Words by: Andrew Woodhouse
Last updated on 6 May 2025 | 0 min read
Whether you're keeping your vehicle in great condition or preparing it for sale, cleaning and disinfecting your car is a simple step that can make a big difference. A clean car feels better to drive, is safer for passengers, and can boost its resale value.
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
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
We’d recommend giving your vehicle a good clean before you sell it. It’s common courtesy, and (if nothing else) a clean car can be easier to sell.
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, if you only clean one part of your car regularly, make it the wheel. Don't forget less obvious areas like cup holders, door pockets, and storage compartments. These can collect crumbs, dust, and bacteria over time.
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, if you only clean one part of your car regularly, make it the wheel. Don't forget less obvious areas like cup holders, door pockets, and storage compartments. These can collect crumbs, dust, and bacteria over time.
How to clean your car
You don’t need fancy equipment to get the job done, but you do need a bit of care, especially around sensitive materials and electronics.
Car-specific cleaners are ideal, particularly for upholstery, leather, or plastics, 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. Don’t soak surfaces, especially around buttons or screens. Use a damp cloth, not a dripping one. Be gentle. Hard scrubbing might feel satisfying, but it can wear down surfaces or strip coatings (especially on plastics, vinyl, or leather). A microfibre cloth should minimise potential for scratches. We advise you clean in sections. For example, clean and dry the dashboard before moving on to seats or doors.
Car-specific cleaners are ideal, particularly for upholstery, leather, or plastics, 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. Don’t soak surfaces, especially around buttons or screens. Use a damp cloth, not a dripping one. Be gentle. Hard scrubbing might feel satisfying, but it can wear down surfaces or strip coatings (especially on plastics, vinyl, or leather). A microfibre cloth should minimise potential for scratches. We advise you clean in sections. For example, clean and dry the dashboard before moving on to seats or doors.
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. 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. 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.
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.