For the sheer amount of time we spend in our cars, it just makes sense that our vehicles can become a hotbed of germs and debris.

This is especially true for dog moms. There’s nothing as fun as going on an adventure with your favorite mutt, but it can often result in quite a mess in your back seat.

As such, maintaining your car’s cleanliness is essential. With that in mind, here are the 6 dirtiest places inside your car and tips for cleaning them.

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The 6 Dirtiest Places Inside Your Car

1. Cup Holders

If there’s food or drink in your car, you can bet on germs making it their home. Cup holders are the perfect example, as they’re one of the dirtiest places inside your car.

If you’re like most people, that cup holder has likely seen its fair share of coffee, soda, and other miscellaneous drinks. Therefore, give it a thorough scrubbing—especially if you’ve happened to spill anything.

Cup holder coasters are also effective for helping to keep this area clean and tidy.

2. Back Seats

This one will come as no surprise to dog moms. Back seats are a spot in your car where you’re sure to find debris, dander, and a whole lot of dirt. Typically, our mutts are the culprit of a dirty back seat.

However, that doesn’t mean you have to banish your pup from your driving excursions. Regularly clean your back seat by vacuuming and disinfecting the area with interior car cleaning products.

3. Floor Mats

For most people, this area is a no-brainer. Floor mats are, after all, the spot where shoes go, spills happen, and dirt and mud become trapped.

That’s why it’s so important to clean your floor mats regularly. Remove them from your car, set them on your driveway, and give them a powerful washing. In no time, you’ll see the dirt (and those pesky germs) floating away.

In between regular cleanings, I highly recommend using a portable hand vacuum to pick up excess dirt, pet hair, and other debris to keep your car in top-top shape.

4. Hand Brake

People often think that the steering wheel is the dirtiest part of their car, but this isn’t the case. Because it’s front and center, most of us remember to clean it regularly.

However, we can’t say the same for the hand brake. Drivers handle this brake almost as often as the steering wheel, but they often leave its cleaning to the wayside. Dirt and grime easily build up here, so be sure to disinfect it regularly.

5. Seat Belts

Hopefully, you and your passengers are using seat belts every time you get in the car. While this is essential for your safety, it can lead to quite the buildup of germs.

The seat belt button, in particular, is one of the germiest spots in your car. And if you have children, this problem will only get worse.

In between regular cleanings, disinfecting wipes help combat germs and dirt on seat belt buttons. They’ll also work on the hand brake, mentioned above.

6. Trunk

Out of sight, out of mind is probably most people’s mottos when it comes to their car’s trunk. The trunk, however, is potentially the dirtiest spot in your entire car.

From bags of dog food to potted plants and everything in between, the trunk sees its fair share of dirt. Don’t neglect it just because you may not use it every day. Be sure to clean it out whenever you clean your car’s interior.

When was the last time you gave your car a good cleaning?

Today is a great time to give your car’s interior a deep cleaning. Here are some helpful tips to get you started!

Do you have any tips to make this task easier? Let me know in a comment below, or stop by my private Facebook group for dog moms and join in the conversation there!