As the nation and the world continue to manoeuvre through uncertain times, people are more aware of their surroundings and the surfaces that they are touching every day. Due to current restrictions, many people still need to take necessary journeys in their cars such as a quick run to the shops, get a baby to sleep or even just to get the family out of the house on a wet day. All of this means continuously touching the door handle, steering wheel, start button, gear stick, light switch etc. inside and outside the car.
With that in mind, Toyota has created a simple video to help people to keep their car germ-free by showing them the important areas to clean, and how to clean them.

Michael Gaynor, Marketing Director at Toyota Ireland said “We are in unprecedented times with a lot of uncertainty surrounding the coming days and weeks. Here at Toyota, our brand promise is ‘Built For a Better World’, and our aim is to make life better for families in Ireland. With that in mind we created this video for families; to help them feel safe as they take those necessary journeys in their car. We hope this list makes people aware and helps them navigate cleaning their car with confidence.”

The products to use:
You don’t need a full valet to keep your car germ-free!

To clean the car without damaging any leather or materials within the car, bleach-free antibacterial wipes are required, ensuring that the packing says it ‘kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses’. They are inexpensive and they work! A pair of gloves and a dry microfibre cloth are also required.
The key thing is to ensure to wipe the area at least twice in a forward and backwards motion to ensure it is cleaned completely. Then the area can be dried with the microfibre cloth.

Don’t forget to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds after cleaning your car.
The 40 areas to clean in your car:
1. Exterior door handles
2. Frame of door and roof
3. Inner door release
4. Window switches
5. Interior door handle
6. Door pocket
7. Seatbelts
8. Seatbelt clips
9. Seat adjust buttons
10. Steering wheel
11. Horn
12. Control stalks
13. Driver air vents
14. Dashboard
15. Power button
16. Gear shift
17. Multimedia screen
18. Central air vents
19. Heating controls
20. Glovebox
21. Log book
22. Central storage compartment
23. Cupholders
24. Rear-view mirror
25. Interior lights
26. Grab handle
27. Key
28. Head rests
29. Seat pockets
30. Rear central tab
31. Fuel cap
32. Wheel valves
33. Boot lid
34. Parcel shelf
35. Boot floor tab
36. Boot close button
37. Bonnet lid
38. Washer cap
39. Dipstick
40. Oil cap