• by Tanya Gazdik , May 6, 2020

Nissan is offering consumers tips on how to disinfect vehicles to help stop the spread of COVID-19. 

Frequent hand washing as directed by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a crucial part of staying healthy, but so is disinfecting surfaces, including those in your car, according to the automaker.

"Most people are still using their vehicles, whether they are essential employees commuting to work or someone running to the grocery store while in quarantine," said Ryan Fulkerson, director, new model engineering, Nissan North America, in a release. "We want to make sure they're informed on how to best keep their vehicle disinfected.”

Nissan is posting the information to its social channels and the content is posted in its newsroom for media outlets to repurpose. Dealerships can also use the materials.

The automaker's checklist of which vehicle surfaces to regularly disinfect include the steering wheel, both sides of exterior  and interior door handles, trunk lid or lift gate grab areas, rear-view mirror, center console and arm rest, seat belt and buckle.

While most common household disinfectants are effective, some are not ideal for use on a vehicle, such as bleach, hydrogen peroxide, benzene, thinners or other harsh and abrasive cleaners. These chemical products can damage vehicle upholstery and interior surfaces. Instead, alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70% alcohol are effective against the coronavirus according to the CDC, and can safely be used in vehicles.

The infotainment screen is tricky because it's a high-touch area that should not come in contact with aggressive cleaners like ammonia-based ones, according to Nissan. Instead, owners should use screen wipes or a soft cloth dampened with soap and water to clean the screen surface and then wipe dry with a clean, soft cloth.  If the vehicle is equipped, using voice commands can help avoid touching the center screen altogether.

The automaker earlier provided tips on social media on car maintenance during the pandemic. For example, it’s important to drive a vehicle for at least 20 minutes a week to keep the battery charged and fluids circulating.