How to Deep Clean and Disinfect Your Vehicle to Prevent Spread of Germs and Viruses

Oct 15, 2023

Since it’s currently International Infection Prevention Week, we thought we’d take a look at some important tips and tricks to keeping your vehicle fresh, tidy, sanitized, and free of “yuck.” In addition, you can never be too cautious during this “cold and flu” season and with schools back in session passing around those nasty little bugs. So we’ve got a great guide for taking care of your car and keeping it sparkling clean!

Tips for Disinfecting and Sanitizing your vehicle:

There are lots of special vehicle-friendly sanitizing solutions on the market right now, and many of them contain special moisturizers and protective barriers to prevent premature aging/cracking of leather, plastic, and other surfaces. A cleaning solution which contains at least 70% isopropyl alcohol in order for it to be effective against coronavirus and other nasty germs, but use caution on some surfaces. Many cleaning products will tell you right on the label which viruses, bacteria, and diseases they’ve been proven to obliterate, and will also detail which surfaces are safe to use them on. Never use bleach products, hydrogen peroxide products, or ammonia-based products to clean your car’s interior.
Always keep the following cleaning kit handy in your car: hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes, masks, disposable gloves, trash bags, clean and fresh microfiber cloths, paper towels.
Clean high-touch areas of your vehicle such as inside and outside door handles, the steering wheel, gear shift, turn signal and wiper levers, buttons on your dashboard, infotainment touch screens, emergency brake, driver and passenger armrests, grab safety handles, seat adjustment/heating adjustment buttons and levers on passenger and driver seats, AC/Heating vents and controls.
If a surface appears to be dirty, wipe it down using a solution of gently lathered soap and warm water with a microfiber cloth and then wipe dry with an additional microfiber cloth; following the soap solution, you may wipe the surface down with a disinfectant wipe or spray.
Where’s the rush? Just like you would take at least 20 to 30 seconds of hand washing to properly cleanse your hands, you’ll want to take your time cleaning your vehicle to make sure you’re doing a thorough job!
Consider applying a gentle foaming upholstery cleaner to fabric surfaces and seats, washing and drying your floor mats, and applying a fabric-friendly disinfectant made for soft/porous surfaces. Alternatively, you can have your interior detailed or steam cleaned to remove additional dust, allergens, dirt, and germs lurking in the upholstery.
If you’re driving with passengers who are sick, it’s recommended to leave all windows open at least 3 inches to help circulate fresh air and lower potential spread of viruses and germs.

Additional tips for keeping a clean vehicle and minimizing exposure to germs, viruses, and bacteria:

Add a miniature trash can to your car’s interior. Whether you go green and reuse a plastic bag, or you snag one of these nifty mobile, on the go trash can options, this is an essential accessory for your car. And of course, helps you avoid the bad habit of making a “backseat floor trash can.”
Follow the mantra of “Toss it out whenever you step out!” Making a habit to toss out or take inside everything you’ve brought along for the ride will keep your car interior sparkling clean. You can prevent the spread of germs and dirt by removing something every time you get out of your car.)
Line your cup holders with silicone cupcake molds, foam inserts, or plastic liners. You’ll have a no-muss, no-fuss cleanup job for leaks and spills simply by removing the liners to dispose, or reusing them after washing and sanitizing.
Install some simple in-car organizers to the center console or the back of your seats/headrests. Organizers can help keep cleaning materials, detergents, disinfectants, and tissues readily available. If you’ve got kiddos or teens, these organizers can also safely stow away their toys, books, tablets and snacks in easy-to-reach and clean pouches.
Regularly wash and detail the interior of your car with professional car wash services. In addition to routine spot cleaning or the occasional wipedown, sending your car to be detailed and professionally steam cleaned is highly recommended. Deep cleaning surfaces and upholstery can reduce allergens, germs, and other nasty stuff hiding in the fabric and on interior surfaces.