COVID-19 Car-Cleaning Tips
Here at Faulkner BMW, we’re doing everything in our power to help stop the spread of COVID-19. To accomplish our goal, we want to share with you a few tips to help drivers throughout Lancaster, Ephrata, York, and Reading stay safe.
While regularly washing hands and disinfecting high-touch areas is ingrained into our daily lives, there’s one place that often gets overlooked: your vehicle.
Luckily, keeping your BMW free of coronavirus is simple when you take the right steps. To learn how, continue reading our helpful guide and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.
What Household Items are Safe to Use for COVID-19?
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the most effective household item to disinfect your car is isopropyl alcohol.*
It’s important to note that any product you use should contain at least 70% isopropyl alcohol to successfully kill any trace of the COVID-19 virus.
What Areas of My Car Should I Clean Using Isopropyl Alcohol?
Using a paper towel or microfiber cloth, wipe down the areas of your car that you frequently come into contact with. This should be done every time you return home from the store to avoid potentially carrying the virus into your house.
Likewise, you can create a homemade solution using bleach and warm water. Mix five tablespoons of bleach for each gallon of water. To avoid any discoloration or stains, we highly recommend using a spray bottle and clean rag or hand towel.
The main areas of your vehicle you should focus your attention on include:
- Door handles and trunk lids
- Gas cap
- Visors and storage bins
- Windows and mirrors
- Knobs and instrument panel buttons
How Do I Properly Clean Leather and Fabric Surfaces?
While alcohol and bleach are relatively safe to use on non-porous surfaces, they aren’t safe for leather or cloth. If you’re concerned about COVID-19 living inside your seats, we recommend scrubbing them down using warm water and a gentle soap.
The scrubbing action should eliminate any trace of virus while also removing any dirt or stains. So, it’s a bit of a win-win!
Can I Just Take My Car Through the Local Car Wash?
Of course! Depending on your state’s current restrictions, a trip through the local car wash is an easy solution to keeping its exterior sanitized. It’s also a fun reason to briefly get out of the house!
It’s important to note: While an automatic drive-thru car wash is fine, you should avoid self-serve bays that require you to handwash your vehicle. Once back home, make a point to sanitize the interior using the methods we’ve provided above.
How Is Faulkner BMW Doing Its Part to Fight COVID-19?
As the premier BMW dealership in Southeastern PA, we care deeply about your health and safety. After all, we’re not just a local business, we’re also your friends and neighbors!
That means being here for you throughout these uncertain times. So, if you ever need a quick bit of maintenance or an emergency repair, our service center remains fully open for business.
Implementing strict hygiene and social distancing guidelines, we promise to deliver top-quality service to keep you happy and safe on the road.
Contact Faulkner BMW Today
With perseverance and a little help from our neighbors, we’ll overcome this pandemic soon.
So, if you’re a driver living in the Lancaster, Reading, Ephrata, or York region in need of service, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!
* National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases
