What Can You Use to Clean Your Car Interior

We all want our car to be a hygienic environment and Covid-19 has made motorists particularly keen to ensure their vehicle is safe and sanitised.

But what's the best way to go about it and what equipment do you need? We've compiled everything you need to know...

Reducing the risk of spreading coronavirus

According to the GOV.UK.uk website, Covid-19 spreads between people through droplets and direct contact. Surfaces can also be contaminated when an infected person coughs or sneezes on them.

It is not yet known how long the virus can live on surfaces but the infection risk decreases over time and is significantly reduced after 48 hours. Increased frequency of cleaning with standard products such as detergents and bleach reduces the presence of the virus and the risk of contracting it.

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Choosing the right car cleaning kit

Some domestic cleaning products can damage car interiors, so it's best to use specific products if possible such as Armour All Clean Up Wipes or Auto Finesse Wipe Out from Halfords.

Hand sanitiser has become a glovebox essential, so make sure you're always prepared. It would be a good idea to have a separate pocket-sized bottle for any passengers who might not have forgotten theirs, so there's no need to share.

Key areas to clean

'A simple rule of always thoroughly washing or cleansing your hands before you or your passengers get into the car is advisable,' says Neil Grieg, director of policy and research at road safety charity IAM RoadSmart. 'Before you open your car door, wipe down the key and door handles. Once inside your priority points should be the steering wheel, gear stick, indicator stems and all switches and buttons on the dashboard including items such as the radio or sat nav. Don't forget the seat belt and the clip that goes into it. You will need to repeat the process for areas your passengers will be using, such as window controls or seat adjustment leavers.'

For a really thorough, step by step approach, check out the tips from Ben Murphy, a professional car detailer at Toyota in this video. He outlines 40 areas of the car you might want to clean, including the glove box, cupholders or rear-view mirror.

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'Don't just give each area a quick wipe, make sure you wipe it at least twice in a backwards and forwards motion so you've cleaned it completely,' says Ben.

Clutter creates an unhygienic environment in the car, so if you've got a habit of letting old receipts, water bottles and crisp wrappers mount up, this is the time to break it. A car bin such as this one from Lakeland, will change your life.

Safely stopping for fuel

'Ideally use a pump that allows contactless payment, so you don't need to go into the store,' advises Neil Greig. 'Make sure your hands are clean by using hand sanitiser before and after you handle the fuel pump or payment card device. You should also use gloves or paper towels to handle the pump but dispose of them promptly and responsibly afterwards.'

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Car sharing

Current government guidelines discourage having passengers who aren't members of your household or bubble in your car. However, if you do need to travel together for essential reasons such as work, or because you are a volunteer driver, ask your passenger to sanitise their hands before and after entering the vehicle and to wear a mask. Keeping the windows open as you drive will help air circulate and reduce the risk of infection.

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What Can You Use to Clean Your Car Interior

Source: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/consumer-advice/car-advice/a35613243/car-interior-cleaning/

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