. daily use), then clean it once or twice a week.

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Tips for keeping your car germ-free -

If you’re ill, and especially if you’re sneezing or coughing, wipe the steering wheel, gear stick, seat belts, and the dashboard controls regularly.

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Tips for keeping your car germ-free -

Keep your car litter-free. Remove any food wrappings and so on from your car.

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Tips for keeping your car germ-free -

Always keep a pack of tissues and hand sanitizer in the glove compartment. Wet antibacterial wipes won't hurt either. 

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Tips for keeping your car germ-free -

Don’t forget to disinfect children's car seats too!

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See also - Tips and tricks to clean your car like a pro

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