Get Your Car Germ-Free in 5 Easy Steps | Scott's Fort Collins Auto

Get Your Car Germ-Free in 5 Easy Steps

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We are all more conscious of cleanliness in our homes during this pandemic, but what about our cars? Does the heat really kill all germs in your vehicle as the days are getting warmer? Here’s what to know, and how to remove germs from your car just to be safe. Follow these 5 easy steps to get your car germ-free today! 

Why You Should Sanitize Your Car 

We all are more aware of washing our hands and cleaning regularly touched surfaces in our homes, but what about our cars? Unfortunately, our cars are just another place where germs can accumulate. This means that it’s also important to make sure you’re sanitizing your car during this pandemic as well. 

You might be asking, “… but doesn’t the heat during these warmer months kill any germs in the car?” The short answer is that it can be, however, we believe it’s better to be safe than sorry. According to an article from the University of Georgia, it’s been shown that viruses similar to COVID-19 have been known to become inactive at high temperatures (think: 130 degrees) in a short amount of time. They explain further that it could take as little as 20 minutes for heat at that temperature to kill 99.99% of the virus. Since COVID-19 is a new virus, more studies need to happen to be 100% sure that heat kills off the virus effectively, which means it doesn’t hurt to go ahead and clean your car yourself from time to time to keep germs at bay. 

If you want to make sure you’re cleaning your car in a safe and effective way, follow these tips. 

1.Use a 70% alcohol solution 

Your car’s interior is more delicate than your countertops or other hard surfaces in your home, which means you need to handle them with a little more care. However, you need to be sure your cleaning solution is strong enough to kill off potential germs that are lurking. Consumer Reports details that almost every surface in your car can be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol. In fact, they talked with an executive employee at Yanfeng Automotive Interiors, one of the world’s largest suppliers of automotive interior parts, who says this is what they use to clean their parts before they’re shipped off. Additionally, they mention that it’s important to NOT use certain products, like bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or ammonia-based cleaners in your car. We know that, especially right now, it might be tempting to take bleach to any and everything. However, your car can’t withstand that. Even the smallest amount could cause irreversible damage to your car’s soft surfaces. In addition, don’t use ammonia gas cleaners to clean up your touch screens, as it can destroy the protective coating that helps prevent glare and fingerprints. 

2.Use soap and water 

The soft surfaces in your car, like the floors and seats, need to be cleaned too. However, you can’t use typical cleaning agents on these surfaces because of their soft nature. Cleaning with soap and water can help break down the virus and reduce the number of germs in your car. When you’re not sure if heavier cleaners can be used on a surface in your car, we recommend trying soap and water first to make sure you’re protecting the integrity of your car’s surfaces. Before you begin cleaning, we also suggest you vacuum and remove extra dirt and debris first, that way the soap can really get to work on killing those germs without dirt getting in the way. 

3.Consider seat and steering wheel covers

If you want to be sure you’re doing all you can to protect yourself from COVID-19, we recommend investing in seat coverings for your car. These coverings, many of which can be laundered, are easier to keep clean and sanitized. Bonus: if you have pets or kids that frequent your car too, this makes for easier clean ups for those inevitable messes! 

4.Don’t forget the backend 

The backend of your car can easily become a hub for germs, especially if you typically place groceries and other items back there after shopping. This is another good opportunity to utilize your vacuum, soap, and water. 

5.Clean your hands before you enter your car

To help reduce the amount of germs you bring into your car, wash or sanitize your hands before you get into your car each time. This helps protect you, but it also helps reduce the amount of germs on commonly touched surfaces in your car, like the steering wheel, radio controls, seatbelt, and more. 

Know You Can Rely on Scott’s Auto

If you find that you have car trouble in the midst of this pandemic, our teams here at Scott’s Fort Collins Auto and Scott’s Loveland Auto are here to help. With these two convenient locations, we’re easily accessible when you need us. We also value your health and wellbeing during this time, which is why we’re now offering the following FREE services when your car’s maintenance can’t wait:

  • No contact drop off and pick up
  • Pick up and delivery in the Fort Collins and Loveland area
  • Towing with repair (restrictions apply) 

Car problems happen when we least expect it, even when there’s a global health pandemic going on. If you need help, call us today to set up an appointment. Fort Collins: (970)-682-4202 or Loveland: (970)-541-4404. 

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