COVID-19 is changing the way that we look at things. Your car is your transportation. But, could it be more? With a little bit of cleaning and innovation, you can turn it into a sanitizing station. This way, wherever you go, you can rely on your car as a sanitary safe haven to protect you from the pandemic.
Why a sanitizer station?
Imagine you are leaving work and headed home. You have no idea what you could have come into contact with at work, especially in today’s world. Now, you are going to get inside of your car, drive home, and interact with your family.
Your car has to be a sanitizer station when you think about it. Otherwise, how are you going to get rid of germs after leaving work? You can’t simply wash your hands when you get home and expect all to be forgiven. You must sanitize every step of the way.
Even if you’re not an essential employee, there may be the need to go places. You may have to fight the crowds at a grocery store, pick up food from a local restaurant, or check on an elderly parent.
Your car has to be a way for you to sanitize so you’re not allowing germs to sit on your skin any longer than absolutely necessary. You have to do your part to flatten the curve and prevent getting coronavirus. With a bit of sanitization, you can make it easier to protect yourself.
How to Clean Your Car
If you are going to turn your car effectively into a sanitizing station, every surface needs to be cleaned properly. This includes not only the steering wheel but also every other surface that you could potentially touch.
Not all cleaners are going to get the job done. According to the CDC, alcohol solutions consisting of at least 70% alcohol will be effective in killing the coronavirus. This means that you will want to use an isopropyl alcohol-based cleaner throughout the different surfaces of your car.
Some of the hotspots you will want to include are:
- Door handles inside and out
- Steering wheel
- Shift knob
- Window control buttons
- Turn signal and windshield wiper stalks
- Armrests
- Seat adjusters
- Grab handles
- Radio controls
If your vehicle does have a touchscreen, be sure you don’t use ammonia on it. Otherwise, you can accidentally strip the anti-glare and anti-fingerprint coating that is in place.
Additionally, if you cannot find products that contain at least 70% alcohol, you can also use soap and water. The CDC is also updating its website of products that have proven to be effective in killing the coronavirus. It can make it easier to know what to use so that you can use quality products inside your car.
If you have fabric upholstery, avoid using too much water. Otherwise, you could inadvertently start growing mold within the cushions or experience a musty smell.
Additionally, if you have leather anywhere, white gently as opposed to rubbing vigorously. Otherwise, you could end up removing the color from the dye inside of the leather.
Adding the Necessary Level of Sanitation
As you work to turn your vehicle into a sanitizing station, use gloves. Otherwise, you could be accidentally cross-contaminating areas that have already been cleaned. As you move to a different area, change your gloves.
Once you are sure that your car has been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, you are ready to take it to the next level.
Each and every time you get into your car, you will want to sanitize yourself from anything that you have touched. Be sure that you have sufficient sanitizing products inside. This can include liquid or gel sanitizer or sanitizing hand wipes.
The method used to get the sanitizer out can be tricky as you may have to touch it with unsanitized hands. This can lead to a vicious circle of not being as sanitized as you think you are. Look at exploring a sanitizer solution that will dispense the sanitizer in a touch-freeway. There are various dispensers that use motion sensors. If all else fails, you can use your elbow or wrist as a way to work the pump so that you aren’t using unsanitized fingers in the process.
Take it to the Next Level
Whether you simply want to keep a sanitized vehicle or you plan to spend a lot of time inside, sanitizing yourself from the outside world, you have to be comfortable. Various things can be done to ensure that you’re not only comfortable but well protected.
Add auto film to the windows. The UV rays can add a significant amount of heat to the interior of your car. With premium auto film, you can block most of the rays. It reduces the interior temperature considerably. It also protects the interior materials from being destroyed by extreme heat over time.
Protect other components. From your smartphone to your car’s touchscreen, you’re doing a lot of touching. During the pandemic, anything you touch could mean the spread of the virus. With RX antimicrobial film can be added to various computer screens and monitors to help establish a protective barrier.
Implement seat covers. If you have fabric seat covers, it’s hard to keep them clean. You don’t know what kinds of germs they’ve absorbed in the months or years since you bought the car. By adding seat covers – leather, vinyl, or otherwise, it makes it easier for you to wipe down seats and eliminate germs.
With a little bit of work on your part, your car can be the safest place for you to spend time. Your sanitizing station can keep you safe from the germs passed to you by others, various objects that you touch, and more. It could be what keeps your sanity until the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic has passed once and for all.
Discover more about protecting you and your car at G-Force Automotive Films today. We’ll provide advice and talk to you about our services.
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