Four Spots in Your Car that are Surprising Germ Magnets

Most of us would assume that the steering wheel and the driver’s side door handle are likely to be the spots that have the maximum number of germs in a vehicle. This is based on the results of an online survey of 1,271 U.S. adults that was conducted by CloroxPro. However, we would be wrong. A swab test for bacteria, yeast, and mold revealed results that were very different.

Here are four spots in your car that you need to clean and disinfect on a regular basis:

Driver’s Side Floor Mats 

The floor mat on the driver’s side is likely to have the maximum number of germs based on the results of the swab test. We don’t come into contact with this area on a regular basis. Just in case you are clumsy enough to drop your keys on the floor mat every now and then, ensure that you regularly remove the floor mats, shake them out, and then sprinkle them with baking soda. Vacuum them after letting the baking soda sit for half an hour. You might need to use special carpet and mat cleaners if any stains still remain.

The Trunk of the Car 

The trunk is likely to have the second highest concentration of germs. This depends on how often you use the trunk and what kind of items you store in the trunk. Start by vacuuming up any dirt and debris. If the trunk has a removable carpet pad, take it out and use baking soda again to refresh it.

Front Seat Cup Holder

The front seat was close to edging out the trunk for the second spot when it came to germs with spilled coffee, food crumbs, and collected dirt. Unlike the first two spots, the cup holder is used on a regular basis. Cleaning becomes easy if you use travel wipes regularly for the cup holders.

Dashboard Air Vent

The dashboard air vent could serve as a hub for circulating germs around the car. To prevent this, turn off the AC and dust the vents using a foam paintbrush or use a can of compressed air. Then proceed to run a disinfecting wipe over the vents, without getting any liquid inside the vents, or mist lightly with an aerosol disinfecting spray after rolling the windows down to facilitate air circulation.