It’s been more than three months since the first case of Coronavirus was reported in Wuhan, China. However, although it has spread to other nations and still no cure is found, everyone is advised to take extra precautions when in their homes and workplaces.
It’s unfortunate that not everyone would be able to stay at home during this pandemic. That’s because no matter how safe we want to be, we still have to go to work to be able to provide for our families. That’s why we are looking at car users and mechanics and what they need to do to keep safe from Coronavirus.
But first thing first, let us look at what Coronavirus is, its symptoms, and how it is spread.
What is Coronavirus?
Also known as COVID-19, Coronavirus is an infectious disease that ranges from mild symptoms such as common cold to severe symptoms such as lung infection diseases such as pneumonia or even diarrhea.
Symptoms of Coronavirus
There are several symptoms of Coronavirus that you should be very aware of.
These are:
- Fever
- Tiredness
- Dry cough
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Aches and pains
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Lung infection illnesses such as Pneumonia
- Shortness of breath/Chest Tightness
How is Coronavirus Spread?
Coronavirus is thought to spread between an infected person and uninfected one who is at close contact. This usually happens when small droplets from a sneeze or uncovered cough land on the mouth or nose of anyone near the infected person, and they inhale into their lungs.
How to Keep Car Users Safe from Coronavirus
When it comes to the spread of Coronavirus, car users may be at a high risk of infection. This is because the virus is also transmittable through surfaces or objects such as car handles, seats, and so on.
Although many people may be informed on proper techniques of keeping their houses clean, the not many may really know how to clean the interior of their cars. Before the Coronavirus pandemic, regular cleaning of the car’s interior was encouraged at least once a month, but now the situation has changed.
Car users are now advised to clean their car’s interiors more frequently using cleaning products. However, since the interiors are less durable than most household surfaces such as kitchen counters and bathroom sinks, it’s important to know how to clean the car surfaces without damaging them.
Therefore, here are the most important cleaning products to use when cleaning your car interiors.
Soap and Water
Everyone is encouraged to wash their hands frequently with soap and water. In addition, it is also recommended you use soap and water to clean your car interior. Therefore, you need
- A bucket
- Water
- Microfiber cloth
- Liquid soap
First of all, fill the bucket with water then add liquid soap. Secondly, put in the microfiber cloth into the bucket, rinse the water, and then start cleaning the interior surfaces such as steering wheel, dashboard, and buttons, and so on.
Alcohol Solution
Although not all car interiors are safe to clean with alcohol, in this time of Coronavirus, it’s advisable to wipe your car interiors with an alcohol solution that contains at least 70 % alcohol. For example, you can use isopropyl alcohol to clean the interior surfaces.
All you have to do is gently spray on the surfaces and rub with a towel, then, once all the cleaning process is complete, dry the surfaces, especially the seats with a microfiber cloth. Keep this in mind; you should not dilute the alcohol solution.
Note that if you wondering how to clean your car, here is a video to help you clean every interior surface of your car.
How to Keep Automotive Mechanics Safe from Coronavirus
Just as car users, automotive mechanics are at risk of getting coronavirus since they handle not only the car exterior and interior parts but also the mechanical tools. Nonetheless, there are safer ways to handle not only the cars but also the customers that come into their workplace.
Here are some simple steps to keep you and tools protected from Coronavirus
Do Not Shake Hands with Your Customers 
The first thing you should avoid when a customer comes into the repair shop should be to shake hands. Although it has been a courtesy gesture for a long time, it is advisable to greet the other person with a wave or a nod.
Maintain some Distance
After the customer brings in the car, it’s safe to maintain some distance like 3 feet apart when talking to them. This is especially if the customer is sneezing or coughing.
Use Hand Sanitizers or Soap
Just like everyone else is encouraged to wash their hands or use hand sanitizers, automotive mechanics are not exempted from this too. Therefore, before you touch any car exterior and interior surfaces, it’s important you properly clean your hands with soap and running water. If it’s not possible, then use hand sanitizer instead.
Wipe the Car with Alcohol-Based Solution
Ensure you wipe the car surfaces you are working on with alcohol-based cleaning solutions. Remember that your tools should be clean before you use them on any car.
Wear Masks
While working on repairing the car, you should wear a mask to prevent you from inhaling solvent, dust, and other unknown particles. If you are wearing your daily work masks, then you should make sure they are clean and well maintained. However, if you are going for surgical masks, you should know how to properly use and dispose of them to avoid any contamination.
Thoroughly Clean Your Tools After Every Use
After you are done working on each car, make sure you thoroughly clean your tools. Also, don’t forget to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, handles, sinks, countertops, toilets, among other places.
Conclusion
It’s truly a stressful time for everyone, and no matter how scared people might be, we all want to stay safe. It’s true it is quite a task to ensure you stay safe from Coronavirus, but by following the above steps, you can make sure your car stays clean and protected from germs and viruses. In addition, there are more safety tips on Coronavirus.
Overall, please follow your countries rules and regulations when it comes to car driving and other car works.
Source:
Inspirations By: Dr Md. Anarul Islam (MRCP UK ) Assistant Professor. Depart Of Respiratory Medicin At Uttar Adhunik Medical Collage