Can cleaning the interior of your vehicle help stop the spread of COVID-19 virus?
It’s no surprise the most common conversation in society currently is the COVID-19 Corona Virus. It doesn’t matter where you go or look, there’s news with the number of those infected with the virus around the world. In many ways it’s caused a mass hysteria with what people can and can’t do. The experts say to stay home if you’re ill or showing symptoms of the virus. They also say it’s okay to make the essential trips out of the home when you need, such as to get groceries or medications. So, if you’re in your vehicle, how do you know it’s clean of the virus?
The health experts tell us all to wash our hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and to do it regularly. Constant hand washing is a key ingredient to help stopping the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Well, if washing your hands is a key ingredient, washing the interior of your vehicle can help too. Touching something which may have the virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes can cause you to be infected with the virus. So cleaning hands regularly is a must. And just like your hands, you can wash the interior of your vehicle with soap and water.
Giving the interior a good cleaning is fine, but if the interior is a little old, be careful with just 
how hard you scrub. Fabric interiors can be scrubbed with soap and water but be careful with how much soap. Too many suds can leave you finding suds again and again. If you have a leather interior, remember that most leathers have a dye to it, so too much scrubbing may leave the leather discolored. Please be somewhat gentle.
Cleaning the dash, controls, door handles is important to rid your vehicle of the virus. Once your vehicle has been disinfected, you’ll need to do regular disinfecting each time you enter your vehicle. Never use bleach or peroxide while cleaning the interior of the vehicle. They may kill the virus but can also damage the interior of your vehicle. Most cleaners with at least a 70% alcohol or ethanol base can do the trick, according to the experts. Wiping down the steering wheel is a must each time you’ve been out, say buying the essentials for home. Also clean the turn signal lever (provided you actually DO signal), the gear selector, stereo knobs and buttons plus anything else you regularly touch.
Each time you’ve touched something in the store, you never know if an infected person before you touched the same product. A recent analysis found the virus can remain viable on copper for up to 4 hours, on cardboard for up to 24 hours and on steel, glass or plastic for up to 3 days – or more. However, using household cleaners can remove the COVID-19 virus in under a minute. Although it’s perceived that someone can contract the virus by touching an infected area, it’s main area of spreading is through droplets from coughs and sneezes. However, cleaning the surfaces in your vehicle can’t hurt now can it?