Latest news with #carcleaning
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Cleaning expert who once worked for Royal Family reveals 5p trick that keeps your car smelling fresh for WEEKS
A FORMER cleaner to the Royal Family has revealed an ingenious car cleaning hack that can leave a motor smelling fresh for weeks. Even better, it's a simple, everyday kitchen cupboard item that costs just pennies. 4 4 4 When it comes to in-car odours, most drivers opt for chemical-based air fresheners or pricey gadgets to keep their interior smelling sweet. But a former cleaner for the Royals, who has spoken to motoring experts at Plates Express, recently revealed her own practical hack for keeping car interiors fresh without spending a fortune. Anne Simmons, 57, from Berkshire, worked in the royal household for nearly ten years and was occasionally asked to prepare official vehicles for last-minute inspections or events. Naturally, she picked up a few clever tricks during her time. One of those is an inexpensive way to get rid of that pesky stale smell that can linger inside your motor. She said: 'One day, I was asked to get a car ready for a senior royal's outing. 'Everything looked spotless, but the inside just smelled… stale. 'We didn't have fancy sprays or scented gels to hand, so I reached into my bag and pulled out a dry tea bag. 'I tucked it under the seat and let it sit. 'By the time they stepped in, the smell was gone - and in its place was a gentle, comforting scent.' I was gutted when scrubbing didn't get my 'stained' blender clean, then remembered a £3.25 spray I had in the cupboard Anne swears by her tea bag hack, adding: 'It's something I've used ever since. 'It's discreet, cheap, and lasts much longer than people think. 'Black tea is my go-to, but you can use herbal ones like lavender or mint if you want a fresher smell.' According to Plates Express, a car's interior attracts lingering smells - even for those who don't smoke or eat inside their vehicle. Wet shoes, coats, or even condensation can create the perfect breeding ground for mould and mildew. Food, such as crumbs and takeaway wrappers, can make a car smell foul in just a matter of hours. Furthermore, pet hair and dander are another main culprit - especially if you regularly drive around with your dog or cat in tow. Lastly, cars that don't get enough fresh air build-up can smell over time, so making sure a motor is ventilated can certainly help. WHAT'S THE TEA? So, why does a tea bag work so effectively? Simply, tea leaves are natural odour absorbers which, as they dry, pull moisture and bad smells from the air. This makes them ideal for small, enclosed spaces such as car cabins. Better yet, they don't just cover up bad smells with strong perfumes; they neutralise the odour at its source. Anne added: 'Tea bags work quietly in the background. 'They don't overpower, and they don't make people sneeze. 'I just pop one in the glove box, under a seat, or inside the cup holder.' A spokesperson from Plates Express said: 'Using dry tea bags is a clever and cost-effective way to keep your car smelling fresh. 'It's a natural solution that's safe for all car interiors, including leather and fabric. 'But it's important to stay consistent - regular small steps like this make a big difference over time. 'We always encourage drivers to look after their interiors with the same care they give the outside of their car. 'From wiping surfaces to using subtle deodorisers like tea bags, it all helps in keeping your vehicle pleasant and welcoming.'
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
This forgotten car surface is filthier than your TOILET
When people clean their cars, they tend to focus on the obvious parts like vacuuming up crumbs or giving the outside a rinse. But did you know there's actually a part of your vehicle that is often overlooked and can wrack up more germs than your toilet? That's right, according to a motoring specialists at Plates Express, your steering wheel is one of the dirtiest parts of the car - and most drivers forget to wipe it down. Studies have shown that steering wheels can harbor hundreds of strains of bacteria per square inch - including those linked to food poisoning and skin infections. That's more than can be found on your mobile phone, your computer keyboard… or even a public toilet seat. James Taylor, a luxury car cleaner who regularly details high-end vehicles for clients across the UK, said, 'People touch their face, their phone, their food - then grab the wheel. 'I've cleaned Bentleys that looked spotless - but when you swab the wheel, the bacteria levels are through the roof.' James pointed out that steering wheels are not only exposed to sweat and food residue from your hands, but also sneezes and coughs since they're located right in front of your face - which can create the perfect environment for germs to grow. 'It's not a huge danger to most healthy people, but if you've got kids, allergies, or low immunity, it's something you should take seriously,' he added. 'You wouldn't go weeks without washing your hands, but drivers go months without wiping down the one surface they touch every single day.' As for the best way to clean it, the expert recommended using a car-specific interior cleaner or antibacterial wipes that are safe for leather or plastic. He also reminded drivers to clean in the creases, and to wait for it to dry before driving since a wet wheel can be slippery. In the end, he said a weekly wipe-down can reduce germs dramatically and takes less than a minute. Back in 2011, research found that while 80 bacteria lurk on each square inch of toilet, up to 700 harmful bugs inhabit the steering wheel. The study found that bacillus cereus – a bug that can cause food poisoning and is found in rice, pasta, potatoes and pies – was the most common along with arthrobacter, which is found in soil and human skin. The study also revealed that 42 percent of motorists regularly dine while driving. Only a third cleaned the inside of the car once a year, while 10 percent said they never bothered to wipe down surfaces or vacuum. Dr Ron Cutler, director of biomedical science at Queen Mary University, London, said at the time: 'While most of the bacteria were unlikely to cause health problems, some cars were found to play host to a number of potentially harmful bacterial species. 'Most people clean their homes but many are neglecting to clean their cars and are driving around in vehicles which resemble a rubbish bin. 'A car is the perfect place for germs to breed, especially if you eat in it and leave litter or uneaten food around. To avoid potential health risks it would be wise to regularly clean your car inside and out.'
