Keep your vehicle germ-free with Trust My Garage

During the coronavirus pandemic, the importance of keeping clean has been highlighted in every aspect of daily life – so when it comes to your vehicle, what are the best ways to keep the germs at bay? Find out with the Trust My Garage blog by reading on!

In a survey of 1,000 drivers, 38 per cent said they only clean their car once every couple of months, 16 per cent said they did it just once a year and 9 per cent said they clean their less than once every 12 months – but why is keeping your motor clean so important?

As a vehicle is often a communal space, whether for work or personal use, motorists must be careful to ensure their car or van is kept free from as many germs as possible – especially if multiple drivers and passengers utilise the vehicle.

Before

Before getting into your vehicle, you can attempt to keep germs on your person at a minimum by washing your hands with soap and warm water or use hand sanitiser if you can’t get to a sink. As people use their hands for almost everything, they are a major point of transfer for germs to get from one point to another.

By washing or sanitising prior to getting into a vehicle, you are removing any potentially unwanted germs from your hands and stopping them coming into contact with door handles, seatbelts and seatbelt fasteners, the steering wheel and any other controls within your vehicle. If you have antiviral wipes, consider keeping them in the car to wipe down surfaces. Always read the instructions as some wipes may not be suitable for the surfaces and materials inside cars.

During

If you’re concerned about sharing your vehicle with other drivers or passengers, try to keep touching any unnecessary objects and parts of the car to a minimum – unless it is negatively affecting your driving, vision or comfort. Where possible, travel alone and only make essential trips to keep chances of germ transference as low as possible. Where you are required to carry others in your car, consider asking them to sit in the rear seats to remain within social distancing guidance as best as possible.

After

Once you have exited your vehicle at your destination, clean and sanitise any surfaces you have touched inside the car with a wipe or other cleaning product to remove any bacteria. Once done, throw the used item/s immediately into a bin and do not re-use.

Just like before you step into a vehicle, wash or sanitise your hands as soon as possible, and where possible refrain from touching any other items or surfaces until you have been able to clean your hands.

If you have arrived home from a journey, remove your shoes, coat and any other items such as a handbag and sanitise them as best as possible before touching other objects or surfaces in your house. Again, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after you’ve finished cleaning.

Vehicle Care

Regular cleaning of the exterior and interior of your vehicle may help you avoid germ-heavy spots – particularly in areas you touch frequently such as door handles, seatbelt buckles, the ignition, steering wheel and controls such as indicators and wiper stalks. Soap and water is a proven method to remove the virus, or you can use rubbing alcohol of at least 60% purity or specific car cleaning products if you prefer.

If you are looking at using cleaning product, do your research to locate one that works best for you. For example, leather interiors can require different cleaning products to cloth upholstery to avoid damage to the leather, so make sure you’re using the appropriate materials to keep your car looking great as well as staying clean.

This video also details some great ways to keep your car germ-free, so you can check out these tips:

Other, manufacturer-specific videos are also available if you’re looking for information tailored to your vehicle make too.

If you’re looking for help or guidance about cleaning and maintaining your vehicle during the lockdown, you could also call your local garage and ask for advice! Garages have been classed by the government as an essential business, so can remain open. Some may be operating on reduced hours, so check the opening times and contact details of your nearest member using the Trust My Garage website’s Find a Garage map – try it out here:

More about Trust My Garage

Trust My Garage is a collection of Britain’s trusted local garages – each one different and all dedicated to the highest standards of skill and personal service.

Every garage in Trust My Garage are members of the Independent Garage Association, which is part of the RMI, one of Britain’s oldest motor trade organisations. IGA members are true professionals who must comply with a strict code of practice. Every customer of all Trust My Garage members can rely on using a nationally recognised brand to help you and your vehicle get the best value service for you and your vehicle. If you want to find out more about Trust My Garage, visit our website, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!