Feature
Cleaning & disinfecting your car
Worried about coronavirus? Here's our top tips on cleaning and disinfecting your vehicle.
Words by: Auto Trader
Last updated on 20 August 2021 | 0 min read
With coronavirus (COVID-19) cases persisting, cleanliness and sanitisation remain important. In this guide, we’ve put together some tips on how to clean and disinfect your vehicle.
While these are all tested tips for car cleaning, this does not constitute medical advice. Please visit the NHS website for the latest information on coronavirus (COVID-19). Jump to: • Cleaning and disinfecting your car • Where to clean • How to clean your car • What cleaning materials to use • Disinfecting your car • Products to avoid
While these are all tested tips for car cleaning, this does not constitute medical advice. Please visit the NHS website for the latest information on coronavirus (COVID-19). Jump to: • Cleaning and disinfecting your car • Where to clean • How to clean your car • What cleaning materials to use • Disinfecting your car • Products to avoid
Even in normal times, we’d strongly recommend cleaning and disinfecting your vehicle before you sell it. It’s common courtesy, and (if nothing else) a clean car can be easier to sell.
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak continues, remember that you must all self-isolate for 10 days if you, or any of your household, are displaying any of the symptoms of coronavirus. If you’re selling your vehicle, delay the handover until your isolation period has ended.
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak continues, remember that you must all self-isolate for 10 days if you, or any of your household, are displaying any of the symptoms of coronavirus. If you’re selling your vehicle, delay the handover until your isolation period has ended.
Cleaning and disinfecting your car
To get the most out of your materials, we recommend you clean first, then disinfect.
Give your car a good scrub with soap and water or professional cleaning products, then wipe it down with disinfectants or products containing viricidal agents proven to kill flu viruses. We recommend you check the chemicals used in these products to make sure you’re not damaging your car. You should also regularly wash your hands with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds, and/or use a hand sanitiser to reduce your risk of catching the virus.
Give your car a good scrub with soap and water or professional cleaning products, then wipe it down with disinfectants or products containing viricidal agents proven to kill flu viruses. We recommend you check the chemicals used in these products to make sure you’re not damaging your car. You should also regularly wash your hands with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds, and/or use a hand sanitiser to reduce your risk of catching the virus.
Where to clean
It’s worth giving the whole car a good clean inside and out, but you should prioritise areas that are frequently touched. These will include door handles, the gear stick, infotainment and dashboard controls, seats and armrests, seat belts and the handbrake.
Perhaps most important is the steering wheel. One study^ found that the average steering wheel carried up to four times the number of germs as the average toilet seat. So, even outside of coronavirus concerns, cleaning your steering wheel is a good habit to get into. Take time to clean the carpets, mats and other surfaces too. You should definitely be doing this if you’re carrying vulnerable people in your vehicle, or coming into contact with them.
Perhaps most important is the steering wheel. One study^ found that the average steering wheel carried up to four times the number of germs as the average toilet seat. So, even outside of coronavirus concerns, cleaning your steering wheel is a good habit to get into. Take time to clean the carpets, mats and other surfaces too. You should definitely be doing this if you’re carrying vulnerable people in your vehicle, or coming into contact with them.
How to clean your car
To get the most of your disinfectant, we recommend that you clean then disinfect.
Car-specific cleaners are ideal, though household cleaners could work. If you don’t have proper cleaning materials, then soap and water should do the trick – it’ll just take longer to clean properly. A good scrub can weaken the protective pocket the coronavirus sits in (that’s why you’re recommended to wash your hands). Don’t use too much water – especially around electronics. Also be aware that scrubbing too hard could remove dye or surface coatings, so take your time and work out how much pressure to apply to be thorough. A microfibre cloth should minimise potential for scratches.
Car-specific cleaners are ideal, though household cleaners could work. If you don’t have proper cleaning materials, then soap and water should do the trick – it’ll just take longer to clean properly. A good scrub can weaken the protective pocket the coronavirus sits in (that’s why you’re recommended to wash your hands). Don’t use too much water – especially around electronics. Also be aware that scrubbing too hard could remove dye or surface coatings, so take your time and work out how much pressure to apply to be thorough. A microfibre cloth should minimise potential for scratches.
What cleaning materials to use
If you want a thorough clean, then try and get cleaning materials specifically for:
• Fabrics • Exterior metal and plastic • Interior plastic, vinyl and leather When using cleaning products, it’s important to follow the guidance on manufacturer labels. These should tell you whether it’s safe to use on specific surfaces and materials. If they don’t, you could get in touch with the manufacturer and double check. They should also give you safety precautions, such as making sure the area you’re working in is well ventilated. Side note: if you’re going out to buy cleaning products, we ask that you think of others and don’t stockpile. You’d be surprised how much use you can get out of a bottle. Cars have many different surfaces and use different materials, and these can vary based on the make and model. As such, you may need different products and methods of cleaning. For example, leather can withstand more of light scrubbing because it tends to be covered in a clear coat or light vinyl. If you’re unsure of what to use, check the car manufacturer website or online forums. If you're struggling to find cleaning materials, look online for inspiration on how to create home-made alternatives. Again, be careful with which chemicals you use and make sure you aren't going to risk damaging or discolouring your car. Popular solutions include using window cleaner for lights, windows and windshields or baking soda and warm water as a cleaning solution.
• Fabrics • Exterior metal and plastic • Interior plastic, vinyl and leather When using cleaning products, it’s important to follow the guidance on manufacturer labels. These should tell you whether it’s safe to use on specific surfaces and materials. If they don’t, you could get in touch with the manufacturer and double check. They should also give you safety precautions, such as making sure the area you’re working in is well ventilated. Side note: if you’re going out to buy cleaning products, we ask that you think of others and don’t stockpile. You’d be surprised how much use you can get out of a bottle. Cars have many different surfaces and use different materials, and these can vary based on the make and model. As such, you may need different products and methods of cleaning. For example, leather can withstand more of light scrubbing because it tends to be covered in a clear coat or light vinyl. If you’re unsure of what to use, check the car manufacturer website or online forums. If you're struggling to find cleaning materials, look online for inspiration on how to create home-made alternatives. Again, be careful with which chemicals you use and make sure you aren't going to risk damaging or discolouring your car. Popular solutions include using window cleaner for lights, windows and windshields or baking soda and warm water as a cleaning solution.
Disinfecting your car
If you’ve got disinfectants, we recommend giving key areas, like the steering wheel, a wipe down after you’ve cleaned them.
Alcohol-based disinfectants, Lysol wipes and similar are in high demand right now, but if you clean your car properly, you won’t need to use as much. Top tip: if you are using disinfectant on leather surfaces, like the wheel or seats, we recommend you use leather-care products (ideally one that contains moisturiser) to protect and maintain the leather.
Alcohol-based disinfectants, Lysol wipes and similar are in high demand right now, but if you clean your car properly, you won’t need to use as much. Top tip: if you are using disinfectant on leather surfaces, like the wheel or seats, we recommend you use leather-care products (ideally one that contains moisturiser) to protect and maintain the leather.
Products to avoid
Bleach and peroxide-based cleaners can kill germs, but it’ll also damage vinyl and plastic, and probably discolour your car too, so we don’t recommend using that.
Chlorine bleach could cause serious damage to the car’s interior. If it gets on the seat belts, it could weaken the fabric and affect the safety. We also encourage you to avoid using ammonia-based cleaners inside your car. They can break down the vinyl, particularly on the dashboard, and make it sticky under heat and light. If you have touch display screens, we discourage you from using glass cleaner on them as it can affect anti-glare coatings.
Chlorine bleach could cause serious damage to the car’s interior. If it gets on the seat belts, it could weaken the fabric and affect the safety. We also encourage you to avoid using ammonia-based cleaners inside your car. They can break down the vinyl, particularly on the dashboard, and make it sticky under heat and light. If you have touch display screens, we discourage you from using glass cleaner on them as it can affect anti-glare coatings.
Wash your hands
Finally, and perhaps most importantly: follow NHS advice and wash your hands often. Washing your hands for 20 seconds can help reduce your risk of catching or spreading coronavirus.
And on a purely practical level, you risk spending hours disinfecting and deep cleaning your car only to bring new germs in every time you drive – unless you wash your hands.
And on a purely practical level, you risk spending hours disinfecting and deep cleaning your car only to bring new germs in every time you drive – unless you wash your hands.
More information
For the latest Government advice, visit https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
For NHS updates, please visit their dedicated coronavirus page. For our advice to drivers, please visit this page.
For NHS updates, please visit their dedicated coronavirus page. For our advice to drivers, please visit this page.
This article represents Auto Trader’s opinions and interpretation of the current situation and does not necessarily reflect the latest government guidance and advice. Please always consult the latest government guidance and advice before taking any decision based on this article.