By Jim Utter
Director of Journalism
Car vacuum sites (along with air hoses) were a popular destination for car owners even before they became an added amenity at most car wash locations.
For those who like to keep their car clean, the quickest place you can notice things get dirty is inside your vehicle – like floor mats, carpet, seats and even the trunk.
Few of us own a vacuum with power and design needed to do good cleaning in the tight places of a car, so many turn to the local gas station or plan a stop at a vacuum station post-wash.
But do they do the job?
Operationally, yes. But what’s left behind by the previous customer when you show up to work on your car could come as a shock.
To find out just how dirty these vacuums are, the Panda Hub web site recently commissioned an experiment with an accredited laboratory and surveyed American car owners to see how many people use them.
The following bacteria were found in high amounts on every swabbed self-serve car vacuum tested by Microchem Laboratory Inc. (based in Round Rock, Texas): Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, Coliforms (including E. coli), E. coli (pathogenic strains), Bacillus cereus and other unidentified coliforms.
Coliforms in high amounts are indicators of feces residue. Listeria and E. coli are dangerous if brought into a food preparation environment.
One could see how utilizing a vacuum covered with such bacteria – and running it throughout the interior of a vehicle – could easily transfer it to the owner and their personal belongings.
As part of the Panda Hub’s inquiry, it conducted a poll of 500 car owners by SurveyMonkey and found 58 percent claimed self-serve vacuums were a regular part of their car cleaning routine. Almost 32 percent said they would use self-serve car vacuums on a daily or weekly basis.
So, there’s a lot of vacuuming going on.
Obviously, every vacuuming location is different in terms of upkeep.
For example, you are far more likely to have regular cleaning of the vacuums at a standalone express or full-service car wash than those tucked away in the corner of your local gas station.
But there are some precautions you can take to try to avoid any issues:
One, of course, is using your vacuum at home after wiping the end of the vacuum attachments before and after use.
If you do go to a vacuum site or use those at a car wash, try to keep some disposable gloves on hand in your car and wipe the vacuum ends with microfiber towels (also a typical car wash amenity).
Even a wipe from disposable antibacterial wipes would be better than nothing.
