Ever since the outbreak of the coronavirus, people have been confined to their homes. Despite the relaxation of the lockdown measures throughout the world, people are still afraid of returning to their normal lives. We are constantly disinfecting our homes, clothes, and even ourselves. Face masks are mandatory in public in many places around the world.
This brings us to our topic for today. Is it safe to wash your car with Dettol? Before answering this question, let us take a look at why car washing is necessary in the first place.
Here’s Why You Need to Wash Your Car Regularly
Regular Car Wash Makes Driving Safer and Comfortable
Have you ever tried driving with mud/dust stuck onto your windows? We certainly hope not. It is quite difficult to see what’s ahead. As a result, you might end up in a surely avoidable accident. Therefore, instead of placing yourself and others in harm’s way, clean the windows and the rest of the car regularly.
Prevents Rust
Rust means that the car’s resale value will certainly take a big nosedive and lead to costly repairs. Dust, mud, dirt, and other contaminants build up over time. If not removed, they can cause rust to build up. This is the last thing anyone wants for their car. In short, regular wash will protect your car against exterior damage due to rust.
Increases the Lifespan of the Vehicle
For the sake of argument, let us assume that the average vehicle lasts for 10 years (a vehicle that is maintained properly). Without regular maintenance, the lifespan might be reduced by 2- 4 years. That is one more reason to wash the car regularly, a key component of vehicle maintenance.
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Increases the Resale Value
Buyers are much more informed nowadays. The internet has rightly played a big role in it. They can spot a poorly maintained vehicle from a mile out. Therefore, even if you own a Audi R8, you are unlikely to get a good value for it in case its been neglected over the years. So, if you plan on selling the vehicle down the road, take good care of it.
Improves Health
Why do we wash our hands and our body? To clean germs and dirt from our body. The same rule applies to your vehicle. Driving around in your vehicle will undoubtedly expose it to germs and other contaminants. Washing will remove them, and you can drive around in a healthier environment.
Reflects Your Personality
We dress up nicely. Why? Because it reflects our personality. A well dressed person means a well groomed personality. Similarly, a vehicle also reflects the owner’s personality. If its dirty, it will reflect poorly on the owner. Another reason why regular car wash is a must.
Next, let us take a look at:
What is Dettol?
Dettol is an anti-septic brand that primarily produces disinfectants.
What is Dettol Used For?
It is useful for disinfecting surfaces. One can also use it on cuts, scratches and even insect bites. It is primarly sold as a household cleaner and is available in different forms.
Does Dettol Kill the Coronavirus (Covid-19)?
The coronavirus is a family of viruses. SARS and MERs, both, belong to the family of coronaviruses. Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleanser Spray, Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleanser Wipes, Dettol All-In-One Disinfectant Spray, and Dettol Disinfectant Liquid are quite effective against the earlier strains of coronavirus.
But Covid-19 is a new strain. Dettol is not yet tested against this strain. Therefore, it cannot be said with surety that Dettol will kill Covid-19. Nevertheless, one should use disinfectants to clean surfaces and products we come into contact throughout our day. This will surely help reduce the spread of the virus.
Now back to our topic.
Can you wash your car with Dettol?
I regularly clean my car’s interior with Dettol. I have been doing this with various cars I have owned over the years. So far, no problem. I asked others the same question, and they also said that they have been using dettol for cleaning the interior.
Some people actually prefer it for the unique fragrance than for its germ killing and cleaning prowess. Whatever the reason, you can use Dettol to clean the car’s interior without worrying about damaging. I use it to clean my leather and dashboard too.
Using Dettol for the exterior is a bit tricky. Most experts recommend against using household products for the vehicle’s exterior. They claim, rightly so, that it can damage the paint job. You might not notice it initially, but over a period of time, the paint will begin to fade away.
But what about Dettol?
My advice would be to avoid using Dettol on the exterior as any damage to the paint job will reduce the car’s value. Besides fixing the faded/damaged paint is no cheap task. Always use a product that is certified for use on the exterior. This way, if things go south, you can always initiate a lawsuit against the manufacturer. In case of Dettol, its job is to merely cleanse the germs and other contaminants. Better to limit Dettol to the interior and use something else for the exterior.
Here’s my list of top products that one must use while cleaning the car’s exterior:
