Cleaning Your Car
Tips on How to Clean Your Car
At Greve Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, we fully understand the concerns our customers have about exposure to COVID-19, or coronavirus. To reduce the risk of exposure to germs, many people in Ohio and across the country are wearing gloves, frequently using hand sanitizer and sanitizing items they purchase as they run their errands. However, once you load things into your car, they are then touching the interior surfaces of your vehicle. According to the , studies suggest that the coronavirus 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.
How Long Does the Coronavirus Survive on Surfaces?
One of biggest challenges in disinfecting your car is that the interior has a variety of different surfaces. From soft leather seats to the plastic on the dash, your car may require several different tools to properly clean the interior. According to the , 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. suggests that similar viruses can live on "inanimate surfaces like metal, glass or plastic for up to nine days."
What's the Best Way to Sanitize My Car's Interior?
Before sanitizing your vehicle, it's important to wash your hands. If you have them, it's also a good idea to wear disposable gloves. Most 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 can, keep disinfectant wipes and a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your car so you can wipe surfaces down frequently.
How to Clean Leather Seats in My Car
Before using any type of leather cleaner, be sure to spot test it on a hidden area to check that it will work well for your specific seating material. Use a microfiber cloth for cleaning to avoid scratching the leather. If you don't have any leather cleaner on hand, you can mix two parts vinegar with one part water to make your own DIY sanitizing solution. If you have it, apply a leather conditioner after cleaning.
How to Disinfect Surfaces in My Car
The most important areas of your Chrysler, Dodge, 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 works just fine -- simply dampen the surface and scrub for 20-30 seconds. Make sure to wipe your dash and steering wheel with a disinfecting product frequently, too. It's important to focus on all the high-touch places within your car. 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
Do I Need to Disinfect My Car's Exterior?
Germs are less likely to live on the exterior of your car thanks to the sun and other weather elements. With that sad, it's still smart to disinfect areas you touch frequently. That includes the door handles, handle buttons and gas cap.
Are There Disinfectants I Should Avoid Using in My Car?
If you want to avoid damaging your Ram or Jeep 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.