Tips for Protecting Your Car During COVID-19

The novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, has caused a lot of chaos around the world. It has also begun to have an effect on everyone in the UAE, whether one has the virus or not. With the continuous spread, the authorities recommend to stay at home and do not travel or commute if it is not something you must do.

There has also been a lot that we did to protect ourselves and our belongings. What started as wearing masks, wiping everything with alcohol and washing the hands is now causing other side effects. Below, we are going to look at the COVID-19 situation and what it means for our cars. We will explore various topics and write about the best ways to protect your car (and yourself) during COVID-19).

Note: We would like to point out that we are not health experts, and that there are already many precautions that can help you prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. However, as car experts, we know how to keep a safe environment for you and your loved ones – so following our tips can only help you during this pandemic.

Cleaning Your Car During COVID-19

First on our list is something that everyone should do in order to prevent the spread of the deadly COVID-19 disease – which is clean and disinfect their belongings. 

Cleaning your car starts with choosing the cleaning agents wisely. We recommend using a proven disinfectant such as isopropyl alcohol, which is also safe to use on most car interior surfaces. As such, it will remove stains, smudges and residues while killing bacteria and viruses.

However, if you own a vehicle with leather interior, we do not recommend using this type of alcohol – it can deteriorate its coating and remove the dye from the leather itself. For cleaning leather interior as well as steering wheels, seating and trim, we recommend you to use a combination of soap and water as a safe option. While soap kills bacteria, water will refresh your car and this combination can help you prevent catching the disease in your car.

And remember, always use plastic gloves when cleaning your car and once you finish, make sure to wash your hands before getting in!

Taking Care of Your Car When You Are Not Driving It

There are so many things that need continuous care. Our cars are a common example. When not in use, they can change, which is why you need to know how to take care of them while your car is parked.

Your tyres and handbrake obviously come first in this manner. If you are not driving your car, make sure that the handbrake is off and that the car is left in gear. This will save your handbrake cable from stretching and your brakes from binding over long periods. 

When it comes to tyres, you should know that they should always be pumped to avoid any flat spots developing if your car has not been used. Because of this, it is always a good idea to just “stretch the car out” – even if it is for only 2 meters front and then back in reverse. Many car owners also clean their tyres, mostly to take the grease and mud off, and prevent additional damage.

Make sure to leave your car fuelled up above the minimum, to prevent moisture from developing in your tank and potentially leading to rust. Also, keep your battery charged-up – believe it or not, dead batteries are the most common failure on cars that have not been driven for a while.

Many car owners also invest in covers and cover their vehicles up so that they are left in good condition. This can be very useful especially if your car is parked outside, protecting it from rust, sun, rain and climate changes.

Take Precatutions And Develop A Routine

Did you know that every time you cough or sneeze, you spew a slew of aerosols into the air? Some of these can easily glue themselves in your car interior, and potentially spread the novel COVID-19 virus. 

If you are driving a taxi, regular cleaning is a must only because of this fact. But even if you are alone in your car, it is always worth taking precautions and developing a routine when it comes to cleaning your car.

After all, there is a little amount of air inside our cars, so the next time you are in yours and driving with a friend, make sure to open up the windows and disinfect your car after the ride (yes, even if everyone is feeling fine).

As a last note, we’d like to point out that air conditioning can also spread COVID-19 in the air, especially if there are more of you in a vehicle. All of this can lead to airborne transmission of the disease, even if it starts from a few droplets.

Final Thoughts

We all know that the COVID-19 virus brought a new reality to our lifestyle. Nothing will be the same again, but the good thing is that we can learn a lot from it and start taking care of ourselves and our belongings more. The only way we can beat this disease is if we are responsible and know everything about it.

If you need professional maintenance of your car because it hasn’t been driven for a while, our team at TyresOnline is here to help you. Contact us today at 800-255-89737 to schedule your appointment!