COVID-19 hasn’t just changed how the world works. It’s also changed how we live our lives.
Before this pandemic, most car owners didn’t have to think too hard about what to keep in their vehicle. A box or pack of tissues, spare cloths for wiping the vehicle and charging cables are common items found in many cars.
Today, car owners must keep a few more essentials in the car. Though not exhaustive, here are some items that drivers should have.
EXTRA FACE MASKS
Whether it’s a reusable cloth mask or disposable surgical mask, keep a few of these in your car.
You might be wondering why you need to do this. After all, everyone has to wear a mask upon leaving the house.
But what if, while shopping for essentials, you discover that the mask you’re wearing is no longer viable because it got wet? Whether it’s because of rain or perspiration, it doesn’t matter.
What’s important is having a spare that you can access and wear.
PLASTIC BAGS
If you have extra face masks in your car, you need a stash of plastic bags, too. They must be used to seal disposable face masks before they’re thrown away.
Halting the transmission of COVID-19 means you have to dispose of your used masks in a sterile manner.
HAND SANITISER
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, you’ll probably still be able to find public toilets without hand soap. That’s why you need to bring hand sanitiser.
Yes, the thought of soap-less toilets is disgusting and dangerous. That’s exactly why you must keep a spare bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitiser in the car. You can put it in your pocket before leaving your vehicle.
Having it on your person is always a good idea, especially if you’re a guy. Remember, you’re supposed to shop alone. Your missus won’t always be there with a bottle of hand sanitiser in her purse.
DISINFECTANT WIPES
Before COVID-19, the only wipes I considered keeping in my car were the ones that could remove bird droppings.
Now, disinfectant wipes have become a must. You never know when you need to wipe down your hands and arms, or even your face.
They’ll also come in handy for sterilising frequently touched areas of the car. Your steering wheel, door handles, gearshift lever, and various buttons and switches could use a weekly wipe-down.
IONISER/AIR PURIFIER
Car owners who think that their car air-con isn’t enough can consider an in-car air purifier or ioniser.
Breathing cleaner air is always welcome – pandemic or no. Meanwhile, an ioniser helps eliminate moulds, viruses and other nasties you might otherwise be inhaling.
Read: 6 ways the coronavirus has affected motorists
What do the latest circuit-breaker measures mean for car owners?
Here are 5 car maintenance tasks you can do alone
