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Business Standard
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Your car's steering wheel may be dirtier than you ever thought, say experts
According to motoring specialists Plates Express, cited by the Daily Mail, your car's steering wheel is crawling with bacteria—more so than almost any other surface in your vehicle, including the gear stick or seatbelt buckle. Why? It's the one place you touch every single time you drive, often right after handling food, phones, door handles, or even your own face. Luxury car cleaner James Taylor told the Daily Mail, 'You wouldn't go weeks without washing your hands, but drivers go months without wiping down the one surface they touch every single day.' Even top-of-the-line Bentleys weren't spared—when he swabbed the wheels, bacteria levels were 'through the roof.' How often should you clean your steering wheel, and what's the best method? Thankfully, fixing this hygiene nightmare is quick and easy. Taylor recommends wiping down your steering wheel once a week using antibacterial wipes or a dedicated car interior cleaner. It takes less than a minute but can drastically reduce your exposure to harmful bacteria. Make sure to reach into the grooves and stitching, especially if your wheel is leather-wrapped, as these tiny crevices are germ magnets. Are most drivers skipping this essential hygiene step? Surprisingly, yes. A survey found that 32 per cent of drivers clean their car only once a year, and a shocking 12 per cent never clean it at all. That's not just gross—it's potentially risky, especially if you're prone to touching your face while driving. This lack of cleanliness stands in stark contrast to our everyday hygiene routines. We wash our hands after using the bathroom but forget the very surfaces we interact with every day—like the wheel we grip with those same hands. Do habits like eating or drowsy driving increase the germ load? Today's drivers are multitasking more than ever. A Lemonade Insurance survey found that over half of Gen Z drivers eat while driving, and about one-third hit the road when they're tired. Both behaviours add to the grime on your steering wheel. Food crumbs, sneezes, coughs, and sleepy stares all contribute to bacterial buildup. Combined with phone taps and face touches, your wheel becomes a petri dish of everyday germs. What other parts of your car should you disinfect regularly? While the steering wheel is the worst offender, it's not alone. Other frequently touched parts of your car deserve attention, too: Gear stick Seatbelt buckle Door handles (inside and outside) Touchscreens and infotainment controls A quick once-a-week wipe-down of these high-contact areas can make your drive safer—not just cleaner.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Specialist reveals one thing you use daily that is dirtier than a toilet and harbors loads of bacteria
When most of us think about dirt and bacteria, we might picture a grimy public restroom or a filthy subway seat. But what if we told you there's a place in your car that's even dirtier than a public toilet? Yes, you read that right! It doesn't matter if your car is sparkling clean or a total mess—there's one spot that's practically a breeding ground for germs, and you're touching it every time you drive. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to motoring specialists Plates Express, the steering wheel is the dirtiest part of your car. It's something most of us never even think about. Sure, we might toss out empty coffee cups and vacuum the floor mats, but we rarely consider giving that wheel a good scrub. It's a surprising oversight, given how much contact it gets on a daily basis. 'You wouldn't go weeks without washing your hands, but drivers go months without wiping down the one surface they touch every single day,' James Taylor, a luxury car cleaner, told the Daily Mail. It's a simple but jarring point. Every time you hop into the driver's seat, your hands—fresh from touching door handles, food wrappers, or your phone—are instantly transferring bacteria to the steering wheel. What's even more concerning is that even the fanciest cars aren't immune to this issue. Taylor shared that he's cleaned luxury Bentleys that looked spotless, but when he tested the wheel with a swab, the bacteria levels were through the roof. 'People touch their face, their phone, their food — then grab the wheel,' he explained. And it's not just the hands that contribute to this dirty secret. Sneezing or coughing behind the wheel can also leave behind a host of germs, adding to the wheel's hidden collection of bacteria. A simple fix for a major problem The good news? It's a surprisingly easy problem to fix. Taylor recommends a simple wipe-down with an antibacterial wipe or a car interior cleaner at least once a week. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It doesn't take long, but it can dramatically cut down on the number of germs you're exposed to every time you drive. Yet many drivers still neglect this simple step. A survey by found that 32% of drivers clean their car only once a year, and an alarming 12% never bother to clean it at all. This isn't just a matter of aesthetics—it's a real hygiene issue. It's also a matter of basic self-care. After all, we're quick to wash our hands after using the bathroom, but we often forget about the surfaces we touch every single day. More than just a dirty wheel And while drivers are worrying about keeping their steering wheels clean, there are plenty of other distractions that could use some attention, too. A recent Lemonade survey found that more than half of Gen Z drivers admit to eating behind the wheel, and about a third drive while tired. These habits add even more reasons to ensure the wheel is kept clean—imagine all those crumbs and coughs and phone taps mixing together right where you place your hands! If nothing else, maybe this information will inspire you to grab a wipe and give that steering wheel a quick once-over. It's one small change that could make a big difference in your daily health.
New York Post
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- New York Post
This thing you touch every day is filthier than your toilet — but you probably never clean it
You filthy animals. It doesn't matter if your car is impeccably clean or if it looks like the inside of an NYC dumpster in an alleyway — there is one area of a car that is as dirty as a porta potty toilet. It turns out that the steering wheel is the dirtiest place in a car, according to motoring specialists Plates Express. Usually, when people think of tidying up their cars, they'll do the obvious — throw out garbage lying around, maybe take a vacuum to the corners or dust the car's console, but it seems that drivers are rarely wiping down the spot that attracts the most germs. Cars often get forgotten about when it comes to keeping them clean. czitrox – 'You wouldn't go weeks without washing your hands, but drivers go months without wiping down the one surface they touch every single day,' James Taylor, a luxury car cleaner, told the Daily Mail. This is problematic news because a car can harbor a lot of bacteria — especially the steering wheel. And as expected, 'People touch their face, their phone, their food — then grab the wheel,' Taylor said. 'I've cleaned Bentleys that looked spotless — but when you swab the wheel, the bacteria levels are through the roof,' he revealed to the outlet. Aside from the obvious germs that harbor on a driver's hands — things like sneezing and coughing when driving will also wind up on the wheel. Most people barely clean their car — let alone the germ-filled steering wheel. Space_Cat – According to Taylor, all it takes is a simple wipe down once a week using an antibacterial wipe or a car interior cleaner to get rid of the grossness on the steering wheel. According to a survey by 32% of drivers clean their car once a year, and 12% don't even bother to clean their vehicles. Here's to hoping if anything, they'll at least do a quick wipe down on the dirtiest part. And while drivers should be cleaning their cars more often — they should also always be more focused on the task at hand, especially Gen Z. A Lemonade survey revealed that 54% of the generation born between 1997 and 2012 eat while behind the wheel, and a whopping 32% drive while tired. 15% of Gen Z also admitted to having heated arguments while steering the car, while 13% of them drove with a pet in their laps — talk about a slew of distractions.
