How often do you clean the inside of your car? If you do, is it little more than a wipe and a vacuum? Chances are if you aren't so hot on interior cleaning, lots of nasty bacteria could be lurking on every surface ready to cause illness. And, unless you're heavily into detailing and spend an obscene amount of money on sprays and waxes, chances are you haven't got some specialised spray that will leave your interior spotless.
It doesn't have to be that way however. There are a wide range of products available for sanitising your car that suit any budget. So keep yourself and others safe with our picks for the best ways to disinfect your car's interior.
Parkers - How to disinfect your car
1. Autoglym Anti-Viral Car Fogger Bomb
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The car equivalent of a decontamination unit, this car fogger from Autoglym will kill bacteria and viruses in your car. Simply set the spray going and shut all your car's doors for 10 minutes. After this open the doors and let the interior air out and you'll be left with a totally sanitised interior.
Pros: Will sanitise even the dirtiest of cars
Cons: One-time use
2. Clinell cleaning wipes
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Very effective wipes for cleaning your car, the thick duty wipes are said to be 99.9% effective in just 10 seconds. The pack contains 100 heavy-duty wipes and is approved for use by real doctors. They are also safe on your hands so no need to wear gloves.
Pros: Approved by doctors so you know it's effective, heavy-duty so they will work for longer
Cons: Not recyclable
3. Autoglym hand sanitiser
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Hand sanitiser is always handy to keep in the car and this product from Autoglym will ensure your hands remain clean. The 80% alcohol rating product is World Health Organisation approved so it's sure to keep you safe. Having the Great Seal of the Realm also means that it's good enough for the Queen and that's good enough for us.
Pros: Keeps your hands clean, in a push can be used on surfaces
Cons: Sometimes hard to find in stock
4. Nilco Nilbac Dry-Touch Sanitiser Spray
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This effective spray is ideal for cleaning your car on a budget. Odourless but powerful, simply spray on interior surfaces (including the seats) and it will kill bacteria. Also suitable for your home it is a great product to have at any time. The best part is, there is no need to wipe up residue as this product leaves none.
Pros: Perfect for sanitising
Cons: No nice odour
5. STP air-con cleaner
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This spray will give your air-con a new lease of life. Ever sat in a car and the air-con stinks of musty farts? Then the system is full of mould and bacteria that could pose a health risk. Simply follow the instructions on this air-con cleaner and not only with the smell of guff be gone but your system will be free of bacteria.
Pros: Great for removing smells
Cons: Only useful for air-con, single-use only
What you need to remember:
What areas should you target first?
The obvious places to start with are the areas people are always touching. Door handles, seat belts, touchscreens and driving controls are always good to clean because everyone touches them. Also, remember that fabrics can trap scents and bacteria so the seats and carpets should be given a clean too. Make sure your disinfectant is safe to use on soft fabrics first however.
Other areas to clean
The areas you may forget about include your key fob, boot and door pockets. You carry your keys around all day so it's a good idea to give them a freshen up when you clean the interior. And your boot and door pockets are usually filled with a whole host of random stuff so giving them a good clean once in a while won't hurt.
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