At West Herr Toyota of Canandaigua, we fully understand the concerns our clients have about exposure to COVID-19, or coronavirus. People in Canandaigua and across New York are wearing masks, frequently using hand sanitizer and sanitizing items they purchase during their errands to reduce the risk of exposure to germs. What they might forget, though, is that once those purchased items are loaded into their car, they are then touching the interior. According to the World Health Organization, studies suggest that the coronavirus may live on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. That means that you should be sanitizing the interior of your car to kill any germs it may have collected on your last visit to the grocery store or pharmacy.
Your Toyota interior is comprised of many different materials, including cloth, plastic and even carbon fiber in some cases. You’ll find that several tools are required to sanitize all these surfaces correctly. According to the National Institutes of Health, the virus that causes COVID-19 is stable for up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic or stainless steel. Another study suggests that similar viruses can live on “inanimate surfaces like metal, glass or plastic for up to nine days.”
Always wash your hands before sanitizing your vehicle. And if you have them, wear disposable gloves. Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work well for sanitizing your vehicle. Just be sure to read the product’s label to make sure it’s safe for the surface you’re planning to use it on. Keep a package of disinfecting wipes and a bottle of hand sanitizer in your vehicle at all times, so you can be ready to clean within a moment’s notice.
If you want to avoid damaging your Toyota model’s interior surfaces, don’t use bleach or hydrogen peroxide to disinfect. These can damage the vinyl and plastics in your cabin. You should also avoid any ammonia-based cleaning products used to clean glass, as they can break down the vinyl on the dashboard. Heat and light may then cause your dashboard to become sticky.
Wondering what you should use to clean the leather seats in your Toyota? Only use leather cleaner, and if you don’t have any, you can simply mix two parts vinegar with one part water to make your own. Before using the cleaner, make sure to spot test it on a hidden area within your vehicle’s interior. This will help you to ensure it works properly on the material. When cleaning, always use a microfiber cloth to avoid scratching the leather. Afterward, apply a leather conditioner to give your seats an extra polish.
Here at West Herr Toyota of Canandaigua, we want to do our part to help educate our clients and keep them safe and healthy during this difficult time. If you have any questions about car care or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Toyota dealership in Canandaigua, NY.