Disinfect your car before using it: keys and tips

For many Spaniards the time has come to go back to work. These will only be those who cannot work from home and under the conditions set by the state of alarm, but since Monday 13 April many workplaces have already reopened. So the time is coming to get back behind the wheel and gradually, and without rushing, get our working life going again. But the car can still be a significant risk, so there are several steps to take before getting behind the wheel.

Cleaning and disinfecting before use

The car can be a place where COVID-19 hides, so precautions must be taken to avoid an unpleasant surprise before or after work. Cleaning is essential right now, and you should know that even if the car is clean, that does not mean it is disinfected. Here are some guidelines for starting to use the car on your commute to and from work or for the weekly shop.

Exterior cleaning is important, since the coronavirus can survive on the bodywork for up to three days. For this to happen, someone who had it on their hands must have leaned on the car, and to pick it up we would have to touch that same spot. So the best approach is to avoid touching the bodywork unless it is necessary and, above all, to do it wearing disposable gloves. If you can wash the bodywork, that’s great, but that is perhaps the smallest problem.

If you wash it at least once a week, use warm water and soap, using the hand wands or the car wash tunnel, and rinse afterwards to wash away all the dirt, which is where the virus is most likely to be. Even if we don’t notice it, there is a thin film of dust and other substances on the bodywork, which is where the virus would settle.

Cleaning and disinfecting the vehicle interior

The vehicle interior is more delicate. We touch it constantly and it can be a carrier of this and other viruses and bacteria. It would be advisable to drive with gloves and dispose of them afterwards. They should be gloves that do not get in the way while driving and can be thrown away afterwards.

If you cannot count on gloves, wash your hands thoroughly when leaving home and work, and avoid touching places where the virus (or any other pathogen, of course) might be. If you have disinfectant, it is important to use it before getting behind the wheel. Wash your hands with it and then apply it to the steering wheel and gear lever. It is also a good idea to use it on the surfaces you touch most, such as the climate controls or the radio, as well as the touchscreen. Use only small amounts, so as not to damage those components.

A good idea is to keep a pack of hygiene wipes in the car. Although they are not as effective as disinfectant liquid, they can be very useful. Wipe the steering wheel with one wipe and throw it away. Use another for the gear lever, and so on, using one for each surface to be cleaned.

Refuelling, a risky activity

Refuelling involves touching the pump, the keys for selecting the desired amount of fuel and even the fuel cap. So again it is advisable to use hygiene wipes before using the pump. And above all, wear gloves during the operation.

Another acceptable option, if no gloves are available, is to use a paper tissue, a piece of industrial paper or a hygiene wipe to carry out this operation. Avoid touching any surface that other people may have touched.

Taking care, using gloves and a face mask and following all the guidelines, getting back to work by car or going shopping by car need not pose a problem or a health risk.