The steering wheel of a car can accumulate up to four times more dirt than a public toilet, but it is easy to keep it in a good state of conservation and hygiene, if it is cleaned regularly
We wash our hands after a subway ride and, of course, when leaving the bathroom. It wouldn’t hurt to stick to that habit after driving. Why? A car steering wheel accumulates twice as much dirt and bacteria as elevator buttons., and up to four times more than a public toilet! This is confirmed by an American study, which also emphasizes the importance of cleaning the interior of the vehicle regularly. In this article we indicate why, how and when to do it.
The interior of the car, a place full of bacteria
Cars are full of bacteria. Even in a recently purchased one “more than 200 substances are combined between chemical products, rubber and fabrics. Manufacturers are constantly researching to create the least harmful materials possible., but there are independent studies that put users on alert, “by stating that there are substances not allowed by law (in this case., brands must comply with directive 2004/42/ CE.), and the harmful ones can reach a hundred”, assures Campos. Added to all these substances is what we ourselves are leaving through use , since the human body is an incredible source of “polluting” elements (90 trillion bacteria live in our body).
The car is also full of mites and mold spores, “two elements that accumulate especially inside the car due to dirt and lack of cleanliness.,” explains the expert. The data proves it: in an experiment., a writer for Auto Bild magazine found 27.7. grams of dust per m2 of upholstery after analyzing a single adhesive strip. These figures are completed with those of the CarRental study that ensures that the steering wheel accumulates two times more dirt and bacteria than the buttons of an elevator and four times more than a public bathroom.
How often do you have to clean the interior of a car?
Every month? Each 15 days? Once a week? What is the perfect time interval to clean the inside of the car? To keep it in a good state of conservation and hygiene., “the ideal is to reserve a little time each week to vacuum and clean mats, dashboard, etc..”, says the specialist, who adds that if we use it on roads or take animals , it is obligatory to pass the vacuum cleaner.
If we do it this way, it will be enough to carry out a deep car wash once a year., for example, at the end of the summer holidays. And it is convenient that we leave this more in-depth review in the hands of expert professionals., “because elements such as the seat rails or the gate springs carry grease that we must not remove. They also have professional tools for cleaning the air vents.
An important issue is also to change the cabin filter once a year or every 30,000 kilometers maximum. This element prevents harmful particles suspended in the outside air from entering the interior of the car., especially allergens: pollen, particles, gases, bacteria, ozone, hydrocarbon compounds., sulfur and nitrogen.
