Dirty car interiors found to be more germ-ridden than a toilet seat

Filthy cup holders, buttons, seat belts and steering wheels are breeding grounds for harmful germs and bacteria

Dirty car interiors found to be more germ-ridden than a toilet seat
Image: Sam Asim Malik on Facebook.

Some cars in the UK can be 16 times more germ-ridden than the seat of a toilet, a new study has found.

John Ward, professor of synthetic biology for bioprocessing at University College of London, with help from his students, examined the same areas of eleven cars to determine the level of bacteria.

Cup holders were found to be the worst areas for bacteria build-up, with all of the cars testing registering bacteria in these areas.

This was followed by dashboard buttons, seat belt catches and the steering wheel itself.

The door handles and gearstick were also areas which registered high levels of bacteria.

Related: Study shows which parts of a car’s interior is most riddled with germs

A variety of different bacteria were found, from staphylococcus epidermidis – a type of skin bacteria which can be harmful to people with compromised immune systems if ingested – to prevotella, a type of bacteria which originates from people’s mouths and guts and can cause illness.

In total, up to 800 individual bacterial types were found in the car interiors.

Ward said: “Studies have found that on the average toilet seat there are 50 bacteria per square inch.

“The most heavily contaminated parts of a car number between 2,000 and 4,000.”

Related: Average independent garage labour rates revealed

A separate survey of 2,000 UK motorists by used car dealer, Carzoo found that car owners only fully clean their car on average once every 11 weeks.

Almost one in five say they only ever clean their car if someone else is getting into it.

And 20 per cent of all drivers say they won’t bother to mop up a drink if they spill it in their car.

Earlier this year, garages were warned that dirty car interiors could help the spread of COVID-19.

How often you come across filthy interiors and what do you do to protect yourself – particularly during the current pandemic! Share your comments and experiences below.

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  • #203993 Reply

    Some cars in the UK can be 16 times more germ-ridden than the seat of a toilet, a new study has found. John Ward, professor of synthetic biology for b
    [See the full post at: Dirty car interiors found to be more germ-ridden than a toilet seat]

    #203996 Reply
    Meat-Head
    Blocked

    Yeah can garage wire lobby for cars like that for mot fail. Full on do not drive take on lowloader

    Your in the country, this guy looses control as a can of Aldi BO basher
    Stops break pedal wack – ambulance comes & contamination you and them with TB.

    Farmers are dawg owners, that stink.

    You expect odd car with junk that has come in as non start or from body shop
    As they didn’t expect to be taking their car to a garage!

    #203998 Reply
    Gary King
    Guest

    As a technician and MOT tester I have had to sit in some filthy cars in my time. The worst offenders are fleet and motability customers because they have the attitude that they don’t own the car do have no invested interest in looking after it. Some of these cars could be described as a mobile bin, and now we get disposable face masks left in cars I even had one hanging from the rear view mirror. It’s not acceptable. My car is not like that so I find it very unpleasant to have to work on one that is covered in filth.

    #204028 Reply
    Meat-Head
    Blocked

    Mobabilty customers are also the ones that cant walk without out TWO walking sticke, park in middle of yard, lots of heavy breathing asking for price on towbar for caravan, once price given they ask if you can fit used bar to new car!

    Mobility cars also low mileage makes you ask why bother!

    Your disabled and should not drive or your not!

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