Can Alcohol Be Used to Disinfect Car Interiors?
2 Answers
It is not advisable to use alcohol to clean car interiors. Most car interiors are made of genuine leather, and using alcohol for cleaning can cause corrosion to the leather material. Additionally, chrome-plated and painted parts inside the car may fade due to the corrosive effects of alcohol. Therefore, car owners should avoid using alcohol when cleaning their car interiors. Below are some methods for cleaning car interiors: 1. For the air conditioning vents, where the interior is irregular and dust tends to accumulate in the gaps, use cleaning gel to remove dirt. 2. The steering wheel and dashboard are mostly made of plastic or faux leather, which are often exposed to sunlight and prone to aging and cracking. A reliable automotive interior dashboard wax can be sprayed and wiped to better protect the dashboard. For cleaning, a foam cleaner can be used. 3. Seats, being the most frequently used areas, are prone to getting dirty. A foam cleaner can also be used here, as the foam cleaning method allows for deeper cleaning and easier wiping. 4. Floor mats can be rinsed with clean water, and a vacuum cleaner can be used to quickly and effectively remove dust and debris from corners and gaps.
I was also concerned about car interior disinfection before. While alcohol can indeed kill germs, you need to be extra careful when using it on car interiors. From my experience, alcohol is highly corrosive to plastics and leather, especially on steering wheels and seats - excessive wiping can cause whitening and brittleness. Moreover, in the enclosed space of a car, spraying alcohol becomes particularly dangerous if it encounters static sparks. I'd recommend using dedicated car interior disinfectant sprays instead, or diluting alcohol to about 70% concentration and testing it on inconspicuous areas first. Never spray it directly on the central control screen - my friend's LCD screen developed spots last time and the repair was costly. Remember to open windows for ventilation for half an hour after disinfection before driving - safety comes first.
