Read on to know tips on cleaning food scraps in your car.

It is unavoidable to eat in the car. Sometimes, when we are in a rush, and there is no time for a proper snack or meal, we prefer to eat in the car. There are also other scenarios like being stuck in the traffic and hunger knocks in. Other times, eating in the car is planned during road trips and long trips. But do you ever think if eating in your car is okay? Do you have a hard time cleaning those food scraps and dirt?

To help you answer those questions, Philcarnews.com will help you figure it out. Let’s find out if eating in your car is a good idea or not.

1. Eating in your car: Yay or Nay?

Eating in the car has been very convenient. The fact that there are drive-throughs in all corners of the city is enough proof. It becomes very convenient and eases to a hungry stomach in the middle of the heavy traffic. It becomes a habit. Drinking in the car or eating a snack in the car for the sake of convenience. But is it really convenient? Maybe yes, when you’re super hungry or you’re driving and suddenly crave for something, but it’s a big no-no for the following reasons:

2. Your car has many areas where food can be trapped

A car is a small space with lots of items inside. Thanks to car engineers who work really hard to cram every single thing that is needed in a car to fit in its very limited space. This leaves a myriad of even smaller and tighter spaces where food scraps and dirt can be trapped.

The car has small and tight spaces where food scraps and dirt can be trapped

3. The smell of food lasts longer

It is easier to clean and sanitize polished and hard surfaces. A little wiping and sanitizing are already enough to remove food spills dirt, and messes as well as the odor that comes with it. But for soft fabrics, it is the total opposite. Your car’s seat and carpet flooring trap food remnants and smell which result in an unpleasant and stinky odor that can linger for a very long time. Surely you wouldn’t want a stinky car, right?

4. Liquids, especially milk stain and odor, is very hard to remove

Lots of car owners have experienced this scenario, and they will surely agree that spilled milk is one of the strongest and most difficult stains and odor to remove. You’re going to need a much stronger cleaner to remove lurking smell of rotting dairy and its stains as well.

Spilled milk is one of the strongest and most difficult stains and odor to remove

5. How to clean food scraps in the car?

Now, you might have to reconsider eating in your car again. Well, if uncontrolled hunger and cravings in the car are unavoidable, might as well give you some handy tips on how to handle food dirt and food scraps.  As we’ve mentioned earlier, hard and polished surfaces are easier to clean. Some detergent spray, wiping and sanitizing is enough. So, we’ll be focusing on the soft fabrics and areas where food scraps can be trapped in your car.

6. Fabric Car seats

Food stains and spills happen. And when that happens, your car seats will look messy and dirty. That is why proper and thorough cleaning is required. To start off, first, you have to vacuum the seats first to remove dust, crumbs, debris and dirt particles. Don't forget to vacuum the seams. Using your fingers, separate the seams then stick the vacuum’s nozzle into the seams to get rid of the loose dirt trapped in there. Then after all the debris and dirt particles are removed, start working on the stains. You can use household products in removing food stains like club soda, baking soda solution, and vinegar mixture.

You can use household products in removing food stains like club soda, baking soda solution, and vinegar mixture

The common procedure is to spray the solution in the stain then using a toothbrush, brush off the stains until totally removed. If the stain is very difficult to remove, let the solution sit for about half an hour then brush it again. Just be very careful not to spray too much liquid to avoid saturating the seats that can lead to molds or foul odor. Or you can also use your regular laundry or upholstery detergent to remove the stains from the fabric car seats. Repeat the procedure on all the car stains that have stains in it.

7. Leather Car Seats

Vacuum the seats first as well as the seams. Then for the stains, you can use alcohol or a nail polish remover. Blot the stains with a cloth or cotton ball that is dipped in the nail polish remover or alcohol. This will lift the stain from the leather. When the stain was removed, use warm water and dish soap to clean off the nail polish remover or the alcohol off the leather seats. You can also use a non-gel toothpaste, then dab it into the stain and use a toothbrush to remove the stain away. And the vinegar mixture can work on leather seats too.

8. Carpeting on vehicles

Your car’s floor carpeting or dashboard can also be stained too. So before you start, you first have to remove all the unnecessary stuff that can hinder your thorough carpeting clean -up. Remove your car’s floor mats too, and shake them off to remove the dirt and debris. When all the unnecessary stuff is removed, start by vacuuming the carpeted area. Reach under the seats, pedals, and crevices of the car.

Make sure that all the dirt particles, debris, trash, and crumbs are all disposed of. You can buy a particular carpet shampoo to remove the stains with the help of a toothbrush. You can also use the solution provided for the soft fabric car seats to remove the stains brought by food scraps and spills.

You can buy a particular carpet shampoo to remove the stains with the help of a toothbrush

After all the food stains and scraps have been removed, spray a decent amount of air freshener in your car. You can also use air freshener products that you can put on your car’s AC to freshen the air inside your vehicle.

Remember that cleanliness is important. So, you should maintain cleanliness in your car as well. If you don’t want to be stressed out by the dirt, stains and stinky smell of food in your car, then avoid eating in your car. That is the safest way to make sure your car seats and carpets are free from food crumbs and stain that can also lead to a foul odor that will linger in your car.

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