AS we religiously practise hand sanitation and disinfecting stuffs each time we get back from the grocery shops during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period, it is easy to overlook the fact that our cars collect as much viruses and bacteria from the outside.
In addition, those collected are trapped within the interior and on cabin surfaces. No guessing that we are potentially exposed to them the next time we get into the car.
So, how harmful can they actually be, and what measures can be taken in order to equally sanitise our cars as we maintain personal hygiene during this hard time?
The easy answer, according to Proton Holdings Bhd, is to minimise unnecessary hand contact within your vehicle altogether. And to do that, you'll have to fully utilise the available hands-free functions such as the voice command that allows you to control multiple things in the vehicle.
These include listening to the radio, streaming music, navigating around town and utilising the power tailgate with the foot sensor — since all you have to do is to wave your foot under the rear bumper if your key fob is in the pocket.
But not all cars have such comprehensive hands-free functions and many times there's just no way around not having to touch what's in the car.
INSIDE OUT
According to Proton, surfaces you touch on a regular basis should be frequently disinfected. They include the steering wheel, gear knob, door handles (both inside and outside), as well as the engine "push start" button and the car key.
This is because recent studies show that the Covid-19 virus can survive for up to three days on plastic and stainless-steel surfaces, suggesting that the Covid-19 virus might be lingering on any surface of your vehicle if not disinfected properly after human contact. Thus, it is important to wipe down all surfaces regularly after purchasing your necessities.
If your vehicle comes with a touchscreen, just like the Infotainment Head Unit (IHU), remember that the screen will be one area that needs regular cleaning. You can do so by using a soft cloth that has been lightly misted with anti-bacterial spray. Don't overdo it though.
Proton also advises that you should periodically clean your vehicle's seats. However, it should be noted that leather seats might not be suitable to be cleaned with disinfectants. The harsh chemicals may ruin the material causing discoloration and breakage. Hence, you should look for appropriate cleaning solutions that are designed for cleaning leather seats, and make sure that your seats are completely wiped dry to avoid stains and cracks.
3M Malaysia reiterates how extra care needs to be given to leather seats. It is advised that they should be conditioned at least once every three months as they are prone to drying, cracking and ageing — as such, use 3M's leather and vinyl restorer as it is formulated with conditioning oils that help keep the material soft, supple and hydrated.
If you have fabric seats, you should vacuum them and then use a disinfectant spray.
Beyond throwing out all of the trash such as cups, tissues and papers out, 3M also reminds owners not to forget cleaning the windows from the inside.
DOWN AND DIRTY
Once the top is done, the only logical place to go to is the floor. While sanitization spray and wipe helps, added disinfecting process goes a long way with hygiene. Make sure you remove the floor mats before vacuuming the interior. Then, vacuum from the top down, starting from the headliner, seats, dashboard, console and down to the floor. Don't forget to also vacuum the floor mats you have removed before putting them back into place.
To make sure your car is thoroughly clean, adjust the seats to reach hard-to-reach areas and clean them. You should vacuum your car each week or even twice a week if you can to minimise accumulation of dirt, or worse, germs.
But some of you might say that we clean and vacuum our car every now and then, so aren't these enough?
Trapo Asia chief executive officer Tzong Lee said prior to the pandemic, a report from Waze revealed that Malaysian drivers spent an average of one hour and 12 minutes in a car every day, and Trapo found out that many people washed their car often but mainly on the exterior.
"For me, it is not enough to vacuum your car. You need to wash the mats, wipe the interior, and spray some disinfectant from time to time," said Lee.
"We think that it is important to sanitise our cars because we may be carrying the virus from the places that we visit every day into the car, and it stays in the car interior, eventually making people sick without them noticing."
Trapo's car mats, as Lee explains, has been popular as not only are they extremely easy to clean and dry, but also feature the Bactekiller technology from Japan — infusing silver ions into their car mats, which helps to kill 99.99 per cent of bacteria.
"Cars are your interspace from points A to B. You can carry germs on your shoes and feet, most of which can accumulate on your car mat.
"When water is in contact with the Trapo Bactekiller technology, the silver ion will be released. The released silver ion will prevent bacteria from duplicating itself."
When asked on what other measures should be taken when driving during the MCO period, Lee advised car owners to spray disinfectant on the car interior and shopping bags and use plenty of hand sanitisers.
"Don't forget to wear face masks, keep a social distance and practise good hygiene, including in your car," he added.
THE OUTSIDE COUNTS
While the inside matters, making sure the exterior of your vehicle is cleaned thoroughly is equally just as important. After all other than hygiene keeping the car clean gives it a fresh look and also protects it from the elements.
As 3M points out, your car is exposed to dust and all sorts of pollutants daily, even if your are not doing any driving.
This makes it important to wash your vehicle regularly because if you leave water stains or bird droppings unwashed for a prolonged period, these contaminants can strip off and damage the paint on the vehicle
Washing your vehicle every two weeks would suffice but if live in an area with a lot of pollution, you need to amp up to washing your car once a week to retain its spotless appearance.
Be sure to use a cleaner that is made specifically for exterior automotive application while washing. Do not use household detergents just to save money because it will peel off your car's paint.
A cleaner like 3M's Auto Care Car Wash Soap can safely remove dirt and grime without harming the protective layer of wax that shield polishes, keeping your car sparkling and shiny.
Next up is drying your vehicle. You shouldn't let your car air dry because once the water evaporates after washing, minerals will remain and cause corrosion.
To make things worse, it also causes unsightly watermarks and streaking. Instead, use microfibre cloths to dry your car because it effectively absorbs water and doesn't scratch your paint coating.
Wipe your car's body from the top down thoroughly and make sure no area is still wet to prevent rusting.
Make the effort to eliminate scratches and wax for touch-ups between washes or in the event your car goes through a rainstorm or is struck by bird droppings.
Down to the tyres, grime and brake dust build up on the rims over time and corrode the coating, causing unwanted discolouration. As such, using the right product is key to clean your tires effectively.
Hence, look for a powerful solution that can remove even the toughest buildup from the road. And while you're at it why not restore its look assuming if it looks dull and faded. Shiny wheels and tires can make a stunning difference to the overall look of your car.
Finally, work on the windows. You might have oversprayed various products onto your windows and tainted them while detailing other parts of your vehicle. Cleaning them will give a finished, cleaned look to your vehicle.
Use a glass cleaner for better results, and spray it onto a microfibre cloth instead of the window when wiping. Wipe with a straight up and down motion on both sides of the window for best effects.