COVID-19: Here Are All The Areas In Your Vehicle You Should Clean

Social distancing, masks, and hand washing are all good, but since you have to drive to work or to shop for groceries, the latter should not be overlooked.

As mentioned in an RPM article How to Disinfect Your Car, anything you touch on the outside and inside of our cars could be contributing to the spread of the virus. No need to obsess over it, but you should realize that the points of contact may be more than you think.

- READ ALSO: COVID-19: how to disinfect your car?
- READ ALSO: COVID-19: Here's why you shouldn't wear a mask while driving

*French video*

If you don't have products specifically designed to clean a car without damaging leather and other materials, we remind you that there are good alternatives. In general, a neutral detergent or soap diluted in hot water should do the trick. Moisten a soft cloth with the solution and wipe the cloth over the interior surfaces and vehicle contact points. You can also use antibacterial wipes, as long as they are alcohol and bleach free, but wiping a wet wipe over all surfaces is far from sufficient. Why ? Due to the different types of surfaces that are found in our cars! We have plastic, metal, glass, wood, leather surfaces, in short the list is long, and these types of surfaces do not clean themselves in the same way! Here are some tips, suggested by the Car Guide, to properly disinfect the most common types of surfaces in cars.

Plastic, vinyl and rubber surfaces.

Compared to other types of surfaces, plastic ones are quite easy to clean. A simple disinfectant wipe can do the trick. On the aesthetic side, all you have to do is take a damp sterile cloth and iron on the same surface to remove the marks that the disinfectant could have left. The primary goal is to disinfect our vehicles, but we still don't want to damage them either! Otherwise a product such as Spray Nine can also be used in small quantities to disinfect this type of surface. Just spray a small amount of it on a sterile cloth, apply it by rubbing on the surfaces to be sterilized, wait 30 seconds, then go through the same places with a sterile damp cloth!

Glass surfaces

For glass surfaces, it's very simple, you just need to use a glass cleaner with ammonia. However, things get a little trickier with the windows, and not just for the windows that are tinted! Yes, your windows might have a coating on the inside to block UV rays, or something similar. It is therefore not recommended to use a product such as Windex on car windows, as it may damage the tint and coating. An ammonia-free product, or even with a product specially designed for car windows, such as Invisible Glass, is perfect for that!

Fabrics, suede and leather surfaces

We don't surprise you if we tell you these are rather fragile surfaces, right? Rule number 1 so as not to damage them, not to rub! Here is a homemade solution concocted by the Car Guide: in a spray bottle, put 1/3 of white vinegar, and 2 / of water. Shake vigorously! Congratulations, you have a homemade solution capable of disinfecting without destroying everything! Then you just have to spray the mixture on the surfaces to be disinfected. Do not use too much and let it dry and then wipe it over with a damp cloth.

Wooden surfaces

The treated wood that is usually found in cars is very fragile and can easily be damaged by using the wrong cleaning products. A mild disinfectant, such as the homemade vinegar solution, is more than enough. For varnished wood or porous wood, you should instead take a sterile cloth and sprinkle it with your vinegar-based solution. You can then rub it gently on the surfaces to be disinfected, remembering to wipe with a damp cloth afterwards.

Stay vigilant

In short, do not forget to clean all the objects that you handle and touch regularly. In this time of exceptional crisis, we must all do our part and we must all be vigilant and above all careful. In all cases, it is recommended to wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after removing them.

Have a good cleaning!