<center><strong>How to Clean Your Car or Truck Interior For Coronavirus</center></strong>
Would you like to know how to clean an automobile's interior for the novel Coronavirus, without damaging the surfaces?
By this point, we've all come to know that thorough hand-washing and cleaning high-touch surfaces are the most effective methods to help stop the community spread of the novel Coronavirus. When it comes to this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and global health experts are of one accord. Cleaning can save lives.
This is especially true if you have a hunch that someone with Coronavirus has been in contact with your car. Unfortunately, cars have many frequently touched surfaces. Examples of these are your shifter, door handle, and steering wheel to name a sample few of the many. In this case, immediate sanitation can mean all the difference toward preventing the spread of the virus. And if you regularly transport various passengers, cleaning these surfaces is a must.
So how should you disinfect all those surfaces without damaging your car's interior?
Sample High-Touch Areas
Door Handles
Keys
Engine Start Button
Seat Belt
Seat Adjuster
Window Control
Mirror Adjuster
Gear Shift
Wheel
Signal Indicator
All Dashboard Controls
Armrests
Vents
Touchscreen
What Not to Do:
For starters, there are some cleaners to be avoided at all costs. Bleach and hydrogen peroxide, for example, can damage your car's upholstery. Additionally, ammonia-based cleaners should be avoided. These can damage touch screens by removing anti-glare and anti-fingerprint coating. Moreover, avoid anything abrasive when disinfecting a touchscreen device, including paper towels or tissues. Lastly, use common sense. Don't treat all surfaces the same.
What to Do to Clean for Coronavirus:
Wear Gloves
First and foremost, wear gloves if disinfecting your vehicle. The Centers for Disease Control specifically recommends the following:
"Gloves and any other disposable PPE used for cleaning and disinfecting the vehicle should be removed and disposed of after cleaning; wash hands immediately after removal of gloves and PPE with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available."cdc.gov
Use Alcohol Cleaners
The CDC suggests using alcohol cleaners with 70% alcohol is the most effective. Not only is alcohol effective against Coronavirus, but it is friendly to most car surfaces. Just keep it away from the leather. Most leather has a protective layer, but if you don't know the specifications, you are much better to be safe than sorry.
A Soap & Water Mixture
Another effective option which is truly effective on many surfaces, including your leather seats, is a simple mix of water and soap. Just try not to scrub too fervently, or get the interior fabrics too damp.
100% Cotton Cloth or Microfiber Towels
Generally speaking, old cotton t-shirts and/or microfiber towels are a versatile solution that can be applied just about anywhere.
Regarding Leather Seats and Surfaces
Notwithstanding that leather has been frequently mentioned above, it bears repeating again. Avoid ammonia-based cleaners, bleach, alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide. Leather-specific cleaning wipes are ideal, but a damp cloth with water and soap is likely to do the trick.
Stopping the Spread of Coronavirus
Ideally, the most effective solution to stop community spread of Coronavirus is to simply stay home and not share a vehicle. If you must, however, share a car, get service, drive a rental, or transport others, then frequent disinfecting is the most effective way to keep yourself and others safe.
Professional Detailing
Without fail, if you're truly anxious, a professional cleaning is the most thorough treatment. Contact us for a comprehensive list of cleaning treatments and services currently on offer.