How to Disinfect Private Hire Cars Effectively?

How to Disinfect Private Hire Cars Effectively? How to disinfect private hire cars may be a question that has come across your mind when you have booked one. While the car is often used only once, leaving it unclean may give rise to many problems not just in terms of hygiene but also in terms of attracting unwelcome attention from bacteria and germs!

Here are some ways on how to disinfect private hire cars effectively when hiring one in Singapore:

1) Clean the seats

Cleaning the upholstery in your vehicle is very important since they are susceptible areas where dirt and stains can accumulate fast. Vacuum all upholstered surfaces, including armrests, roof linings, panels behind side windows and dashboard using a brush attachment before deep cleaning them.

Make sure that you use a good-quality fabric cleaner for this process. If the upholstery is leather, it is advisable to have them cleaned professionally.

2) Cleaning of the headliner board

This process includes cleaning the rooftop by removing dust with a brush or vacuum cleaners. You can also clean dirt accumulations on the ceiling with soap and water solution after covering the air-con vents to prevent leakage of soapy water inside your car. Ensure that they are completely dry before re-covering them.

3) Dress up dashboards

Now let’s dress up all those awful-looking knobs and switches in your vehicle interior with some pretty bit of bling!

At first, clean windshield wiper arms using a toothbrush dipped in soapy water solution before using fine-grit sandpaper to scour off any stubborn rust spots. Use a cloth dipped in acrylic or plastic polish to wipe them dry. You can then use chrome touch-up paint to cover the scratched areas on your windshield wiper arms.

4) Cleaning of Car mats

Bring car mats outside your vehicle and wash them with soap and water solution before leaving them out under the sun for drying. When they are completely dry, vacuum inside all crevices where dirt tends to accumulate and brush dirt accumulations from grooves using a toothbrush.

5) Eliminating odors

Use air fresheners, baking soda, or pine oil mixed with hot water to eliminate bad odors from the upholstery. Sprinkle crushed bicarbonate or else perlite on carpets before sweeping them to trap any dust particles.

6) Clean the windshield

Glass cleaners are not effective enough for stubborn stains and streaks on glass surfaces; make use of toothpaste instead! Dip a tissue in toothpaste and rub gently over the affected area.

Wash with warm water after some time. You can also use isopropyl alcohol mixed with distilled water to clean windows as well as mild detergent solution. However, ensure that you dry thoroughly after washing carpets to prevent mold and mildew growth later on.

7) Use an air duster for dried bugs & road grime

A puffer bottle filled with compressed air can help remove dried bugs stuck on the front of your car. You may also squirt it on road grime on front windows and scrape it with a razor blade or windshield wiper edge. However, ensure that you do not spray too close to your windshield as it may cause the cracking of glass if sprayed at high pressure.

8) Remembering Sun Reflectors

3M sun reflectors, also known as Scotchgard, protect the carpets, upholstery, and plastics from UV rays, reduce fading of fabrics and inhibit the growth of mold and mildew. They are especially useful during long drives when there is no shade over your vehicle, hence increasing the odds of these harmful elements affecting your car’s interiors.

9) Remove food spills immediately

Ensure that you remove any spilled food immediately, especially if your car’s carpet is light-colored. Use a clean cloth to soak up the liquid and then sprinkle salt over it. The salt will absorb any remaining moisture before vacuuming them well.

10) Get rid of stubborn stains

Remove tough stains like ink or blood with hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol. However, ensure that you test inside hidden parts of your vehicle first since some chemicals will cause damages on certain surfaces when in contact for an extended period of time. If the stain persists, use carbonated cola drinks to get rid of it.

11) Get rid of gum and glue residues

Use chewing gum remover to get rid of tough glues and gums stuck on your car’s flooring by rubbing gently with a cloth soaked in this chemical before wiping with a dry cloth. In case you do not have access to this, make use of acetone nail polish remover instead.

12) Dusting vents & ACs

Get rid of dust from AC vents with a brush or toothbrush dipped in warm water mixed with liquid dish soap before using a vacuum cleaner nozzle to clean the crevices. For not easily visible vents, use a spray bottle filled with warm soapy water and direct the jet of liquid towards these areas.

13) Cleaning door trims & locks

Use the mild detergent solution for cleaning car door trims and locks. You can also add 1/4th cup each of white vinegar and distilled water to a bucket of hot water before dipping a cloth into this mixture and wipe over them thoroughly. Wipe dry with a dry cloth afterward.

14) Using Visible Odor Eliminators

For tough odors specific to your vehicle model, you may consider using a visible odor eliminator that can be sprayed directly onto affected areas. However, ensure to always test for colorfastness first before applying it all over the vehicle’s surface.

How to Disinfect Private Hire Cars Effectively? – Conclusion

Private hire cars are a popular form of transportation in Singapore, but they don’t live up to customers’ cleanliness standards. As such, private car owners and drivers need to take measures to disinfect their vehicles effectively. The steps outlined above will help you do just that. How to Disinfect Private Hire Cars Effectively?