All our lives, we’ve been told by our parents to keep clean and maintain one’s personal hygiene. We’re taught the same in any other social institution we attend. But, what about your car? Yes, you may take them to your favourite car wash. Or you may even wash it and vacuum it yourself. So you think you’ve done your part. Well, think again! These are some of the steps you can take to get rid of unwanted ‘passengers’ for a cleaner drive.
- Your car is not a bistro
Sometimes, you get hungry in the middle of your journey. So, to keep your stomach at bay, you grab a chocolate bar. However, while opening the chocolate bar, bits and crumbs of chocolate spill out from the fancy packaging. ‘Uh-oh’, you mutter to yourself. Yup, go ahead and clean the mess. Even then, bacteria may still be present in your car.
- Your car is not a rubbish dump
You may want to consider placing a container for all your rubbish. Alternatively, you could tie a rubbish bag behind your car. However, do remember to not let it pile up, and always throw your rubbish. A good place to check on this would be the gas station, where you can also fill up your tank.
- Regularly shampoo your car and seats
This may seem like a lot of work. However, it is necessary, especially if you exercise a lot or are constantly drenched in sweat due to the hot sun. (Hey, this is Malaysia).
- Consider putting your cigarette butts away
If you’re a smoker, you might want to consider quitting. Okay, if it’s too difficult, just abstain from smoking in the car. Seriously though, have you ever thought of how unhygienic it is to be clinging on to your cigarette and driving at the same time? Besides contaminating your car with foul odour, your steering wheel will also be laced with bacteria. Fine, tell me you wind your windows down. Still, bacteria cannot be eliminated easily.
- Consider leaving your pets at home
Once in a while, it may be nice to bring your pet out for a ride. But, what happens when you get the sniffles or suddenly feel a certain itch around your body? You may be suffering from an allergic reaction. Do also think of the other people you normally ferry in your car. If you’re okay with pets in your car, others may not be due to high chances of germs and allergic reactions.
- Inspect your trunk and coin box as much as you can
These are some other bacteria-breeding grounds. Do you always stuff your trunk with a truckload of groceries? What else could possibly go in a trunk? Did you know that the trunk can be home to roughly 850 bacteria? And when was the last time you checked your coin box? Has it ever crossed your mind that the coin box can be home to dust and microbes?
- Check your car keys and other compartments
I’m sure you’ve compartments in your car. Perhaps you store your mobile phone, water bottles, sweets and what not. However, have you ever wondered if they’re really clean? What about your car keys that you carry on a daily basis? They could also be laden with germs!Perhaps it is time we treat the interiors of our car the way we treat the exterior of our car. There’s no point in having an exterior that’s washed thoroughly when the inside is overlooked or neglected. Who knows? Maybe the interior of our cars are to blame for our illnesses like the cough and flu.
