How to Disinfect a Vehicle from Coronavirus
In the past month, COVID-19 or the Coronavirus has altered our regular lives as we know it. College campuses are closed, commencements are canceled, toilet paper supply is running low in stores and we have all adapted to a new trend called “social distancing” in an effort to cut back the spread of the pandemic. If you are taking steps to disinfect and sanitize your household and vehicle from Coronavirus germs, check out 5 steps for disinfecting a vehicle from COVID-19 below!
Should I sanitize my vehicle from COVID-19?
The CDC and EPA have worked hard to determine how to stop the spread of COVID-19 and released information with best practices for sanitizing and disinfecting surfaces. The CDC recommends cleaning and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces regularly because COVID-19 germs can survive on surfaces anywhere from a few hours to a few days. If you haven’t yet, you should consider cleaning and disinfecting your vehicle from COVID-19.
Disinfect Your Car in 4 Steps!
- Clear Garbage from Inside Car
Wearing disposable gloves, clear all garbage and unwanted items from the inside of your vehicle. Make sure you check under seats in nooks and crannies throughout the vehicle.
- Vacuum and Dust
Vacuum the carpet and seats to help clear dust and dirt. Then, dust hard surfaces throughout the vehicle using a microfiber cloth.
- Shampoo Carpets
Shampoo carpets and fabric seats in order to sanitize them using automotive carpet shampoo or soap and water. Leather seats should be conditioned with the proper automotive products.
- Disinfect Hard Surfaces
Using disinfectants that have been cleared by the EPA to kill COVID-19 germs, wipe down all commonly touched surfaces in your vehicle. These include your keys, interior and exterior door handles, steering wheel and steering wheel-mounted controls, touchscreen display, radio functions, the gear shifter, seat belts, dashboard and center console.
Note that before choosing a chemical disinfectant, you should check your vehicle’s owner’s manual to see which specific disinfectants might damage the upholstery. To play it safe, consider using Clorox wet wipes or Formula 409 Antibacterial Multi-Surface Cleaner without bleach.
Nobody knows how long the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to spread, that’s why it’s important to continue social distancing, washing your hands and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces regularly. Thank you for reading!