Clean, Sanitize or Disinfect? Safe Car Cleaning

Medical supplies, delivery service and technology - 3 best stock investments for March 2020. The saying "hindsight is 20/20" never held truer. One lasting reminder is the importance of properly cleaning our vehicle interiors.

Safe interior car cleaning

Before reaching for bleach and hand sanitizer, it's worth addressing a few common questions. What level of cleaning does a vehicle interior actually need? Which products are safe, and which can cause long-term damage?

Let's start by clarifying the commonly interchanged terms "clean", "sanitize" and "disinfect".

Cleaning removes dirt, dust and germs from a surface. It won't necessarily kill germs, but reduces the potential of spreading them.

Disinfecting kills germs using chemicals such as bleach. These products require a specific "dwell time" or "contact time" - the amount of time the surface must remain visibly wet to be effective. Disinfecting doesn't remove dirt or debris.

Sanitizing lowers the number of germs to a safe level and may involve cleaning, disinfecting, or both. According to the EPA, surface disinfectant products undergo more rigorous testing and have a higher bar for effectiveness than surface sanitizing products.

What products are safe for vehicle use?

Most strong chemical disinfectants - such as chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide - are too harsh for automotive surfaces. Even alcohol, while effective at killing germs, can dry out and damage leather and vinyl after time. Car care experts and vehicle manufacturers consistently recommend mild soap and water as the safest and most effective cleaning method for most interior surfaces. 

Regardless of the product you choose, clean with care. Avoid aggressive scrubbing, which can scratch clear plastics and wear off paint or decals on buttons and controls. Use soft cloths or microfiber. On leather surfaces, follow up with a leather conditioner. Wear gloves if desired, and wash your cleaning cloths after each use.