How to sanitise your vehicle

Dilute dish washing liquid in a spray bottle. Photo: The Motor Guy

If you need to use your car for essential trips during lockdown, it is important that you disinfect your vehicle before and after use, including all touch points.

Under Alert Level 4, we in New Zealand are advised to stay at home but if you need to use your car to go to a pharmacy, petrol station or the supermarket then you need to take cleaning your vehicle to the next level too.

But car cleaning experts say forget about some hand sanitisers to wipe down surfaces such as your steering wheel as anything alcohol-based will damage the leather interior. That includes alcohol on your hands from hand sanitisers.

One expert says disinfectant wipes work best in your vehicle’s cabin as it is the cleaner most used by manufacturers of most automotive interiors.

Another expert suggests diluting liquid dish detergent in water and keeping it in a spray bottle inside the car.

“Places to clean are all touch points: the door handle (interior and exterior), steering wheel, seat belts and buckles, keys and fobs, window button, radio and climate control buttons and any other areas drivers and passengers touch.”

Once you have a clean car, wash your hands before driving so you don’t put germs on surfaces.

Wear disposable gloves when exiting the car to do essential shopping but remove them before you return to your vehicle to avoid contaminating it. 

Clean your car fob or keys after each trip.