Rid your car of germs

Even as most of the people around the country are tucked in their houses, they still must get in their cars several times each day for necessary trips to do errands. People are taking precautions even at the simplest things that we never thought would be virus ridden, like hand rails andgrocery carts. But what about avoiding dangerous germs that you might bring in to your car?

In a US survey, (couldn’t find a PH Survey) by carrentals.com, a shocking 32% of drivers in the US rarely clean out the inside of their vehicles, doing so only once a year. Another 12% responded that they never even clean the inside of their cars. As we already know, germs build up on “touch point” surfaces.  In cars, these are the steering wheel, door handles, the radio knob, the AC switch, seat belt headsand all the other parts that your hand usually comes in to contact with.

Here are other critical points of the US study plus a few of my dos and don’ts:

There are roughly 700 different strains of bacteria living in the average vehicle, including Staphylococcus (“Staph”), which can lead to complications such as skin infections and food poisoning.

The average steering wheel is the No.1 touch point of the car and it is four times dirtier than a public toilet seat.

DO: Make it a habit to clean your car. If cleaning is not your cup of tea, make time for a good carwash. A standard carwash of exterior, interior including vacuum cleaning should be done at least twice a week. A general carwash and cleaning should be done at least once a month. Disinfecting the touch points of the car should be done regularly.

DON’T:  Cleaning only the interior or the exterior. Clean the whole car, inside out.  The exterior is not the only part of the car that needs to be clean.  The interior too, is a potential cesspool.

DO: The car’s touch points should be cleaned regularly. Use a sanitizing wipe or alcohol to clean the most commonly touched areas inside your vehicle.According to the study, these areas are common surfaces forgerms and you will likely be surprised by the amount of dirt the wipes will pick up. Soap and water mixed in a spray bottle, followed by a proper disinfectant wipe will work better.Carry a small spray bottle of alcohol or a packet of disinfectant wipes and frequently clean common touchpoints such as the steering wheel, door handles, seat belts and buckles, window switches, radio and aircon control buttons and your keys!

DON’T: Don’t mix your own cleaning chemical. Ifyou plan to do a DIY, ask your “car detailer” friend for advice on car friendly chemicals.  Do not use any ammonia-based or acidic cleaning products, as the ammonia breaks down the vinyl on the dashboard, making it sticky when subjected to heat and light. Some acidic chemicals dry up leather, making them susceptible to cracking.

DO: Have the Airconditioning (AC) cleaned regularly. The AC filter should be checked and cleaned regularly and follow the AC units general cleaning schedules religiously.  The quality of air that you breathe inside your car will greatly depend on the cleanliness of your AC system.

DON’T: Don’t eat in the car. Although almost all of us are guilty with “eating on the go”, study says that even the smallest food particle dropped in the car’s carpet can become a breeding ground for germs, particularly in atropical environment.

DO: Carry a good clean wipe, preferably a micro fiber rug or an old clean face towel. This will come in handy when things go messy.

DON’T: No to clutter. Keep the interior clean and organized. Throw away candy wrappers, empty water bottles, unnecessary cargo, etc.  The less clutter, the easier it is to clean.

Stay tuned for my next week’s column as we feature two new innovative products that claim to disinfect your car’s interior.