Just how clean is your car?

Joe from

Most of us who drive a car would consider it to be cleaner than many other everyday items, however the reality is very different - according to new research.

Cars were found to be 50 per cent dirtier than appliances such as keyboards or phones, following a study by Salford University.

The researchers carried out an experiment that saw swabs collected from around the handbrake, as well as other areas inside the car. These swabs were found to carry a higher density of bacteria than a smartphone screen, or even a computer keyboard.

Despite this, many drivers believe that their car is one of the cleanest things they own. However an online survey conducted by Sellcar.co.uk found that of 2,000 people questioned, 80 per cent only cleaned the inside of their cars once a month or less.

Two-thirds of those asked thought that their cars could be a potential hotbed for germs.

Dr Lisa Ackerley, ‘The Hygiene Doctor', also commented on the findings, saying: "When you think of all the unhygienic things you see people doing while driving - picking their noses, coughing over the steering wheel and eating food - we really ought to be cleaning the insides of our cars more, particularly the hand contact surfaces."

Reference: www.europeancleaningjournal.com...