Clean sweep

Domestic hygiene is of course high on the agenda right now and it’s important to remember it’s not just your house that needs scrupulous cleaning. Your car is one of the most tactile items you’ll own, with multiple surfaces that need special attention too.

During an average trip, the driver and passengers are likely to be touching many surfaces that can attract dirt and germs from opening the door to changing gear, or from adjusting the heating fan to switching the lights on.

And it may not be only your car you need to think about. There’s a big demand at present amongst online buyers for home deliveries and home test drives. All require both the garage and the end customer to be vigilant about germ-free usage.

So which are the most important areas around the vehicle you’ll need to consider? There are obvious areas of course; the key, the steering wheel and horn, the gearstick, the interior of the driver’s door and the rear-view mirror. But also think about areas that might get touched less frequently, such as the dust caps, the bonnet and then things like the head rests.

You might also overlook the seatbelt. Everyone has to wear one when they get into the car, and the number of times you adjust that seatbelt depends on the size of the person in the vehicle, so there could be two to three touch points just on the seatbelt itself. Also, the belt sits across you, so if you were to cough or sneeze, there’s a very good chance germs get on the seatbelt or on the steering wheel.

Keep your car germ free: which products to use

Dealerships typically use commercial products made specifically to clean cars without damaging leather or interior materials, but in the absence of these types of fluids, bleach-free antibacterial wipes are the next best thing. They’re inexpensive and kill 99.9% of germs, so they’re as safe and cheap as you can get without going out and buying a really strong cleaner.

With a pack of wipes, a pair of gloves and a dry microfibre cloth, you can give most of the touch points a clean. Don’t just give each area a quick wipe; make sure you wipe it at least twice in a forwards and backwards motion so you’ve cleaned it completely.

Now wash your hands!

When you’ve finished and remove your gloves, give your hands a good wash. We’d also advise you to wear gloves if you’re in a vehicle such as a rental car or a taxi. You don’t know which areas of the car the previous occupants have touched and germs can stay on a spot for 72 hours. If kids often travel in your car, then there’s every chance they’ve been wiping their hands on windows – we’ve all done it as children, drawing faces on the window!

40 areas of the car to clean

The Interesting Times:

Here’s a check list of 40 areas of any car you come into contact with that ideally should be cleaned. For simplicity, the seatbelts are counted as one item and if you carry others in your vehicle, you might have to spend a little longer ensuring each of your passengers can enjoy a factory-fresh ride next time they get into your car.

1 Exterior door handles
2 Frame of door and roof
3 Interior door release
4 Window switches
5 Interior door handle
6 Door pocket
7 Seatbelts
8 Seatbelt clips
9 Seat adjust buttons
10 Steering wheel
11 Horn
12 Control stalks
13 Driver air vents
14 Dashboard
15 Power button
16 Gear shift
17 Multimedia screen
18 Central air vents
19 Heating controls
20 Glovebox
21 Log book
22 Central storage compartment
23 Cupholders
24 Rear-view mirror
25 Interior lights
26 Grab handle
27 Key
28 Head rests
29 Seat pockets
30 Rear central tab
31 Fuel cap
32 Wheel valves
33 Boot lid
34 Parcel shelf
35 Boot floor tab
36 Boot close button
37 Bonnet lid
38 Washer cap
39 Dipstick
40 Oil cap