How to Sanitize Your Car
With the Coronavirus (COVID-19) spread growing, we understand that protecting yourself and your family is a top priority. We all know the easiest and first line of defense to protect yourself and others is prevention through hand washing, avoiding large social gatherings and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
With all the cleaning we’ve all been doing, cleaning the interior of your car probably hasn’t been one of those places that come to mind when you think of disease prevention. However, your car is often the first thing you touch after leaving any public place and that can make it all kinds of nasty! You will also want to make sure you keep the interior of your car clean as well as it will be a vital part of preventing transmission to others, especially to those in your own home.
Here are some of the best methods we recommend for sanitizing your car.
How to Sanitize Leather Seats
We don’t recommend cleaning your leather with any sanitizing wipes or sprays as that can damage your leathers finish. Soap and water is the best way to sanitize your hands, and it’s perfectly safe and effective for leather seats, too! Soap works because it breaks down the lipid (fatty) bilayer of many viruses which dissolves the fat membrane and kills the pathogens. Soap is also much gentler on leather than bleach or alcohol-based cleaners. To mitigate any drying effects, apply a leather conditioner after cleaning.
- Put on a pair of disposable gloves.
- Dampen the seats and lather with soap for at least 20 seconds. Any household soap will work fine!
- Wipe clean with a dry cloth
- Apply leather conditioner to prevent drying
- Properly dispose of gloves, wash your drying towel and wash your hands!
How to Clean the Car Dashboard
Just like leather upholstery, the best thing to clean your dashboard without damaging the surface is soap and water! Simply dampen the area and scrub with soap for 20 seconds, then rinse with a wet paper towel or washcloth. It can be difficult to clean buttons and controls without getting water inside and possibly causing damage, so clean those with alcohol-based wipes or other cleaners that are known to kill the virus. Here is a link to the EPA certified cleaners that will kill Covid-19 here.
How to Clean the Steering Wheel, Seat Belts, Handles, and Other Car Surfaces
When it comes to cleaning the car steering wheel, the solution you use to clean it depends on the material of the wheel. If it is a leather wheel, follow the same steps listed above for leather upholstery. Remember, this is a surface you should be cleaning frequently. The quickest and easiest way to clean it in a pinch is by using sanitizing wipes. It’s a great idea to keep a container of wipes in your glove box to clean frequently touched surfaces like the steering wheel, seat belts, controls, door handles and gear shift daily. If you are worried about damaging any surfaces, you can test the product in an inconspicuous area first to prevent any discoloration or degradation.
We are dedicated to keeping our customers and employees safe. If you have any questions, concerns or you need special accommodation, please reach out to us. Most importantly of all, keep yourself safe.