How to Clean Your Car for Coronavirus
As a car wash, we’re adept to cleanliness. While our business focuses mainly on the exterior of the car, and while we don’t offer any interior detailing services, we still feel obliged to share what we do know about properly cleaning your car’s cabin. So we’ve put together some helpful tips on how to clean and disinfect your car to reduce the presence of viruses and bacteria, including COVID-19.
It’s important to note that we are not health experts. And there may be additional precautions recommended by the CDC to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The tips below have been compiled from various credible online sources, including Kelley Blue Book, Consumer Reports and the CDC. For specific information on COVID-19, please reference the CDC’s website here.
You touch more than you realize in your car. When cleaning your car’s interior, be sure to spend more time on high-touch areas, like the following:
Steering wheel. We’ve seen reports that steering wheels typically contain 4x more germs than a toilet seat. So be thorough when cleaning your wheel. Don’t forget the turn signal indicator, window wipers knob, cruise control buttons, paddle shift levers, etc. too.
Arm rests. Be sure to get both the door arm rest and the center console.
Display screens. Especially if they’re touchscreens.
Door handles
Door latches
Radio buttons
Climate control buttons
Lock/Window buttons
Seat belts and buckles
Seats
Mirrors
Cup holders
Vents
For optimal effectiveness, use products with at least 70% alcohol, including hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes.
If you want to conserve wipes, soap and water will work too. Just be thorough with your cleaning/scrubbing. When washing your seats, be cognizant of the amount of water you use—too much can seep into the cushions and lead to the growth of mold.
Microfiber cloths and towels trap dirt and prevent scratches. If you use a paper towel or napkin, you risk rubbing dirt/dust into the surface—sorta like sandpaper.
Yes, these products will kill germs. But they may damage your car too. Ammonia can damage plastic, and it breaks down vinyl—making it sticky when subjected to heat and light.
On top of giving your car’s exterior a deep clean, we also offer free vacuums, free air and free mat/rug cleaners to all individuals who purchase a wash.
We’re doing what we can to stop the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve. To that end, we’ve increased our efforts to clean and sanitize our sites each day. We are continuously sanitizing the surfaces of our pay stations, vacuum nozzles, vacuum handles and all other contact surfaces. And we’ve introduced a new disinfectant product too, called Micro Ninja 15/99.
MICRO NINJA 15/99
Micro Ninja is a heavy-duty disinfectant that effectively cleans and deodorizes all hard surfaces, including vinyl, plastic, leather, glass… pretty much anything in the interior of your car. It has demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to COVD-19 and the flu.
Micro Ninja is now available for free to all individuals who have a JetSplash membership. You can find it in our Aftercare Area after your wash, along with a microfiber towel. JetSplash will properly sanitize all Aftercare Kits after each use.
While no amount of cleaning can guarantee you’ll avoid getting sick, these suggestions can help minimize the risk. And if you believe someone exposed to COVID-19 was in your vehicle, disinfect it and call your doctor for next steps. And always refer to the CDC’s guidelines.
And please wash your hands.