The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tells us that washing hands, as well as cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces are two of the best ways to protect ourselves from spreading known viruses.
As our communities grow more health-conscious, you’ve likely picked up household products that are effective in killing germs. But your car’s interior is much less durable than your kitchen counter and bathroom sink. So how do you protect your vehicle without causing damage with car detailing near me?
It’s important to clean your vehicle’s frequently touched surfaces on a regular basis. This is essential if you or someone in your vehicle shows signs of illness or you’re a ride-hailing driver or a taxi. At a minimum, these surfaces include door handles, steering wheel, buttons and touch screens, shift lever, turn and wiper signal stalks, armrests, grab handles, and seat adjusters.
Many of the same household cleaners that kill viruses on surfaces will clean your car without damaging it, with a few notable exceptions. Chances are, you already have some of these products at home.
According to the CDC, alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol are effective in killing viruses, such as the novel coronavirus. Jeff Stout, the executive director of global innovation at Yancheng Automotive Interiors says that isopropyl alcohol is safe for most of your vehicle’s interior hard surfaces and car detailing near me.
Yanfeng works with nearly every major automobile manufacturer as the world’s largest supplier of automotive interior parts. Stout goes on to say that pure isopropyl alcohol is used to clean parts in their own factories. You can even use the agent on the exterior of soft cloth upholstery.
Leather and vinyl, on the other hand, have a urethane coating. Although this is safe to clean with alcohol, doing so can leave your leather susceptible to damage and discoloration overtime. Keep in mind that most leathers are dyed, and rubbing too vigorously can remove it’s dye.
Dara Ward, the senior marketing director at Katzkin - a leather interior vehicle manufacturer - recommends using a simple Ivory soap and water to clean spills and spots on leather-trimmed interiors. Consider a good leather cleaner and a good leather conditioner after you clean the surface.
Whatever you do, never use hydrogen peroxide or bleach on the inside of your car. Although these products are effective in killing viruses, there’s a chance it will damage your car’s upholstery and cause discoloring.
Alternatively, too much water and soap will create too many suds. If you soak through the fabric into the cushion underneath you could end up with a musty smell or encourage mold growth. Instead, lightly agitate the fabric with a small amount of water and laundry detergent.
You’ll also want to avoid using ammonia-based cleaners on your car’s touch screens. Doing so will damage anti-print and glare protective coatings.
When in doubt, it’s best to have a professional handle car detailing near me. When you visit Tommy Terrific’s Car Wash you can relax and enjoy a complimentary beer while the experts do their work! Learn more about Dallas’ best luxury car wash.