Steering Wheels Are Dirtier Than You Might Think
If you think that your steering wheel is cleaner than surfaces like public elevator buttons and your smartphone’s screen — think again. A new report from CarRentals.com claims that steering wheels have four times more germs than a public restroom’s toilet seat. They’re also twice as dirty as elevator buttons and six times dirtier than smartphone screens.
More research results
The report also found that the average vehicle interior contains approximately 700 different strains of bacteria. This can pose as a health risk for human passengers, especially if you tend to eat in your car. (Though, this doesn’t stop 20 percent of drivers that admit to eating in their vehicle each week, despite this health hazard.)
The surplus of germs on steering wheels and other vehicle interior surfaces stems largely from the fact that many people fail to clean out their car on a regular basis. The CarRental.com study found that 32 percent of people admitted to cleaning their vehicle interior just once a year.
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Keep it clean
Maintaining the cleanliness of your steering wheel is one of the simplest interior maintenance items you can do yourself. For non-leather steering wheels, you’ll need a microfiber towel, interior brush, vehicle interior cleaner, and a vehicle interior scrub pad. Spray the interior cleaner on a microfiber towel and wipe down the entire surface of the wheel. For extra grime, spray the cleaner onto an interior brush and brush the wheel’s exterior. You can also try using a scrub pad for removing the toughest dirt layers.
For leather steering wheels, you’ll want to use a microfiber cloth and a leather cleaner. Avoid using soap and water since this method can damage the leather. Make sure to wipe the steering wheel gently so you don’t scratch the delicate surface of the material.
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News Sources: Motor Illustrated, CarRentals.com, AutoDeal
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