Your Car's Hidden Funk

Summer is here, and that means the summer travel season is heating up. Individuals and families hitting the road for summer vacation will be spending tons of time in their cars. If you’re planning to eat in your car on the way to your favorite fishing spot or beach locale, you might want to think twice. Even the most meticulous auto detailer is bound to miss a few key spots. Planning a road trip? Here are five areas where your car is likely harboring tons of germs – and how to fight back.

The steering wheel and gear shift . Our steering wheels and shifters seem to take the least wear and tear within the interior of our cars but looks can be deceiving. High-touch surfaces are among the funkiest areas of our vehicles. Since the steering wheel and gear shift are among the most frequently touched surfaces in our cars, they harbor tons of hidden bacteria. Use a disinfectant on these surfaces frequently to control the buildup of bacteria.

Radio controls. As we’ve all learned during the past two years of experiencing a global pandemic, high-touch surfaces are problematic. Radio controls and infotainment systems harbor tons of germs (often because they are used by more than one person) and are harder to clean than firmer surfaces like the steering wheel or the windows. Touch screens cannot be cleaned with an alcohol-based cleaner. To remove grime, fingerprints and reduce germs, combine equal parts distilled water and white vinegar which has antibacterial properties. Spray on a microfiber cloth and gently wipe away the fingerprints. An electronics screen cleaner pre-moistened wipe may also be used. Don’t use paper towels or facial tissues which will just leave residue behind on the screen.

Seat belt fabric. Fabric surfaces are just harder to clean but imperative. Most of us have never cleaned our seat belts. Almost 41 million pre-owned vehicles were sold in the U.S. last year. By contrast, just over 15 million new vehicles were sold. So the majority of us are probably driving pre-owned vehicles, and that means driving around with the funk of past owners lurking in the nooks and crannies of your vehicle. Seat belts can be cleaned with a simple mix of soap and water. Use something like the original blue Dawn dish soap combined with warm water and a rough-textured washcloth will do an effective job of removing dirt, grime and bacteria. Periodically, use a disinfectant to wipe down the buckle itself.

Those cracks between the seats. That pesky gap between the front seats and the console is no-man’s land. The best way to keep that area clean is just to blog the gap with an item like an automotive Drop Stop. Clean the console periodically with an alcohol-moistened microfiber towel to control dust and germs. Then replace the Drop Stop. (And don't forget to clean that periodically with soap and water.)

Carpets and upholstery. The majority of folks drive pre-owned cars, and that means past owners’ sweat, greasy fingerprints and overall funk. If you have leather seats, vacuum to remove crumbs and then clean with a good quality leather cleaner. If you have cloth upholstery, use a specially formulated automotive upholstery cleaner and water to clean your seats. A steam cleaner or solution of hot water, white vinegar and a small amount of dish soap such as original blue Dawn should do the trick to tackle stains. Use an automotive carpet cleaner to give your carpets a good deep clean once you’ve thoroughly vacuumed. If you've never done so, remove your seats to reach the carpet underneath.

Now that summer is here, remember to maintain your vehicle regularly with weekly or bi-weekly car washes at Snap Clean. Protection for your paint job is essential during the high heat of summer. Start your summer off on a clean note with a trip through our tunnel and then hit up our interior cleaning station to drive clean and happy.