At least since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people want to disinfect their car properly. It is no longer just about cleaning your own car thoroughly from time to time, but also about protection against infections. So you simply enjoy a better feeling when you know that at least a large part of the unwanted microorganisms have been inactivated or eliminated. The most efficient method is of course mechanical cleaning, but there are many places in the car where this is not so easy. Therefore, other ways and means must be found, for example to disinfect the ventilation in the car. You are also restricted when it comes to cleaning the upholstery, because you usually cannot remove and wash them, you have to treat them in the vehicle.
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Why should you regularly clean your car from Get rid of microorganisms?
There are a number of reasons that speak in favor of cleaning your car thoroughly and also inactivating the germs that are present. Any Sars-CoV-2 viruses that may be present are not the main reason, but these are also eliminated by the methods described in this article. But other viruses, bacteria, fungi, mites and mold spores are also at risk. Some specific methods are also suitable for allergy sufferers, because under certain circumstances they can even render allergens harmless in the interior or the ventilation. In addition, some techniques allow you to remove grease and dust from your air conditioning condenser itself, which in turn increases its efficiency. All in all, disinfecting the interior of your car allows a significant improvement in air quality, since unwanted odors can also be eliminated, for example. Of course, you can also rid your car of germs from the outside, with the door handles in particular representing neuralgic points.
How can you do this yourself?
There are various preparatory steps that should always be carried out first. The first thing you should do is clear your car of all unnecessary items. Of course, you should also simply throw away all rubbish, particularly used handkerchiefs and worn-out masks. In this way you reduce the total surface on which germs could settle, because after all the risk of infection should be reduced as effectively as possible in the long term.
In the next step, you should thoroughly clean your vehicle interior, because you should not forget that disinfection is not real cleaning and cannot replace it. If possible, you should first free all surfaces from dust, crumbs and the like before you start to remove the remaining dirt. It is best to use a water-washing-up liquid mixture with a squeeze of lemon or the commercially available products for the corresponding surfaces. If you are unsure about the material compatibility or want to use a new product, we recommend that you first try it out on an area that is not directly visible. Suitable care products are also available for thorough cleaning of your seat upholstery. The final step is disinfection. There is a whole range of different disinfectants that you should use to treat particularly critical areas. If the main concern is the risk of infection, you should of course disinfect your steering wheel in the car, but don't forget the gear lever and other controls. In this final work step, testing the surface compatibility is even more important, because the commercially available disinfectants often contain organic solvents or other aggressive components, which clog plastic surfaces in particular, but also leather. It is therefore also important to remove the disinfectant that has been applied with a damp cloth after the specified exposure time – this will prevent damage that occurs later.
What about the air conditioning?
You should pay more attention to this vehicle system, which can be found in many modern vehicles, during cleaning. This serves to supply fresh air, which is why it is particularly important to regularly disinfect the air conditioning and ventilation in the car. Incidentally, in order to keep the germ load in the interior low, you should avoid activating the air recirculation mode too often, because in this case the germs are more or less concentrated in the passenger compartment. In addition, the cabin air filter should be replaced at least annually. For a real disinfection of the air conditioning system, however, you should contact a specialist company, as this can be quite time-consuming. Nevertheless, you can help yourself, for example with bad smells. For example, disinfectant interior sprays are offered. You have to start your engine and let it idle. In the next step, the ventilation is set to maximum speed and to recirculation mode. Then you place the spray can safely in the footwell on the vehicle passenger side and activate it. You must not fall over under any circumstances and you must leave your car immediately and close the doors so that you do not inhale the disinfectant yourself. When no more disinfectant is released (in about fifteen minutes), you can open your car, switch off the engine and let the car air out thoroughly. In addition to interior sprays, there are also agents that are applied directly to the evaporator, for example as a spray or foam.
Which methods are used by experts?
A disinfection method that has been used for air conditioning systems for some time is also particularly suitable for indoor use. This is ozone, which can be generated directly on site using special equipment. This colorless and odorless gas offers a whole range of advantages, which is why it is being used more and more frequently. For example, it can easily get anywhere in your car, so that, in contrast to the use of surface disinfectants, the entire interior really becomes germ-free. Many workshops have had very good experiences with this process in recent years, so that an extension for the car interior is the logical consequence. Another advantage of ozone is that it is particularly reactive and thus also offers a certain cleaning effect. In this way, any allergens that may be present are inactivated in many cases. There are no unpleasant odors afterwards, because the gas simply decomposes into oxygen. There are also other methods, but they have significant disadvantages.
Conclusion
Disinfecting your car can be worthwhile. Especially in today's sometimes very unsettled times, this simply gives you a better feeling when you are out and about in your car. So do not take any unnecessary risks, especially if you share your car with several people. Of course, professional service offers are very pleasant, but you should compare them in terms of price and scope of services.
A tip from CarTipsandmore: Remember that In many cases, a normal thorough vehicle cleaning can already eliminate many unwanted microorganisms. In addition, we recommend that you wash your hands at the right times, as this is one of the best protective measures against any type of smear infection.