4 Germy Car Parts to Clean Today

June 04, 2021 · 3 min read

Your vehicle may one of the germiest places you interact with on a daily basis. Here are a few places you might want to pay special attention to the next time you clean your vehicle.

1. Driver Controls

Any driver controls that you interact with daily are probably covered in germs. This might include your radio volume or the touch screen of your driver infotainment system. These parts of the vehicle are usually touched every time you get in and out of your vehicle. Other less-common, often-forgotten driver controls include the mirror, window controls, or the sunroof button.

2. Steering Wheel

The steering wheel is another common touch point. It is the one part of your vehicle that you are likely to touch, whether you're in the vehicle for 30 seconds or 30 minutes. If you're eating, touching other things, or talking, many of the germs make their way onto the steering wheel. Fortunately, if your steering wheel is made of leather, it is easy to clean. If you have a fabric steering wheel or a cover, then it may be harder to fully sanitize it.

3. Door Handles

Your door handles are probably touched more than any other part of your vehicle. You may touch the door handles to get in and out of your vehicle, or when rolling down your windows. You're also likely to lean on your door handles when parked or stopped at a red light.

Whereas many people remember to wipe down the interior door handles, many do forget to do the same to the exterior handles. Other people may also touch your exterior door handles, like valet attendants or mechanics, which can lead to a greater accumulation of germs.

4. Foot Pedals

The germs in your vehicle aren't only transferred from your hands. Many germs also make their way into your vehicle from your shoes. When you walk in public places and then step into your vehicle, pushing on the gas and brake pedals, you're also transferring germs. This is also one of the places that people often forget to clean when they do wipe down their vehicles.

Other parts of your vehicle that tend to have a lot of germs include the seatbelt, your door frame, glove box, and your air conditioning button controls. Back seats may have high germ areas, if you load a lot of cargo in there or if you frequently have back seat passengers.

How To Get Rid of the Germs in Your Vehicle

Your vehicle is probably filled with germs, now what? Routine cleanings with an antibacterial cleanser are important. Give your vehicle the same cleaning attention that you give to your home. It may also be beneficial to schedule routine detailing appointments, where they will professionally clean all the nooks and crannies of your vehicle.

Your vehicle may feel like a safe haven from germs. It may feel like the one place that you can sit back and relax, whether your commuting to the office or enjoying a meal while parked. But, your vehicle is probably actually filled with germs.

Mar 11, 2022 in Dulles Motorcars Service

5 Benefits of Getting Brake Service at Your Leesburg Subaru Dealer

Routine brake service is essential for staying safe while driving and avoiding costly repairs down the road. The more you use your brakes, the more they gradually wear down and need parts replaced. Regular checkups with a trusted technician will make sure any problems are caught early and sorted out promptly before any serious problems develop. The following are five good reasons to visit your local Subaru dealer to have your brakes inspected. Check Fluid Levels The first thing a technician will do is check your brake fluid levels. As with any of the fluids in your car, brake fluid serves a vital function and can gradually break down over time. Any reduction in your fluid reduces the hydraulic pressure that allows your foot on the pedal to activate your brakes effectively. If your fluid levels have dropped, you might even have a leak, which a technician will find and fix. Replace Brake Pads The brake pads are the parts that do the hardest work in your braking mechanism. When you press down on the pedal, the brake pads clamp onto the rotor, creating friction, which slows and stops the wheel. With so much friction and heat, brake pads inevitably wear down and require replacing every 10,000 to 20,000 miles. An inspection of your brakes will find overly-worn pads and swap them out for new ones. Inspect Your Rotors Rotors are remarkably tough components, and they last a good long time. Rotors are most often made of iron, but they're sometimes made of high-tech materials like carbon fiber or ceramic. Whatever the material, rotors can become dented or warped by overheating from too much consecutive braking. The heat can even melt the resin in your brake pads, which then hardens into a lumpy layer over the rotor, which you might feel as vibrations through your steering wheel or pedal. It's important for any warped or damaged rotors to be repaired or replaced, as rotor faults lead to more overheating and sometimes brake fade. Brake fade is where your brakes become spongy, often leading to accidents. A good technician will make sure your rotors are in tip-top shape. Inspect Your Clips One small piece of the braking mechanism helps to reduce the aforementioned chance of overheating. In between the brake pads and rotor, you'll find your brake clips, which serve to push the pads away from the rotor. In this way, the clips keep your pads cooler, help them last longer, and also reduce noise. If a clip comes loose, the other essential parts of your braking mechanism will falter faster. A quick examination will see if you need new clips or not. Calibrate Your Caliper The main casing of all the braking components is called the caliper. This is the least likely part of your brake system to break down, but sometimes corrosion can set in, or parts of the caliper may come loose. It's always wise to have it checked, just to be sure. To have friendly, highly-experienced technicians service your brakes, head down to Dulles Motorcars of Leesburg. We treat every customer, new and old, with the care and respect of family members.