Viruses & Your Vehicle

For most Canadians, November signals the beginning of colder temperatures, stormy weather, and cold and flu season. Now, more than ever, it’s important that we take the necessary precautions to protect our loved ones from any potential illnesses.

This past year has seen many of us become experts in proper hand-washing techniques, Zoom meetings, and leaving for the store, forgetting your mask at home, going back home to get it, and… finally getting those errands done. We know all about social distancing and self-isolation, but how much do we really know about sanitizing our vehicles? 

We spoke with our resident experts about the most effective ways to keep your vehicle clean this cold and flu season, and here’s what they had to say.

Watch How You Wipe

When it comes to wiping down your vehicle, consider all the places you frequently touch. There’s a lot of them, right? Try to focus on the high-contact points like the door handles, any knobs, buttons, and levers, steering wheel, and screens before getting into the nitty-gritty. 

Once the high-traffic areas are taken care of, make sure you get the seat belts and buckles, center console, rearview mirror, windows, headliner, and head rests. 

But with wiping, it doesn’t end there. If you’ve gotten used to sanitizing everything from the groceries you bring home to the kid’s homework with Lysol wipes, it’s time to think again. 

Traditional wipes tend to have harsh chemicals which are great for killing viral particles, but can do some serious damage on the interior of your vehicle. You’ll want to avoid any alcohol-based cleaners, along with bleach, and anything labelled as “detergent free.” 

There are certain brands of wipes specifically designed for use on vehicle interiors like Turtle Wax, Armor All, and Meguiar’s that are great for getting through the grime while protecting the leather and plastic pieces in your car. 

Vacuum & Ventilation

Once you’ve given your vehicle’s surfaces a good wipe down, it’s time to focus on clearing the air - literally. Cars are carriers of dust, bacteria, and grime, which can all act as carriers for viral particles. Make sure you vacuum your vehicle regularly, including a good scrub of the carpets, pedals, and floor mats.

In addition to a good vacuuming, you’ll want to give your vehicle’s filters and air condtioning system a deep clean to assure high air quality within your vehicle. 

Tips & Tricks

At the end of the day, the main goal is to have your vehicle running safely and smoothly. If you don’t have time for an extreme clean, our detailers agree that the best ingredient to have in any good cleaning is good old fashioned soap. 

Soap interacts with the surface of viral particles in a way that degrades it very quickly, basically destroying any germs left behind in your vehicle. 

When it comes to wiping down any non-leather surfaces in your vehicle, you don’t have to overdo it. These surfaces (think vinyl or synthetic materials) don’t absorb anything, so once it’s wiped, consider it clean! 

If you do have leather in your vehicle but you don’t have access to any of the gentler cleaning options, you can always follow up with a leather conditioner that will replace any of the oils a harsher product would typically remove or dry out. Just be sure to wipe down the surface after using the conditioner to avoid any greasy spots. 

Another good alternative for leather is makeup wipes which help the leather maintain its moisture. 

Finally, it’s good practice to keep a “clean kit” in your car at all times. Have hand sanitizer, masks, and wet wipes on hand can stop any virus in its tracks almost instantly.