Let's #kitajagakita! Here're tips for disinfecting and cleaning your car interior.

Due to the pandemic, I’m sure most of you pay much attention to hygiene than ever and do cleaning more frequently. And so do I. But except for where we live, don’t forget our cars! As I usually drive my car with other passengers (e.g. my daughter and my parents), who are more vulnerable to the virus, I think it’s necessary to disinfect the car interior regularly except normal cleaning. So I consulted my friend who’s a professional about how to do it.  Here’s my experience:

What You need:

• Vacuum Cleaner
• 70% Isopropyl Alcohol
• Soap Water
• Glass Cleaner
• Wiping Materials: towels, rags,microfiber cloth (prefered), cotton buds, etc.

Steps:

1. Carpets and Floor Mats

Take the carpets and floor mats out of the car and shake the dust out. If there is still dirt, you can hose them down (for plastic mats) or vacuum them (for carpet mats). Then use a vacuum cleaner to remove all the dust and debris on the floor. After that, put the carpets and mats back.

2. Seats

As we know, 70% Isopropyl Alcohol is an effective way to eliminate viruses. Other than that, it could remove all ranges of smudges and stains. So you might think this is the perfect choice to clean the seats. For faux leather or cloth seats, it is. But not proper for leather ones, cuz alcohol can damage and discolor leather. You could use soap water instead, which has the same effect.

Just keep in mind that no matter what kinds of materials, using microfiber cloth for wiping is alway the best, as it effectively traps dust and grime but without hurting the surface. Also, make sure the wiping rags aren’t too damp, otherwise the seats are easy to get musty.

        3. Hard Surfaces

The hard surfaces such as dashboards, consoles, steering wheels, and door handles are what we touch frequently, which means there might be lots of bacteria and virus. Again, we can clean and polish the surfaces gently with either alcohol or soap water. For the areas that are hard to reach like air vents and seams we can do it via cotton buds.

       4. Windows

Spray some glass cleaner (better containing alcohol) on a microfiber cloth and then scrub the windows. Never use ammonia-related products, as they will damage windows. If you have tinted windows, make sure the cleaning product you use is safe for your windows.

Last but not least, always remember washing your hands before driving! Otherwise your cleaning is meaningless.

Hope you guys stay healthy! And if you think these tips are useful, plz feel free to share with others.