How to Clean Your Car for Coronavirus
How to Clean Your Car for Coronavirus
At #1 Cochran Toyota, we fully understand the concerns our customers have about exposure to COVID-19, or coronavirus. Many people are wearing gloves, frequently using hand sanitizer and sanitizing items they purchase when they get home. However, the items you buy often touch the interior surfaces in your vehicle at some point during the trip. According to the , studies suggest that the coronavirus 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 pharmacy.
How Long Does Coronavirus Survive on Surfaces?
One of biggest challenges in disinfecting your car is that its interior contains a variety of different surfaces. From the soft leather seats to the plastic on the dash, you’ll find that you may need several different tools for washing your car. 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 sanitizing your vehicle, be sure to wash your hands. If you have them, it’s a good idea to wear disposable gloves. 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 have enough to spare, keep disinfectant wipes and a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your car so you can wipe it down frequently.
How to Clean Leather Seats in My Car
Before using any type of leather cleaner, be sure to spot test it on a hidden area to ensure it will work well for your specific seats. When you’re cleaning, use a microfiber cloth to avoid scratching the leather. If you don’t have any leather cleaner on hand, you can mix two parts vinegar with one part water to make your own solution. If you can, apply a leather conditioner after cleaning.
How to Disinfect Surfaces in My Car
The most important areas of your Toyota 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 and steering wheel, simply use soap and water. Dish soap works fine if that’s all you have — just dampen the surfaces and scrub for 20-30 seconds. Other high-touch surfaces to focus on cleaning 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
Are There Disinfectants I Should Avoid Using in My Car?
If you want to avoid damaging your Toyota model’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.