If you're like most drivers, you spend a lot of time in your car. You may have a long commute to work. You may spend your days running errands, doing the grocery shopping, and driving kids to and from soccer games and school events. Whether you're spending most of your time cruising on the highway or stuck in stop-and-go traffic doesn't matter. What matters is that you make sure that the environment that you're spending hours in every week – your car – is a healthy environment for you to be in. Here are some tips that will help make sure that your car isn't harming your health.
Clean from the Inside Out
Do you clean and vacuum the inside of the car at least as often as you wash the outside? If not, you should. A British study found an average of close to 300 germs on every square inch of more than 20 randomly selected vehicles. Some of the germiest places included the carpeting of the trunk (think about that the next time you're loading your trunk up with groceries) the gear shift, and the steering wheel. Some of the bacteria they found were the same kinds of bacteria that are commonly found around toilets.
Cleaning the inside of your car can help keep you healthier. If it's been awhile, why not treat your car to a professional detailing service? Have it completely cleaned, inside and out. Once that's done, get into the habit of vacuuming the carpet (including the carpet in the trunk) and wiping down the interior surfaces with antibacterial spray or wipes. Cleaning it out every few days, or once a week, depending on how much you drive, will help keep the germ levels down. Also, try to avoid eating in your car.
Tint Your Windows
Auto window tint makes your car look cooler, and it also keeps the temperature inside your car cooler. If that's not a good enough reason for you to have your windows tinted, though, then you should consider the health and safety benefits that come along with the window tint. Believe it or not, window tint helps you stay healthy in several different ways.
Most importantly, auto window tint offers UV blockage. Riding in the car for long periods of time leaves you exposed to the sun, especially on your left side (if you're the driver) or on your right side (if you're a front seat passenger). That sun exposure comes with risks that range from sunburn to skin cancer. Window tint that reduces your UV exposure helps keep you from getting sick.
Auto window tint also protects your health by protecting your safety. Reduced glare is better for your eyes and renders you less likely to get into an accident. If you are in an accident, tinting film will help hold the pieces of a shattered window together, reducing your risk of being cut by flying glass. Click here to discover more about the benefits of window tinting.
Avoid Idling
When you're stuck in traffic or sitting in your driveway trying to warm up your car's engine or interior, your car is idling. And when your car is idling, at least some of the exhaust that is coming out of your car is leaking into the inside of your car. The more you idle, the more exhaust you breathe in. As you can imagine, breathing exhaust is not good for your lungs or your overall health, and doing so can exacerbate any existing respiratory conditions, like asthma.
To avoid breathing in car exhaust, avoid idling whenever possible. If you're going to be sitting for more than 10 seconds, just turn the car off. It's healthier, and it wastes less gas. Don't bother idling to warm up the engine or to get the heater moving, either. You can accomplish both of those things faster by driving the car than you can by letting the engine idle.
You clean and disinfect the surfaces in your home, wear sunscreen to protect yourself in your backyard, and avoid bringing toxins into your house. Why would you behave any differently in your car? These tips will help you keep your car as healthy as any other place that you spend time in.
Share
19 December 2014
Now that I'm finished with college, my parents have turned over several obligations to me. One of them happens to be the insurance on my second hand car. Since it is up for renewal in a few months, I want to compare the benefits and see if someone else can give me a better deal. Already, I've found that auto insurance can get complicated. Do I really need more coverage than the minimum my state requires? How about provisions that will help with auto repair after an accident? How do I know when the cost of a policy is within reason? Slowly, I'm finding answers to these and other questions. If you are also looking into options for auto coverage, stick with me. I'll share what I learn and both of us can end up with policies that meet our needs!
