How To Sanitize Your Car

Tips on How to Clean Your Car

At Five Star Subaru of Grapevine, we fully understand the concerns our customers have about exposure to COVID-19, or the coronavirus. Many people in and around the Fort Worth area have been taking extra precautions when going out and running errands, such as: wearing gloves, using hand sanitizer and sanitizing purchased items. When you load these items into your car, however, they're touching your vehicle's interior so it's important to disinfect these surfaces, too. According to some studies, it's possible the coronavirus may live on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. That means that you should be sanitizing the interior of your car to kill any germs it may have collected on your last visit to the grocery store or pharmacy.

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Technician sanitizing a vehicle exterior

How Long Does the Coronavirus Survive on Surfaces?

Your car's interior likely contains several types of surfaces, ranging from leather seats to the plastic on the dash. Therefore, you'll probably need several different tools and products to properly clean your vehicle. The virus that causes COVID-19 is stable for up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic or stainless steel. Studies suggest that similar viruses can live on "inanimate surfaces like metal, glass or plastic for up to nine days."

Technician sanitizing a vehicle interior

What's the Best Way to Sanitize My Car's Interior?

Prior to disinfecting your car, make sure you wash your hands. We recommend wearing disposable gloves if you have any on hand. Most will work well for sanitizing your vehicle. Just be sure to read the product's label to make sure it's safe for the surface you're planning to use it on. Keeping a small bottle of hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes in your vehicle is a good idea so that you can wipe down high-touch areas frequently.

Vehicle interior dash being sprayed and wiped down

How to Disinfect Surfaces in My Car

The most important areas of your Subaru to keep clean are the dashboard and the steering wheel. Bacteria tends to collect in these spots, as air is cycled throughout the vehicle. To clean your dash, simply use soap and water. You can use whatever dish soap you have on hand. Dampen the surface, then scrub for at least 20 seconds. Be sure to frequently wipe down your steering wheel, dash and other high-touch places with a disinfecting product. These surfaces can include:

Door Handles
Door Buttons
Key Fob
Steering Wheel
Inside Door Buttons
Seat Belts
Gear Shifters
Touchscreens
Buttons on the Dash
Buttons for Lights
Buttons for Windshield Wipers
Glove Compartment

Do I Need to Disinfect My Car's Exterior?

The sun and other weather elements make it more difficult for germs to live on the outside of your vehicle for long periods of time. Still, it's a good idea to disinfect areas you frequently touch, like the door handles, handle buttons or gas cap.

Are There Disinfectants I Should Avoid Using in My Car?

If you want to avoid damaging your Subaru model's interior surfaces, don't use bleach or hydrogen peroxide to disinfect. These can damage the vinyl and plastics in your cabin. You should also avoid any ammonia-based cleaning products used to clean glass, as they can break down the vinyl on the dashboard. Heat and light may then cause your dashboard to become sticky.

How to Clean Leather Seats in My Car

It's important to spot test leather cleaner on a hidden area of your seats to ensure that it works well on your specific seats. Use a microfiber cloth to avoid scratching the leather as you clean. You can make your own DIY leather cleaner solution if you don't have any on hand -- simply mix two parts vinegar with one part water. Apply a leather condition after cleaning, if available.

What Cleaning Measures is Five Star Subaru of Grapevine Taking?

Whether you're looking to buy a new vehicle or service your current ride, you can rest easy knowing that Five Star Subaru of Grapevine is taking extensive measures as directed by the CDC to ensure the health and safety of our customers and employees. Our team is also wearing protective items such as gloves to further reduce the risk of spreading germs.

Here at Five Star Subaru of Grapevine, we want to do our part to help educate our customers and keep them safe and healthy during this difficult time. If you have any questions about car care or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to our Subaru dealership near Fort Worth, TX.