How to Keep Your Car Covid-19-Safe – Sanitisers & Car Fresheners

To think we’ve only lived in a Covid world since early 2020 feels unreal. It feels so much longer — in so many ways. Sanitizing our hands has become second nature at every entrance to any place you need to go. If you think about the nitty-gritty of taking precautions when in social spaces, why not apply the same logic to making sure your car is as safe a space as anywhere else you’re visiting?

How to disinfect your car’s interior?

Disinfecting a vehicle can be more difficult than cleaning a home because of the many types of surfaces and all of the crevices and openings. Vehicle surfaces are also not made to withstand a constant onslaught of harsh cleaning products and can wear down if cleaned too often, so beware as most hand sanitisers contain alcohol, which can damage surfaces on the interior as they can cause leather to dry out and plastics to crack.

Products containing bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and ammonia are effective at killing coronaviruses, but can damage upholstery and leather, and may discolor fabrics.

A general rule of thumb for cleaning interiors is soap and water and — provided you wipe gently — you can apply this to leather as well. Plastic, metal or faux metal surfaces however shouldn’t be damaged by soap and water. When working on these areas as well as any containing electronics, use disinfectant wipes as your car sanitizer as they are better than soap and water.

A thorough approach

When thinking about your approach, be logical about what is used and/or touched the most. Think about:

• The steering wheel
• Gear lever
• Door handles (inside and out)
• Indicators
• Window controls
• Climate and audio controls
• Infotainment systems

When preparing to disinfect your Subaru’s interior, you’ll need to gather a few supplies in addition to the cleaning solution. These include:

• Gloves
• Mask
• Vacuum
• Screen wipes (if your vehicle has a touch screen)
• Microfiber cloths (for both cleaning and drying)
• Bucket for mixing soap and water
• Disposable gown or work clothes that you can wash immediately afterward
• Brush for scrubbing stains
• Window/glass cleaner for cleaning glass after disinfecting it
• Leather conditioner, if you have leather seats
• Disposable gown* or work clothes that you can wash immediately afterward

*In extreme cases where you and/or a passenger had tested positive for Covid.

Keep moving, safely

While safety in the Subaru context is non-negotiable, Covid has moved the goalposts for what safety means — far beyond tech and innovation. It would be a good idea to keep a car sanitiser spray in your Subaru for the convenience and peace of mind for you and your passengers. A car sanitizer will make sure you’re ready to sterilize whenever you have concerns, and even just between those everyday stops. And because we love all things as-good-as-new, your Subaru will love you for keeping any unforeseen odors out things fresh inside with a car air freshener.

Whether you’re working from home and barely using your car these days, or still doing business-as-usual on the roads, we at Subaru wish you all the care and safety out there. And if you would like to discuss anything about the parts and tech on any one of our six esteemed models, call us on +27 11 608 0116 or email info@subaru.co.za and a skilled member of our team will be happy to assist you. Alternatively, use our store locator to find your nearest dealership or book your test drive today.

If you aren’t a Subaru owner yet, why not experience any of our six incredible models first-hand by getting behind the wheel and booking your test drive today?