Disinfect your car: How to protect yourself during the coronavirus crisis!

Why do you need to disinfect your car? Good personal hygiene and proper hand washing with soap and water are currently some of the most important means to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus. If you are one of those people who have to work despite the state of emergency, you would certainly prefer to go to work by car rather than public transport. You may feel safe and protected in your own car but this feeling can be quite deceptive. To prevent possible infection, all drivers need to disinfect their car and clean it thoroughly.

The car can be a nest for many viruses and bacteria, especially in the places that we touch all the time, such as the steering wheel, the handles, the gear lever and all control buttons. Simple cleaning primarily removes what we see – dust, dirt, etc. But this is far from being sufficient to protect yourself from infection. Disinfecting the car removes all germs that are not visible to the naked eye.

Disinfect your car – which cleaning products are suitable for this?

In times of coronavirus, hygiene and cleanliness are more important than ever. We told you how to disinfect your smartphone, how to clean and disinfect your home, but most of us do not think about the car. According to experts, hydrogen peroxide (oxygen water), bleach or aggressive cleaning agents should under no circumstances be used to disinfect the car. Even if these kill viruses and bacteria, the surfaces and especially leather seats can be damaged. In case that you have only such cleaning products at hand, first try to use them to clean an inconspicuous area in the car and observe how the material reacts to them.

Is it a good idea to clean the car with alcohol?

In addition to proper disinfectants, alcohol is also quite suitable for disinfecting the car, but it must be diluted carefully. Although alcohol does not damage leather, excessive cleaning and aggressive scrubbing can discolor the material. The cheapest, easiest, and probably most effective method is to do good old washing with soap and hot water. Simply fill a spray bottle with the mixture and carefully spray the entire interior with it. To remove all bacteria, you should leave the cleaner to work for at least 30 minutes and only then wipe it with a clean, dry microfiber towel. Experts recommend airing the vehicle for a few minutes after cleaning.

Disinfect all areas thoroughly

You will disinfect the car if you really clean the entire interior thoroughly and regularly. Door handles, steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake should best be cleaned every time you get in and out. Due to the fact that coronavirus survives on surfaces for several hours to several days, you should not forget the rarely used areas such as the mirror, the turn signal, the keys, the touchscreen, the trunk handle and the fuel cap. But if you don’t have the time and desire to do the whole action several times a day, you could also put on clean rubber gloves. Cleaning the air conditioner would also be very helpful to protect you from covid-19 – special spays and detergents for this are available at every gas station.

Caution should also be exercised when refueling

Many studies have already shown that nozzles are full of bacteria, viruses and pathogens. Therefore, at petrol stations, try to minimize contact with the staff. If possible, choose a self-service point when refueling and wash your hands with soap and water immediately afterwards. In addition, we recommend that you pay with a contactless card or mobile phone.