The dirty secret you carry everywhere

We all know a car’s steering wheel harbours more bacteria than a public toilet seat, but did you know you could be carrying around just as many germs in your pocket or purse?

Fine, maybe not quite that much bacteria, but the reality is still pretty grim.

New research from car insurance comparison site MoneySuperMarket and microbiologist Dr Joe Latimer has revealed just how filthy our car keys are, and – perhaps more surprisingly – how few drivers ever clean them.

According to the findings, car keys harbor around four times as much bacteria (241 bacteria types on average) as a mobile phone (66 bacteria) or a computer keyboard (68 bacteria), while one in three drivers admitted to never having cleaned their keys, even after five years of ownership.

We’re not sure what’s worse: never cleaning them or the fact that 10 per cent of respondents admitted to using bleach to clean their car keys, which could potentially damage the electronic gadgets within a key fob.

So, what exactly are (very few) people trying to clean off their car keys?

“Nearly half of all the bacteria [found on car keys] were skin based”, said Dr Latimer. “One of the keys we tested showed signs of bacteria that may have originated in the gut, around 15 per cent of the total bacteria isolated. While unlikely to pose a problem, they can have the potential to carry disease under the right conditions.”

But not all drivers are the same, with the research also uncovering the cleanest and dirtiest drivers – at least when it comes to car keys.

Just over half of all Nissan owners surveyed said they’ve never cleaned their car keys, while almost half of Volkswagen owners said the same, despite the majority of them saying they clean their phone screens at least once a week.

Skoda, Peugeot, and Kia drivers were also among the motorists most likely to have never cleaned their car keys.

As for the cleanest? Well, that title goes to BMW drivers, with almost a third of respondents saying they clean their keys daily. Sure.

More than half of those driving a Mercedes-Benz said the same, while four in every 10 Land Rover drivers are in the same boat. Audi and Toyota drivers were also higher the pecking order for keeping it cleaner than most.

Use a soft, damp cloth and a mild soap solution to wipe down the exterior; this can help to get rid of grease, grime and germs from the car key fob, says MoneySuperMarket. For stubborn dirt or grime, carefully use a toothpick or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to clean crevices and between the keys.

And whatever you do, avoid harsh chemicals or submerging your keys in water.

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au