As the global COVID-19 outbreak continues, it’s likely that you’re taking steps toward protecting yourself and your family. One of the ways you can do so — and a way to pass time during your self-quarantine — is to clean your car. These are some tips for keeping your car clean to help prevent coronavirus from spreading.
 
Wear gloves. Before you even begin cleaning, make sure you take the necessary precautions and put on disposable gloves. Not only can these gloves help protect your hands against harsh cleaning chemicals, but they can also help prevent the spread of the disease.
 
Scrub, scrub, scrub. Use either disinfectant wipes or regular soapy water to clean the hard surfaces of your car’s interior. You don’t need to use antibacterial soap in particular, since dishwashing soap is effective against the virus. Make sure you don’t forget to clean the exterior and interior door handles, the center console, and other areas where it’s possible that droplets could have fallen if you sneezed or coughed — a main way the virus is transmitted.
 
Don’t forget your upholstery. Soft surfaces, such as carpets, seats, and the headliner, can absorb dirt and germs easily. To clean these surfaces, make sure you use leather cleaner, vehicle carpet cleaner, or upholstery shampoo. This will help sanitize the surfaces and help give you peace of mind.
 
Prevent your car from getting dirty again. Once your car is clean, make a concentrated effort to avoid making it dirty again. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol content and use disinfecting wipes to regularly disinfect your steering wheel, shifter knob, and other regularly touched surfaces.
 
Contact us at Hilltop Toyota for more ideas on how to care for your care during the quarantine. We’re in this together.