How To Protect Your Car From Covid-19
May 12, 2020 Mike Rupers Car Safety, Car Shipping Advice
Even if you’re being diligent about sheltering in place and self-distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, you need to get out of the house once in a while. That might be to get groceries or just to relieve some cabin fever, but whatever you plan to do, your vehicle is your best asset. With the convenience of a car, you can get things done and get back home without putting yourself at greater risk. Plus, you’re better protected outside the home when you’re inside your vehicle. Having a vehicle at your disposal undoubtedly makes your life during this unusual time easier and safer, so make sure whatever you drive-in continues to serve you well. Use this car safety advice to protect your vehicle (and yourself) from COVID-19.
Clean High-Touch Areas – The areas you touch are the ones most likely to contain the virus. Direct your efforts towards high-touch areas like the steering wheel, the seat belt buttons, the HVAC controls, and the door handles. Ultimately, you’re going to want to address the entire interior, but make sure to be extra thorough on areas that you or your passengers touch often. Be prepared: when you start to think about all the things you touch during the average drive, the list runs a lot longer than you might expect.
Make Your Own Solution – The CDC recommends using solutions made from soap or alcohol to clean surfaces. Alcohol can damage leather upholstery and some other types, so your safest bet is to use a soap solution. Fill a bucket with soapy water, wear protective gloves, then use a clean cloth to wipe down surfaces inside the vehicle. Take care not to get the upholstery too wet because you don’t want moisture to seep into the cushions underneath. Use caution on electronics as well, and put some extra effort into the steering wheel, which tends to be the dirtiest part of the whole car.
Take Your Time – You need to wash your hands for 20 seconds to get them fully clean, and the same is true for surfaces inside your vehicle. Don’t just wipe things down once. Clean each surface carefully, and let the solution sit a while before you wipe it off. Admittedly, this process can be kind of tedious, but the more time you spend on car safety the more risk you eliminate.
Stock Up on Supplies – Your vehicle is the perfect place to keep cleaning supplies and protective equipment for when you go out. Find some space to keep hand sanitizer, gloves, face masks, and disinfecting wipes. Use these to give your hands a quick clean or your steering wheel a wipe down after being out and about.
Ride Strategically – Even the largest vehicles don’t let you put six feet of distance between the driver and passenger. Therefore, you’re safest traveling alone. But if you must have passengers, put them in the back rather than the front. Even more importantly, ride with the windows cracked at least three inches so that air ventilates through the cabin instead of allowing traces of the virus to build up inside.
Travel Safe – Before the pandemic ends, you might find yourself in someone else’s car, whether that be a friend, family member, or ride-share driver. If you must ride with someone else, be as cautious as possible by wearing a mask and gloves while avoiding contact with anything unnecessary. Remember, it’s not an insult to the driver – it’s the responsible way to keep yourself and everyone else safe.
Drive With a Mask? – You may have seen other people wearing a mask while driving and wondered if you should follow their lead in terms of car safety. Technically, orders to wear masks in public don’t apply to a vehicle, so you’re not legally mandated to wear one. And if you find that it impairs your driving, you should wait until you arrive somewhere to put a mask on. All that being said, you run less risk of transmitting COVID-19 to a surface inside your vehicle if you’re wearing a mask. The choice is yours.
Auto Transport – An Important Resource During a Pandemic
Since the Department of Homeland Security considers the auto transport industry essential, vehicle shipments are still criss-crossing the country as usual. And contrary to what you might expect, this is a great time to consider car shipping. If you need to get a vehicle across long distances, you don’t want to take the risk of doing the drive yourself. Car shipping keeps more drivers off the road, which helps everyone in the long run. It makes perfect sense to ship a vehicle right now, and the process is probably easier and more affordable than you realize. Explore the cost by getting a free quote from this online auto shipping calculator. You can also get more information about the shipping process from our blog, or you can contact Direct Express Auto Transport directly with your questions.
Feel free to reach out to us by calling 800-600-3750. Be safe!
