How clean is the average British car?

We clean our kitchens and bathrooms regularly, but how often do we clean our cars?

From using your car as a mobile wardrobe to a place where you leave umbrellas and even empty coffee cups, our vehicles are not always used just to get us from point A to point B. Due to the increased importance of hygiene in recent times, we conducted a study of cars in the UK. owners to ask them about their car cleaning habits.

We also teamed up with a driver who admits he struggles to find the time to keep his car clean to learn how dirty cars can be. We took a swab from the car and sent it to the lab for testing, which gave us some pretty unexpected results!

Car cleaning habits: the results are here

Our research has shown that when it comes to car washing, we are a nation of amateur craftsmen: more than three-quarters (76%) of car owners wash their cars themselves, rather than using a car wash or asking or paying someone else to do it for you. them. . 

On average, Britons thoroughly wash their car inside and out once every 11 weeks. However, many of those interviewed admitted to cutting a few corners. Nearly half (46%) said they used quick fixes such as simply hanging up an air freshener, while more than a third (34%) admitted to spraying their car seats with a deodorant spray.

splashing cash

Since many people choose to clean their cars themselves, it's no surprise that over a third (35%) of car owners have never had their cars professionally cleaned. However, when looking at those who pay a professional to do a dirty job, Gen Z (those under 24) are the most likely age group to pay a professional to do the dirty work, doing so on average once every seven weeks. . This means they spend £25 a month or £300 a year cleaning their car. By comparison, Baby Boomers (people over 55) choose to have professional cleaning only once every 10 weeks, averaging £8 per month.  

Things that are usually left in cars

We know that clutter can build up in a car, so we asked respondents what items they most often leave in their car for long periods of time. Umbrellas top the list (34%), followed by bags (33%), drink bottles or disposable cups (29%) and food wrappers (25%), which explains why 15% of respondents said their car could be take it for a trash can. Nearly one in ten (10%) leaves sweaty sportswear festering in the car, and 8% of people even leave a dog basket inside.

Put on a show for passengers

As for putting the car in order before boarding other passengers, we were interested to know the customs of the nation. It seems like many drivers could benefit from some advice on decluttering, as we found that more than one in ten (12%) admit that a passenger had to clear rubbish from the road in order to get into the car, and 6% even say that they I had someone who refused to get into the car because of how dirty it was!

Pride and joy

When it comes to lack of time, amazingly, almost a quarter of car owners (24%) admit to sneezing on the steering wheel and not putting it away after that. 

Despite this, we also have cleanliness enthusiasts among us: almost a third (31%) are proud to keep their cars clean, and more than two-fifths (41%) wish they had more time to do so. 

Test car for every day...

Taking our research one step further, we worked with a microbiology lab to determine where dirt might accumulate in an everyday car. We visited one car owner, Elisha, and tested 10 different places in her car to see where the dirt was hiding.

Look what happened when we paid her a visit...

Tips and tricks for keeping your car clean at home

1.   Get organized first

With 86% of Brits admitting to leaving things in their car for long periods of time, the first step we recommend is to simply clean up all the clutter before you start cleaning. Cleaning up unnecessary items won't take long, but it will make a huge difference, even if you don't have to get your vacuum cleaner or duster out! Just grab a trash bag and get rid of the clutter so you have a blank canvas to work with.

 2.   Start from the roof

When it comes to washing your car, do yourself a favor by starting on the roof. Starting at the top, you can rely on gravity to do some of the work for you as soap and water run down the outside of the car. It's also a lot easier to keep track of where you've cleaned and where you haven't, preventing that annoying smudge you always notice at the very end. Similarly, inside, starting from a high altitude, any dust or dirt that falls falls only on the uncleaned parts, so that you capture every grain of dirt.

3.   Don't forget to roll down the windows

If you clean windows, be sure to roll each one up when you're done so you don't end up with a dirty streak at the top where the window was hidden in the door seal. If you don't have window cleaner on hand, it's easy to make your own. Simply take a spray bottle and mix one part water with one part white wine vinegar, being careful not to get it on the paintwork.

4.   Take care of hard-to-reach places 

Some hard-to-reach places, such as inside door pockets, can be difficult to clean. You can get straight to the corners by using a pen or pencil with a small piece of Blu Tack on the end to help you get to every nook and cranny. A cotton swab or an old makeup brush will also work. 

5. Collect dog hair

If you are a dog owner, you probably know how difficult it is to remove dog hair from a car. One of the easiest ways to do this is to use a mop or dishwashing glove to sweep dog hair off seats or carpet. It's really effective and takes no time at all!

6. Dust and vacuum at the same time

It can be frustrating to find dust or dirt left in your car after you've finished washing it. A simple yet effective tip is to dust and vacuum at the same time. For example, with a rag or brush in one hand, pick up most of the stubborn dust/dirt from your car while holding the vacuum cleaner with the other hand to instantly remove the dust/dirt.

7. Keep antibacterial wipes on hand

Our study found that 41% of Britons wish they had more time to clean their car, but it doesn't have to be a big job. Keep a pack of antibacterial wipes in your car so you don't spill anything on your seats and get rid of unwanted stains. Cleaning a little but often can make a difference - spending as little as five minutes regularly wiping down your dashboard can prevent your car from getting too dirty.

Every Cazoo car is fully disinfected inside and out.

We thoroughly clean everything from the rear seats to the trunk and even the engine. We also use ozone to kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. Find out more about how we keep Cazoo vehicles clean and safe for you and your family.

methodology

[1] Market research was conducted by Research Without Barriers between 21 August 2020 and 24 August 2020, surveying 2,008 UK adults who own cars.