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Car industry issues new cleaning recommendations to Australian motorists

Clean your car after every drive is the industry body’s latest word.


Australian motoring peak industry body, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), has urged owners to keep their cars clean by upgrading hygiene practices to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

By hygiene practices, they also mean the frequency of cleaning. The FCAI suggests motorists should be ideally wiping down high traffic areas and frequently touched places after each drive, not just daily or weekly.

These new recommendations are for everyone, not just motorists who make a living from driving. If anything, they're most important to those who are using a vehicle in an attempt to avoid public transport during the pandemic.

Their latest advice is as follows

• Use disinfectant wipes to clean ‘high-contact’ surfaces in cars every time they are used,

• High-contact surfaces can include door handles, steering wheels, gear shift knobs, shift paddles, indicator and wiper stalks and entertainment or navigation systems. Vehicle key fobs, seats, interior grab handles, doors, armrests, additional display screens, cup holders and air conditioning vents could also be wiped down after vehicle use,

• Limit vehicle passengers as much as possible to maximise social distance,

• Take care not to damage vinyl, plastic, paint or other surface coatings with aggressive chemicals like bleach, hydrogen peroxide or high concentration alcohol sanitiser. While these chemicals will disinfect the surface, they may discolour them or remove surface coatings, and

• Take particular care when refuelling vehicle and ensure that hands are washed or sanitized after handling fuel pumps and touching cash or EFT terminals and any other public surfaces during the transaction.

FCAI Chief, Tony Weber, said taking these simple measures may help stem the rising tide of infections without impacting mobility.

“As social distancing measures limit transportation options, Australians are looking to their cars as a more isolated means to conduct essential travel, and in some cases are even receiving vital infection screening from their vehicle.

“Maintaining hygiene can assist in preventing transmission. It is just as important as cleaning any other surface. Cars should be sanitised every time they are entered or exited.

“With common sense and consistency, we can help to limit the spread of coronavirus and mitigate the impact of disrupting essential mobility,” Mr Weber said.

The news comes as Australian COVID-19 cases climb beyond 6000.

Justin Narayan

After more than a decade working in the product planning and marketing departments of brands like Kia, Subaru and Peugeot, Justin Narayan returned to being a motoring writer – the very first job he held in the industry.

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