How to clean the interior of the car to disinfect it from germs and bacteria

Researchers at Aston University’s School of Biosciences, has shown, our car can be full of bacteria without us even realizing it. For this reason, carrying out cleaning the car interior with some frequency is something that we should keep in mind.

Prevention is better than cure. Today we are going to review some tips for effective car disinfection. Always without the materials being damaged. Once we know what the key surfaces are let’s see what is the best way to successfully disinfect your vehicle.

If you want superior disinfection you can use ozone cleaning. This gas has a microbicidal, oxygenating and deodorizing action, but unless you have an ozone machine at home (which is difficult), you will have to go to a specialized center to have your car cleaned. Another option is ultrasonic cleaning.

Bacteria on different surfaces

The steering wheel, the belt, the door handles. We cannot drive without touching them. However, the study reveals that the trunk is by far the dirtiest place in our car. Yes, curiously, it is the place where we store, for example, the supermarket purchase.

In all the cars tested, the trunk significantly exceeded the bacterial contamination levels of an average toilet. It is followed in second place by the driver’s seat; as well as the gear lever, the dashboard or the rear seat. The cleanest part seems to be, oddly enough, the steering wheel.

The most worrying thing is that the vast majority of vehicle surfaces tested contain more bacteria than our toilet bowl. That means that we may not be cleaning the interior of the car as we should. Logically, the results show that, in general, bacterial contamination correlates with the age of the vehicle.

Cleaning car interior from bacteria and germs

To clean the upholstery and interior of the car without damaging less resistant materials and surfaces, you can use a wide variety of commercial products. Some of the most recommended products to disinfect your vehicle from bacteria are:

Water and soap, although you must use them in a logical amount to avoid discoloration, grooves or odors. Do not abuse them, especially to clean upholstery, as it will take time to dry and moisture could come out.

Products containing alcohol. Alcohol can be used to clean all surfaces as long as it is not abused. To kill germs, they must be solutions with at least 70% alcohol. For example, 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes. Some car manufacturers use them to disinfect parts.

Products that you can find in any store made specifically to clean the interior of the car. This is the case of antibacterial wipes.

To clean the air conditioning circuit you can use specialized sprays. Start the car, activate the air conditioning in air recirculation mode, leave the disinfectant spray open and close the doors of the vehicle until all the gas has been exhausted. Then ventilate the interior.

To clean car upholstery and obtain a satisfactory result, we recommend using a specific upholstery product. In this way you will make sure to avoid discoloration, bad smells, humidity or stains.