How to Sanitize Car Interior

How to Clean Your Car for Coronavirus

How to Clean Your Car for Coronavirus

How To Disinfect Your Car

At Tilbury Chrysler, we fully understand the concerns our customers have about exposure to COVID-19, or coronavirus. Some ways to reduce the exposure of germs for those outside their homes in Tilbury, ON, is by wearing gloves, frequently using hand sanitizer and sanitizing items that are purchased when running errands. However, what happens when you purchase these items and load them into your vehicle? These items are clearly touching the interior of your car. According to the World Health Organization, studies suggest that coronaviruses may live on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. That means that you should be sanitizing the interior of your car to kill any germs it may have collected on your last visit to the grocery store or pharmacy.

1. How Long Does Coronavirus Survive on Surfaces?
One of the challenges of disinfecting your vehicle is that its interior contains many different surfaces. From soft leather seats to the plastic on the dash, you'll realize there's a need for several different tools when cleaning the inside of your car. According to National Institutes of Health, the virus that causes COVID-19 is stable for up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic or stainless steel. Another study suggests that similar viruses can live on "inanimate surfaces like metal, glass or plastic for up to nine days."
Before you start cleaning your car, make sure to wash your hands. And if you have them, disposable gloves are very useful. Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work well for sanitizing your vehicle. Just be sure to read the product's label to make sure it's safe for the surface you're planning to use it on. If you have enough to spare, it's a good idea to keep disinfectant wipes and a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your car. That way, you can wipe it down frequently.
The most important areas of your Jeep or Ram to keep clean are the dashboard and the steering wheel. Bacteria tends to collect in these spots, as air is cycled throughout the vehicle. To clean your dash, simply use soap and water. Dish soap also works well. All you need to do is dampen the surface and scrub for about 20-30 seconds. Make sure to wipe your dash and steering wheel with a disinfectant product, too. Also focus on high-touch places as well that will also need to be sanitized. These surfaces can include:

  • Door Handles

  • Door Buttons

  • Key Fob

  • Steering Wheel

  • Inside Door Buttons

  • Seat Belts

  • Gear Shifters

  • Touchscreens

  • Buttons on the Dash

  • Buttons for Lights

  • Buttons for Windshield Wipers

  • Glove Compartment
It's less likely for germs to live on the outside of your vehicle due to the sun and other weather elements. It's still recommended to disinfect areas that you touch frequently, such as door handles, handle buttons or a gas cap.
If you want to avoid damaging your Dodge model's interior surfaces, don't use bleach or hydrogen peroxide to disinfect. These can damage the vinyl and plastics in your cabin. You should also avoid any ammonia-based cleaning products used to clean glass, as they can break down the vinyl on the dashboard. Heat and light may then cause your dashboard to become sticky.
Before you begin using any type of leather cleaner, make sure to spot test it on hidden areas to make sure it will work well for your specific seats. When you're cleaning, utilize a microfiber cloth to avoid scratching the leather material. If you don’t have any leather cleaner on you, try mixing two parts vinegar with one part water to make your own solution. And if possible, try applying leather conditioner after cleaning.

Here at Tilbury Chrysler, we want to do our part to help educate our customers and keep them safe and healthy during this difficult time. If you have any questions about car care or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to our Jeep, Ram, Dodge and Chrysler dealer in Tilbury, ON.

Tilbury ChryslerHow to Sanitize Car Interior