You’re probably ignoring these germ-infested areas in your car
- Replies 5
Remember when you first bought your car? You probably kept it spotless, wiping off every little smudge and vacuuming up any crumbs. But over time, all those little messes and spills add up, and before you know it, you’ve got a car filled with bacteria and grime.
And even if you’re sure you’re cleaning it thoroughly and regularly, there are still areas in your car that get neglected each time you clean – according to a cleaning expert.
Cleaning guru Anita Birges has listed the top three areas of your car that you should clean more regularly as she claims they are often riddled with grime and nasty bacteria.
They can also cause health complications, not to mention they can affect the resale value of our cars.
One study claims that the inside of our cars has significantly higher levels of germs on them than the average toilet. The results from this study revealed that our car interiors host significantly high levels of bacteria, with E.coli likely to be found in every boot and potentially on your driver's seat.
‘How often do you clean these very “germy” areas in your car? I’m always shocked at the amount of dirt and grime that comes off. It’s pretty gross,’ she claimed in a video she posted on her Instagram account.
She said that the steering wheel, gear stick, and door handles, are the key interior spots of any car and should be cleaned using antibacterial wipes.
Ms Birges demonstrated how she cleaned these areas in the clip. While the areas didn’t look dirty to the naked eye, the antibacterial wipes she used were left with brown marks.
The steering wheel was the filthiest, too. Yikes!
Ms Birges said that the chore only took her five minutes to clean all the key areas. She also said that this task should be completed at least once a week.
In the video, Ms Birges used an antibacterial wipe to also clean the gear stick – which appeared to be just as filthy as the steering wheel. While the interior door, which included the door handle, window buttons and locks as well as the door armrest, had less filth.
The short video has been viewed more than 24,000 times. While many agreed that these key points in the car are breeding grounds for bacteria to thrive, others disagreed with the cleaning method Anita used.
‘The antibacterial wipes aren’t good for cars, because it makes the surface go off eventually, so I would choose another product but nothing alcohol-based because that is the issue in making the interior plastic that seals everything,’ one explained. To which Ms Birges replied that she would be looking into this matter as well.
‘OMG! Yuck, I’m going to go and clean mine now,’ one stated.
Another asked: ‘I have sunscreen marks on the inside of my car door – do you think an antibacterial wipe would get that off too?’
Ms Birges replied that she thinks so, and to let her know if it works.
According to some car detailers, disinfectant wipes are suitable to use on car interiors and won’t cause any damage.
‘When considering how to sanitise your car, one of the most effective methods is to use household disinfectant wipes that will both kill germs and clean your surfaces. You can use them on most hard surfaces but focus on the areas you touch the most often,’ they said.
However, some car experts have pointed out that not all cleaning hacks work – some could even damage your car. These include using shaving foam to clean car upholstery.
To be safe, here are some useful household items that can double up as car-cleaning tools and how to use them:
Do you have any cleaning tips or tricks to keep your car spick-and-span? Share them in the comments below!
And even if you’re sure you’re cleaning it thoroughly and regularly, there are still areas in your car that get neglected each time you clean – according to a cleaning expert.
Cleaning guru Anita Birges has listed the top three areas of your car that you should clean more regularly as she claims they are often riddled with grime and nasty bacteria.
They can also cause health complications, not to mention they can affect the resale value of our cars.
One study claims that the inside of our cars has significantly higher levels of germs on them than the average toilet. The results from this study revealed that our car interiors host significantly high levels of bacteria, with E.coli likely to be found in every boot and potentially on your driver's seat.
‘How often do you clean these very “germy” areas in your car? I’m always shocked at the amount of dirt and grime that comes off. It’s pretty gross,’ she claimed in a video she posted on her Instagram account.
Ms Birges said there are three areas of your car that you need to clean more often. Credit: Martinus/Pexels
She said that the steering wheel, gear stick, and door handles, are the key interior spots of any car and should be cleaned using antibacterial wipes.
Ms Birges demonstrated how she cleaned these areas in the clip. While the areas didn’t look dirty to the naked eye, the antibacterial wipes she used were left with brown marks.
The steering wheel was the filthiest, too. Yikes!
Ms Birges said that the chore only took her five minutes to clean all the key areas. She also said that this task should be completed at least once a week.
In the video, Ms Birges used an antibacterial wipe to also clean the gear stick – which appeared to be just as filthy as the steering wheel. While the interior door, which included the door handle, window buttons and locks as well as the door armrest, had less filth.
Ms Birges showed how filthy the antibacterial wipe was after cleaning her steering wheel. Credit: mise_en_place_aus/Instagram
The short video has been viewed more than 24,000 times. While many agreed that these key points in the car are breeding grounds for bacteria to thrive, others disagreed with the cleaning method Anita used.
‘The antibacterial wipes aren’t good for cars, because it makes the surface go off eventually, so I would choose another product but nothing alcohol-based because that is the issue in making the interior plastic that seals everything,’ one explained. To which Ms Birges replied that she would be looking into this matter as well.
‘OMG! Yuck, I’m going to go and clean mine now,’ one stated.
Another asked: ‘I have sunscreen marks on the inside of my car door – do you think an antibacterial wipe would get that off too?’
Ms Birges replied that she thinks so, and to let her know if it works.
According to some car detailers, disinfectant wipes are suitable to use on car interiors and won’t cause any damage.
‘When considering how to sanitise your car, one of the most effective methods is to use household disinfectant wipes that will both kill germs and clean your surfaces. You can use them on most hard surfaces but focus on the areas you touch the most often,’ they said.
However, some car experts have pointed out that not all cleaning hacks work – some could even damage your car. These include using shaving foam to clean car upholstery.
To be safe, here are some useful household items that can double up as car-cleaning tools and how to use them:
- Air freshening spray: Spray it on the vents at the base of your windshield to eliminate odour, before turning on the air conditioning for a few minutes.
- Bicarb soda: Sprinkle bicarb soda generously on the smelly area and leave it overnight. Vacuum up the residue after 24 hours.
- Cotton swabs: Lastly, to clean small parts such as knobs, gear shifts, and buttons, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and trace it carefully around the smaller areas.
- Paintbrushes: Dip a small paintbrush in soapy water, and shake off the excess before brushing the area that needs cleaning.
- Silicone bottle brushes: Avoid scratches from vigorous cleaning or scrubbing by swapping rough scourers with silicone cleaning brushes.
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