It is not a novel concept to ensure the interior of your car is clean, especially in the hygienic-conscious world we live in today, cleaning the commonly touched surfaces has become a matter of serious concern. Steering wheels, gear shifts, and door handles may contain germs, bacteria, and viruses and this happens especially with cars that are often used or commonly shared between members of a particular family. Whereas the overall hygiene inside a car can be maintained with a routine cleaning of its interior, it is a good idea to sanitize those parts that are touched the most, to provide an additional means of protection.
High-touch surfaces include the areas that are touched most commonly in everyday driving process. These are the steering wheel, door handles, as well as controls and buttons, seatbelts, touchscreens, and the gear-selector. Such surfaces are likely to attract and store oils, soil and microbes very rapidly particularly in case the driver or passengers have come into contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. Good sanitization safety depreciates the health hazards and ensures a cleaner and comfortable driving.
Start With Clean Surfaces Before Sanitizing
It is important to clean dirt and grime on the surface before applying any sanitizing product. Sanitizers work best on clean surfaces because the debris may obstruct the disinfectant to reach the surface below. Wipe plastic, leather and vinyl with a soft microfiber cloth and mild, interior-safe cleaning agent. Toxic chemicals are not the best option to use at this level since they can even harm when abused or applied on the incorrect materials.
This is the first territory of what professional car detailing makes when preparing a car to more serious treatment. The trick is not to wet any of the electronic parts or stitching, most importantly on steering wheel buttons, infotainment screens or seats. It is usually advisable to clean the surface with a damp cloth so as not to damage it. This will make sure that once the sanitizers are used subsequently, they will be touching the surface directly and doing their job.
Choose The Right Sanitizing Products
Not every sanitizer is permissible to use in the car interior. Bleach or high concentrations of alcohol products will fade, crack, or discolor leather and plastic. Rather, seek interior-specific cleaning products or products containing a lower alcohol content, preferably 60 to 70 percent, not only does it still clean effectively, but it is not as aggressive on sensitive finishes. Another safe and chemical-free technique implemented by some detailers is to utilize commercial-grade steam in implementing the touch-free disinfecting strategy.
Steering wheels, gear selectors, and door handles can be sanitized effectively by the use of a spray disinfectant with a clean microfiber cloth. One is supposed to leave the disinfectant according to the recommended contact time to allow the pathogen to be neutralized. Rushing through the process can result in ineffective sanitation. The selection of non-corrosive products suggested by car interior cleaning experts, which are gentle, maintains the materials intact and at the same time, keeps hygiene in place.
Focus On Frequently Used Controls
Controls and features that you use regularly when you are driving should be paid special attention. This consists of the steering wheel, the gear shift and the touchscreen in case you have one in your car. Bacteria can be found in such places as even buttons on climate controls, radios, windows, by not cleaning on a regular basis. These minute spots are usually ignored during the regular cleaning however they could be centers of germs especially when used by more than one passenger or driver.
Touchscreens require extra care during sanitization. Clean with electronic friendly cleansers or even use Screen-saver wipes to prevent leftovers or damage to screens. The steering wheels are especially made out of leather or a soft touch material and thus must be wiped with a disinfecting product labeled as such on the surface. Such a practice can keep the car clean, but additionally, it preserves the life of these parts, which is a main advantage often highlighted in car detailing services.
Do Not Forget Secondary Touchpoints
Obviously, steering wheels and door handles should be cleaned, but there are other parts that must also be thoroughly cleaned. An example of this is the seatbelt buckles. It is an item that one handles numerous times during a journey, and a lot of dirt and germs may be trapped in the tiny cracks. Bacteria also grows on grab handles, armrests and even cup holders as items that are touched regularly. Cleaning these zones ought to be included in any all-inclusive interior cleaning exercise.
Air vents may not be directly touched, but they still can blow out particles and need to be cleaned with special details (brushes, compressed air) or other accessories. These methods are used by the car interior cleaning specialists when a complete cleaning job is taken (to provide new air flow inside the automobile). Once these areas are cleaned, then this should be followed by airplane sanitizing that enhances a healthier cabin and reduces the risk of transmission of germs.
Maintain Regular Sanitization Habits
One time sanitization is not sufficient in making places clean in the long run. It is necessary to build a routine, particularly in the case when your car is driven everyday or shared. You can carry along sanitizing wipes in the car so that you are in control of your cleaning chores. Wiping down obvious hot spots after every use also helps to avoid accumulation and a chance of spreading contaminants.
Professional car detailing will enhance your own maintenance by providing deep cleaning and disinfections as well as anything that you may be lacking in areas that you miss on your own. A consistent system of maintenance including sanitization on a regular basis helps hygiene, but also the appearance of the overall condition of a room. Caring about the interiors of vehicles, car owners not only increase comfort and extend the lifespan of the materials but also guarantee peace of mind after each ride.
Conclusion
Cleaning a vehicle is a big part of keeping it in good shape; particularly, it is also a good habit that keeps the vehicle user-friendly when traveling. All items regularly touched such as the steering wheel to seat belt clips should be cleaned and sanitized thoroughly with care and the requisite products. Cleaning the interior of your car and carrying out a frequent sanitizing procedure will keep you healthy and safe in your vehicle and maintain it in good condition. Regardless of whether you want to devote some time to your car at home or you prefer integrating this process into your weekly car detailing routine, it is always worth devoting the time to clean these touchpoints in order to keep your car clean and hospitable.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.