Toyota Ireland has issued a video on YouTube which shows us how best to clean and wipe down our cars so as to help keep the Coronavirus at bay.
Three-minute video
It's a three-minute video, and thankfully it's pretty easy to follow. All you really need, says Toyota, is a packet of cleansing wipes that contain no bleach, but which should - on the packaging - say that they kill 99.9 per cent of bacteria and viruses.
Once you have those, there are then 40 touchpoints that you should wipe down to clean them of any lingering traces of the virus. First, wipe the exterior door handles, and the roof above the door. Then, once you've opened the door, move on to the interior door handles and pulls, and the door armrests. Don't forget to wipe down the window switches and the door pockets, and the tops of the doors too.
From seatbelts to column stalks
Seatbelts need a good clean next (both fabric and clips), followed by the buttons or handles for adjusting the seats. Then move on to the main contact point in the car - the steering wheel, and follow that up by wiping down the horn push, and any multi-function buttons that are on the wheel. Don't forget the wiper and light stalks, and the cruise control stalk if you have one.
Next, wipe down the air vents, and the dashboard top, the gearshift, and the engine stop-start button (if your car has one - wipe down the ignition key if not) and wipe down the key fob if your car has keyless entry and/or ignition). If you've got a multi-media touchscreen, wipe that down too, and don't forget the heating and air conditioning controls.
We're half-way there now. Next, do the glovebox lid and latch, and wipe down the wallet that contains the owners' manual in case you need to refer to it. Then move on to the central arm-rest and storage box (assuming you have either or both). Do the cupholders, the rear-view mirror, the interior lights, the 'jaysus' handles, the head rests, the seatback pockets, and the rear seat armrest (if you have one).
Don't forget the frequently-used areas under the bonnet
Moving back outside, you'll need to wipe the fuel cap, the tyre valves, the latch for the boot and any interior grab handles. the rear parcel shelf, and the little flap that allows you to access the area under the boot floor.
Finally, wipe down the bonnet release, the safety catch under the bonnet, and the commonly-used caps and lids under the bonnet - windscreen washers, oil cap, dipstick etc.
And, of course, once you've done all that, don't forget to wash your hands, for at least 20 seconds, with warm water and lots of soap (or hand steriliser if you can't get to a sink).