How to Safely Sanitize the Interior

Did you know that your car may be a carrier? Yes, of course, it hauls passengers and groceries. But did you know that it can transport germs and even the current Coronavirus? For several days after an infectious contact, the COVID-19 virus may still be alive on certain interior surfaces of your car, making it similar to a human carrier–exhibiting no symptoms but able to pass the sickness on to you. While Randy’s Automotive in Medfield, Massachusetts, primarily focuses on mechanical repairs, we are a family owned business concerned about the well being of our customers. To combat the spread of the virus, we are sanitizing all touch surfaces before we return your car to you. However, we also want to let you know how to keep your car’s interior surfaces–and yourself–well between visits to our shop. Please see the information provided below, and feel free to call us with any additional questions or to schedule an appointment for service without having to make face-to-fact contact with our staff.

So Many Nasty Places

We know you’re a clean person who takes good care of your car. We all, however, must think defensively during this pandemic in order to remain well. The not-so-pleasant fact is that a lot of surfaces appear clean, but they are, in reality, surprisingly germ-laden. Some of those nastiest places that we don’t ordinarily consider are found in our cars. All surfaces that you touch can harbor COVID-19. Perhaps the dirtiest place is your steering wheel because you place your hands on it after touching everything else prior to entering the car. Even so, there are many other “hot spots.” The gear shift, door handles, power buttons, radio controls, arm rests, seat belts, and perhaps even the sun visors have the potential to be secondary transmitters. Anything that has been touched is risky and needs sanitizing.

The Cleaning Solution

As you can see, clean is not enough. Your car’s surfaces may look great, but they may be harboring germs and viruses. (That’s the difference. “Clean” is the absence of visible dirt. “Sanitized” is the reduction of germs to a non-threatening level. “Disinfected” is the destruction of all germs.) To deal with those areas, you need to balance the threat to personal safety, the cleaning products and methods you use, and the integrity of your car’s interior. For most people, sanitation is sufficient protection. This can be accomplished with a cloth soaked in soap and water (wet, but not dripping such that it leaves puddled water). Harsh chemicals and bleach can disinfect surfaces, but these are also likely to damage your car’s interior. Stay safe, and don’t hesitate to let Randy’s Automotive assist you with your vehicle service and repair needs.