Page 29 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – July/August 2020

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Cleaning Your Car
During the Pandemic
Photo: Shutterstock: Space_Cat
While most of us have given some thought to When cleaning the inside of your car, be sure to focus
your disinfecting on high touch areas such as:
cleaning our homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, we might not have given much consideration to keeping our car clean. Even in a world without this virus, taking steps to keep your vehicle disinfected is highly recommended.
As our vehicles transport us between a clean space (our home) and a potentially contaminated place (any public place), it is vital to pay special attention to keeping our cars clean to reduce the risk of spreading contaminants or becoming ill.
• Steering Wheel • Dashboard
• Seat Belts
• Seat Belt Clips • Door Handles • Gear Shift
• Control Stalks
• Window Controls • Armrests
• Cupholders
• Rearview Mirror • Media Knobs
You should always check with
the manufacturer of your vehicle regarding which cleaning agents are safe for use on the specific interior materials of your car and always read the instructions on the product label.
Most hard surfaces in your car can be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol (70% or higher), bleach-free disinfectant wipes or soap and water.
After cleaning and disinfecting your car, you will want to keep it as clean as possible. In the professional cleaning industry, strict protocols exist when moving from a “dirty” environment to a “clean” environment.
The space between the two settings is referred to as a decontamination chamber or a cleanroom. Any item that could potentially be carrying a contaminant is removed, disposed of, or cleaned in that space. If you were to consider any public space you visit as the contaminated area, and your freshly cleaned car as the clean area, you would want to “decontaminate” before getting into your vehicle. For example, if you wore gloves to the store, you should remove them before touching anything inside your car. Similarly, it would help if you always clean your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer before getting into your clean car.
The frequency and level of cleaning detail should depend on factors such as whether you or one of your passengers has been ill, how often you drive your vehicle and the risk level of the environments you visit when driving.
Most hard surfaces in your car
can be cleaned with isopropyl
alcohol (70% or higher), bleach-
free disinfectant wipes or soap and water. Avoid using hydrogen peroxide, products containing bleach or using excessive amounts of detergent. Also, be aware that using too much water on fabrics can cause microbial growth if water gets trapped and cannot dry sufficiently.
A microfiber cloth is recommended as it does the best job of picking up and wiping away dirt and contaminants without harming surfaces. Be careful not to scrub excessively on your car’s interior surfaces as this can lead to scratching or dulling of materials.
CarolAnn Price is a principal at Certified Water, Smoke and Fire Restoration Services LLC, a professional disaster cleanup company in the New York Capital Region and a AAA Discounts & Rewards® partner. Besides its website, certifiedwsf.com, you can find CertifiedWSF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
JULY/AUGUST 2020
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