Research shows that dirty car interiors are breeding grounds for hostile bacteria
Many of us treat our cars like second homes, but with one major differenceâwe wouldnât let our homes get that filthy. Decomposing food under seats, dirty pets sharing space with groceries, small children doing âwhat small children doâ. Unwittingly, weâre turning the insides of our cars into breeding grounds for all kinds of unsavoury bacteria, and in some cases weâre opening ourselves up to serious risk.
In our video feature, Dr Anthony Hilton gets inside some of Britainâs commonest types of cars and examines them in microbiological detail. He and his team at Aston University took samples from the areas inside our cars that are most often used or handledâsteering wheels, gear sticks, rear seatsâand subjected them to rigorous microscopic examination. What they found wasnât pretty; in one case even discovering traces of the E-coli virus.
Cleaning the car might seem like a pain, but once youâve witnessed Dr Hiltonâs fascinating exposé of its unwanted hidden passengers, you might well be inclined to think again about giving it a quick once over with an antibacterial wipe or two. If it keeps your children safe itâs got to be worth it.