05/06/2020
Coronavirus: 9 ways to deep-clean your car
COVID-19 is on everyone’s mind, here’s how you can clean and disinfect your vehicle
The first thing to ensure is that you are wearing a face mask and gloves.This is to ensure that you do not inhale or come in contact with germs and are able to clean up in a safe manner.
Take note of grey areas The headliner, headrest and window glass are low-contact parts, but these too need to be cleaned once in a while. The most important parts to clean, which some people tend to overlook, are interior and exterior door handles, and the car key. Time taken: 5 minutes.
Disinfect the HVAC unit The HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) unit circulates air inside the cabin, and it can carry germs. In the time of Covid-19 outbreak, it is necessary to clean the system, and it can be done easily at home. First, clean the AC vents (by spraying a specialised cleaner such as by 3M, or any ammonia-based solution). Second, remove and clean the cabin filter (it is usually located behind the glove compartment in a car). Time taken: 15 minutes.
Vacuum-clean the cabin Once in a while, it’s important to use a portable vacuum cleaner to thoroughly clean the cabin. In case you don’t have one, make sure you scrub and wash the carpet and floor mats, and use a disinfectant liquid on the pedals, gear-lever, handbrake lever, and rub a cloth coated in disinfectant liquid on the seats as well. In case you don’t have disinfectant liquid, soapy water can serve the purpose. Time taken: 30 minutes.
While we disinfect our homes and workplaces, a car may often get overlooked, but is equally important. Lastly, always keep a hand sanitizer, a mask, and wet wipes in your car.
