Business Insurance - Steering wheels 'have more germs than public toilet seats'

Car steering wheels could harbour more germs than public toilet seats, new research has revealed.

The study, undertaken by home store B&Q, discovered while an average of 80 bacteria are found on each square inch of a toilet, approximately 700 of the potentially harmful bugs can lurk on the inside of a car.

With one-third of those questioned for the survey only admitting to cleaning their vehicle once every year, scientists discovered the boot was by far the filthiest area, with 1,000 bacteria lurking in each one and a half square inch of the area.

Dr Ron Cutler, director of biomedical science at London's Queen Mary University said: "A car is the perfect place for germs to breed, especially if you eat in it and leave litter or uneaten food around. To avoid potential health risks it would be wise to regularly clean your car in-side and out."

Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council, recently suggested vehicles should be washed with products sold specifically for motors, with it being particularly important to pay special attention to the bumpers and fenders, as they are the areas which tend to accumulate the most dirt.

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We are proud to be a Chartered Insurance Broker. Only around 5% of the UK’s broking firms achieve this prestigious status. Also, we have been a BIBA Member since 2007, the UK’s leading general insurance intermediary organisation representing the interests of insurance brokers, intermediaries, and their customers.

Rated as excellent on Trustpilot with over 14,000+ reviews

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  1. The peace of mind of a Chartered Broker. Everything we do is backed by a team of skilled, experienced insurance professionals. We’re a Chartered Insurance Broker, a family company with a proud 40-year history, so we’re bound by a personal and professional code to deliver the best service for our clients.                                                                                                                                                     
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