Germ management: Disinfecting the interior

[Louise]

What do y'all use to disinfect the steering wheel, door handles, etc? I don't want to ruin the interior with strong agents.

I was thinking of driving through a touchless carwash with all 5 windows down, but it would miss some hard to reach spots...sooo back to the drawing board.

 

[DenverTiger504]

What do y'all use to disinfect the steering wheel, door handles, etc? I don't want to ruin the interior with strong agents.

I was thinking of driving through a touchless carwash with all 5 windows down, but it would miss some hard to reach spots...sooo back to the drawing board.

I think Mothers VLR or 303 will get most of the grime out/off. I guess you could Lysol it if need be before if you wanted to truly sanitize it. A good spray on the plastics with the windows down during and afterwards should be okay...

 

[mrblah]

Op might wanna go see the MD for a Prescription drugs for your germaphobia?

 

[JSparky]

Unless you’re butchering chickens inside the cabin I’d focus you’re attention on scrupulous hand cleaning, not touching your face, and other general cold/flu prevention techniques.

As a practical example, the typical flu virus can only survive on hard surfaces for 24-hours, on skin for significantly less. Unless you’re planning on disinfecting your car more than twice a day it’d be kind of a fruitless effort.

If the concern is avoiding getting sick or transmitting virus or bacteria within the vehicle, I’d suggest keeping some cleansing or disinfecting hand wipes in your truck and using them regularly, while doing routine interior cleaning with any commercially available product approved for those surfaces, they’ll be the best at truly cleaning the material (303 aerospace protectant fan here). Non-disinfecting hand wipes tend to be just as effective for cold and flu and don’t contribute to bacterial resistance, so it’s typically what we recommend.

 

[Rapid_Amble]

I use Meguiars M40 for a deep clean but there are many options that will work.

 

[arehman11]

I use McKee’s 37 total interior cleaner and then follow up with 303.

 

[Mutant138]

"Some exposure to living bacteria is healthy for us. According to the “hygiene hypothesis,” it can strengthen immune systems, particularly in kids. But overuse of disinfectants can lead to “superbugs,” or bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

Antibacterial hand soaps raise similar red flags. The American Medical Association recommends against using them because studies do not support the claim that they make people healthier."

Unless your slapping raw chicken all over the inside of your vehicle or cleaning up after a very sick child you're likely doing more harm than good. Just clean your vehicle like normal. 303 is a great product.

 

[MSRP.]

I'd probably just use steam to disinfect.
I too like 303 for the "dressing", nice and matte finish, better than OEM.

But I don't care about actual germs, and just use woolite cut 1:6 with water for just about all surfaces (leather, vinyl, plastics) excluding windows.

 

[TexasBock]

This is a joke right?

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Please open all the windows and go through a car wash, make sure to film it so we can all share in the fun

 

[JSparky]

"Some exposure to living bacteria is healthy for us. According to the “hygiene hypothesis,” it can strengthen immune systems, particularly in kids. But overuse of disinfectants can lead to “superbugs,” or bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

Antibacterial hand soaps raise similar red flags. The American Medical Association recommends against using them because studies do not support the claim that they make people healthier."

Unless your slapping raw chicken all over the inside of your vehicle or cleaning up after a very sick child you're likely doing more harm than good. Just clean your vehicle like normal. 303 is a great product.

I like how we both immediately went to chicken haha.

 

[Bilbo]

It’s hard to see why you would need to disinfect unless you are a Good Samaritan transporting people to and from their outpatient medical appointments. On the other hand, you might consider unscented, anti-bacterial baby wipes to clean your door handles and such. There is no harm. Cleaning surfaces is not the same as constantly using sanitizer on your skin.

Hand sanitizers are not evil, however. If you are out camping, you definitely want your friends to somehow clean their hands between poop and food prep. Those wipes, or a pump bottle of sanitizer will come in handy and may prevent some outback awfuls.

And … as personal preference, when I am on the road, I always carry a spray bottle of properly diluted Neutracide (a hospital disinfectant) for hotel bathrooms and showers. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Motel 6 or a five star hotel. I always use it to reduce my exposure to the known and unknown. Just be sure you dilute and use it cautiously and correctly.

 

[a47chuck]

Duuude! You need help!!!

 

[MossJenks]

I park mine outside on sunny days.

 

[Charlievee]

I do it by not having kids and avoiding school age children at all cost, but its useless if your better half works at an elementary school.

 

[supawabb]

This is a joke right?

Thinking the same thing. Guess someones never heard of Lysol/Clorox disinfectant wipes.

 

[fourwd1]

This thread applies to all generations so moving this from 5th Gen section to Maintenance section whers other people may benefit.

 

[bsa70]

Im a germ a fobe also. I use clorox wipes. Hey, you gas up, touch that nasty filler, then contaminate the interior. Dont be a hater

 

[808leo]

Im a germ a fobe also. I use clorox wipes. Hey, you gas up, touch that nasty filler, then contaminate the interior. Dont be a hater

In our ambulances we just wipe everything down with sani-wipes. So far hasn’t affected the leather seats or plastics/vinyl. Afterward I’d highly suggest using a conditioner tho if you have leather or the soft-tex seats

 

[Jimmyasheville]

I like to keep my car clean. Take an interior car cleaner wipe and wipe down your steering wheel. You’d be shocked at how it turned from white to brown. Maybe not all germs, but dirt. Just don’t do it every day or we would have to worry about you! I was given a rental car once, and I could feel the stickiness on the seat leather and wheel. Used a whole can of those wipes and they went from white to black. Grossed me out.