Tips for Better Car Sanitation

Recent times have made people more aware of sanitation. People are upping their sanitation game in their homes, workplaces, and public facilities as a result. 

But one place that is often overlooked in the sanitation conversation is our vehicles. Because our cars are often warm and full of stagnant air, they can be breeding grounds for germs and bacteria. Below are some car sanitation tips every driver should follow.

Key Areas of Focus When Sanitizing Your Car

There are three important areas to consider when sanitizing your car: high-touch surfaces, seats and floors, and cabin air.

High-Touch Surfaces

High-touch surfaces are the places we grab, hold, and touch. And because we’re often touching these surfaces immediately after eating, working, or touching public infrastructure, they can harbor a lot of germs and bacteria and even viruses. In fact, certain viruses can live on metal, plastic and glass surfaces for 3 or more days. The high-touch surfaces on your car that you should be mindful of cleaning include: 

• Door handles
• Seatbelts and seatbelt fasteners
• Steering wheel
• Shifting knob 
• Parking brake
• Power or manual window and sunroof or moonroof controls
• Turn signal and wiper blade controls
• Dashboard dials such as radio, GPS, heating, and air conditioning
• Console areas and arm rests 

These surfaces can be cleaned with sanitizing wipes or preferably an isopropyl alcohol solution. Try to give these areas a good wipe down at least a couple times per week and anytime you carry passengers or pets. 

It’s also wise to take a bottle of hand sanitizer with you in your car. Every time you enter your car — and especially after using a gas pump or running errands — use some sanitizer on your hands before touching anything else. 

Seats and Floors

Softer surfaces such as the seats and flooring attract dirt and food particles and should be vacuumed on a regular basis. You can even shampoo these surfaces just as you would the carpet in your home. Don’t let trash and debris accumulate in your car, and be especially mindful of any car seats as they can foster an increased amount of food and dirt.  

Cabin Air

The air we breathe can be just as harmful as the things we touch. Your car has a filter inside the cabin that cleanses the air you breathe while driving. Have this cabin air filter checked regularly and replace it when it begins looking dirty. 

Don’t Forget to Have Your Car Serviced

We should all be taking steps to better sanitize our cars, but nobody should be neglecting proper service either. While you keep your vehicle clean, the service center at Central City Toyota near Philadelphia, PA, can keep it safe. Whether it’s brake service, oil changes, tire rotations or more, Central City Toyota has you covered. Check out our service specials including our Breathe Easy Special, where you can save money on a new cabin air filter.  

At Central City Toyota, we’re doing our part to keep you safe and sanitary on the road ahead.

Tags: Car Cleaning, Maintenance, Tips
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