by Savannah Car Rentals | in Uncategorized | 0 comments

We’re living in unprecedented times with the coronavirus upending almost every aspect of daily life. We’ve made disinfecting common surfaces a regular habit and we’ve been washing our hands religiously. 

Most of the country is under some form of a stay-at-home order, but it’s inevitable that we’ll have to venture out of our homes to get essentials, meaning that we may come into contact with COVID-19 and bring it back to our vehicles. So here are a few tips on how to disinfect the interior of your car and stay safe and healthy, without damaging your vehicle’s interior surfaces. 

Your Car & Germs 

Think of all the frequently touched spaces in your car: door handles, steering wheel, gear shift, buttons, screens, armrests… There are so many places where germs can hide out. It’s helpful to keep disinfecting hand wipes or hand sanitizer in your vehicle so you can disinfect your hands as soon as you return to your vehicle. But you’ll also want to make cleaning the interior surfaces themselves a priority. 

Cleaning Without Damaging 

But how can you ensure your vehicle is sanitized without damaging the surfaces? Some household cleaners may not be friendly to fabrics and leathers, but most are. You can use most household cleaners that are at least 70% alcohol to kill the coronavirus on surfaces in your vehicle. Specifically, isopropyl alcohol will work and is gentle enough on surfaces to avoid damage or blemishes. 

Gentle soap and water with a little scrubbing can also sanitize and clean your vehicle without fear of damage, but don’t scrub too harshly. Leather should also be conditioned regularly to maintain its appearance and to reduce wear and tear. 

What Not to Use 

There are a few solutions that you should avoid at all costs when cleaning the interior of your car. Specifically, do NOT use bleach or any cleaner containing hydrogen peroxide. These solutions will inevitably stain and severely damage leather, carpet, and fabric materials. They’ll also damage touch screens beyond repair as will ammonia solutions. If you use these solutions, the surfaces will be clean, but they’ll be severely damaged. So check the ingredients of your cleaners first. 

Where to Clean 

Wondering where exactly to clean and disinfect inside your vehicle? Here are a few suggestions: 

• Door handles (interior and exterior) 
• Cupholders 
• Armrests, front and back seat
• Window and seat controls 
• Steering wheel 
• Turn signal and headlight controls 
• Touch screens and other dashboard buttons 
• Seatbelts (including latches and any areas your hands may touch)

Savannah Car Rentals is Here For You

We understand these are trying times for everyone. It’s important to do what you can to say safe, sanitized, and healthy in the midst of this pandemic. At Savannah Car Rentals, we’re here for you if you need to make an essential trip or travel to care for a family member. Or, if you face car trouble, we can put you in an affordable rental at daily rates as low as $24.99. Find us in Savannah, Hinesville, or Statesboro and let us know how we can serve you.