Is your car making you sick?

Is the inside of your car making you sick? Take the time to clean it. You may feel better!

It may sound more like an article from “News of the Weird,” but it could be entirely possible that your car is making you sick. If you think about it, though, it kind of makes sense. Years ago, research showed how your own home could be making you sick, so why not your vehicle?

If you have been feeling ill, fatigued or experiencing other similar symptoms that are out of the norm for you, then you may want to consider some of these questions:

• How much time do you spend in your car? Obviously, you are more likely to be subjected to feeling ill from your car if you are a traveling salesperson who works and practically lives out of your car. In fact, truckers are often dealing with illnesses related to the inside of their cab, such as mice infestations, that the average driver doesn’t have to deal with. Realistically evaluate how much time you spend in your car each week.
• What is the history of your car? Even if you bought a used car that looks great, you still don’t know its history. A new coat of paint and a cleaned up engine are great for resale value. It doesn’t mean you know anything about the ventilation system or when the last time the ducts were cleaned out.

What about storage? You could mean well by keeping your car protected in a carport during part of the year or at night, but may not realize it could be doing more harm than good. If there is any dampness allowed to linger in storage, this can become a serious mold problem. You could also get rodent droppings in your air ducts, the fabric of the interior or other places, which means you are inhaling that when you are in the car.

The main culprit that could be making you sick in your car is more than likely the heating and cooling system, just like in your home. Usually the biggest problems relate back to mold or rodent droppings. If you actually find evidence of rodents, especially within the interior, you should make sure you clean up properly to do away with potential health problems.

Making a Change
Whether your car is new to you or not, you should get a “check up,” especially if you suspect your car may be making you sick. When you get a new or used car you always get your insurance in place, right? So why not also make it a point to get things such as the air ducts inspected, as well as the engine?

Remember, if you smell something off, you probably already have a serious problem. Don’t wait until the problem is further along than it needs to be. Get your car checked out to make sure you aren’t exposing yourself to harmful mold, mildew or rodent excrement that could lead to serious health problems over time. In this case, it is certainly better safe than sorry.

Sources: http://gtacondosnow.ca/2010/12/
http://www.ehow.com/how_6101123_remove-mouse-glue-car-seats.html