We’re talking about carpets and upholstery in your car and the common problems associated with those surfaces. Carpet and upholstery in cars is found on the floors, mats, seats, door panels (throw it back to the 1970’s), and headliners.
How Come Carpets are Problematic?
Carpet and upholstery are soft and cushy, to make your ride more comfortable. They’re also porous fabrics that attract not only dirt and stains, but tons of disgusting germs. Exposure to germs is necessary to build antibodies, but if you’re driving a cesspool, you have to ameliorate your situation. Chances are, your car is filthier than you know/want to know/are willing to admit.
“But I’m Really Clean…”
Even if you wash your hands a lot, use hand sanitizer, or shower twice a day, you can’t guarantee that everyone who’s ever been or will be in your car has the same stellar hygiene practices as you. Let’s assume you and all your friends are the cleanest humans ever to live. You will still be exposed to unclean car carpets and upholstery, and some of the stuff trapped in those fabrics can really mess with your body. Let’s talk more about gross stuff:
What’s Actually in There?
Germs
Little nasties like the Norovirus, also known as the flu virus, can live in fabric for up to a month (!!!). You can get the flu from your car. Other unwanted guests in your carpet and upholstery include:
- Escherichia coli
- E. Coli can also live in fabric! How cute! (Barf). Your dog runs around in the park having the time of his life, and of course, because he’s a dog in a park, probably steps on poop once or twice. He jumps into your car to drive home from the park and, unless he’s strapped to your roof (no!), he’s putting his poop paws all over the carpet floor of your vehicle.
- E. Coli and poop are best friends; they’re always together. Even though some strains of this hideous bacteria can be harmless, others can make you sick. E. Coli exposure can cause stomach and breathing issues.
- Staphylococcus:
- Enough poop talk. Let’s move on. To boogers! (Yay?) Staph is a bacteria found in human noses. Fingers are also often found in human noses. The same fingers that touch your car’s seats, headliners, and mats.
- So, your car upholstery and carpet probably have Staph in/on them. This type of bacteria exposure can cause problematic skin conditions and infections.
- Tips:
- If you or your passenger can’t stop picking your noses, keep hand sanitizer close by to kill germs right away. Using hand sanitizer is no guarantee that you won’t spread germs, but it certainly helps.
- Open your windows every time you drive, if only for a 30 seconds, to increase ventilation and make the air in your car healthier. The hotter and more stagnant air gets in your car, the better environment for a germ party. So roll those windows down!
MitesGerms aren’t the only filth lingering in your car’s carpet and upholstery. Mites can live there too. What kind of mites, you ask?
- Dust mites. They inflame allergies
- Carpet beetles are also a thing. And they’re gross.
- Bed bugs can live in carpet too, and those suckers bite.
- Tips:
- Vacuum your car upholstery and carpet extensively, maybe even what seems like excessively. Empty your vacuum canister or change the bag outside and away from the car so you don’t keep getting the same mites you’re trying to remove back into the fabrics.
- One way to remove mites from your car’s carpet is to use heavy duty bug sprays. Some of the available products include Pronto Spray for Bedbugs & Dust Mites and ERADICATOR. Make sure you’re in a well ventilated area and that you’re not fuming yourself. Bug spray is intended to kill, it is no joke, so be extremely careful. Follow the directions on the product label exactly. Ultimately though, the best way to be certain you’re killing all the mites is to have your car professionally “bug bombed”.
Now That You’re Sufficiently Disgusted…Even though Dr. Beasley’s makes DIY detailing easier, we have to recognize the role of professional cleaning when it comes to germ killing an entire vehicle. Most people just don’t have huge steam cleaners and professional grade detergents and tools in their homes. That’s okay. It just means that you have to get your car’s carpet and upholstery professionally cleaned. You should do it AT LEAST once a year, but every 6 months is ideal. We know it’s expensive and annoying but it’s worth it to kill the germs.
Between professional cleanings, you can take steps to help ensure your car upholstery and carpet are less filthy. Vacuum the fabrics in your vehicle regularly, once a week would be a good place to start. Keep an enzyme based carpet and upholstery cleaner in your glove compartment along with a sturdy interior brush. Spot clean stains and spills as soon as possible to prevent “baking in” and undesirable odors. After your car’s fabrics are clean, protect them from future stains.
Your automobile is your second home, so take care of it. We know you’re busy with things other than your car, but we also know that taking the time and energy to maintain cleanliness will pay off. Fewer germs and mites means a lower likelihood of illness caused by contact with your car’s fabric surfaces. Don’t be scared, just be prepared!