Best car cleaning products for Uber drivers

A clean space creates a clear mind – and so a clean car makes for a calm workspace for PCO drivers.

Some see cleaning as an expense but it can actually make you money.

First, happier riders give better ratings, which then enables you to do lucrative Uber Comfort trips. And when passengers are comfy, they also give bigger tips.

Less obvious is that a dirty car is a safety risk, because poor visibility out of windows or using mirrors causes accidents. You might also fail an on-the-spot inspection by Transport for London (TFL), who could then suspend your PCO licence.

This post looks at the best car cleaning products for Uber drivers. It includes simple tips from the Otto Team about dealing with minor scrapes and also expert PCO drivers.

How to keep your PCO car clean

Don’t wait for a car to get dirty, as it takes longer to clean. A regular wash protects it from the acid in dead insects or bird mess. It also stops road tar and tree sap from building up. Think: little and often.

If you wash a car yourself, buy a specialist car shampoo. An award-winner is Bilt-Hamber, which costs £19.95 for 500ml – but you only need to use a teaspoon-full with a bucket of water. Never use washing-up liquid as it’s too harsh for the paint.

Get a soft mitten and two buckets (one for the mitten, one for soapy water), ie the classic two bucket wash method. Rinse the car with a hose or pressure washer and then wash from the top down. Dry exterior surfaces with a microfibre towel.

To keep your private hire car clean while driving all day, use a ‘quick detailer’ product. You can spray this generously over painted surfaces and then easily wipe-off any dust, debris and bugs with a microfibre cloth. Try G-techniq’s spray, which is just £5.99.

Most local hand carwashes will offer a reduced cost for drivers who subscribe. It’s worth asking.

Prevention is better than cure, so think ahead. Don’t park under trees in summer, as they’ll drop sap or bird mess. If either gets onto the paintwork, remove it as soon as possible – here, some quick-detailer spray will be perfect.

Expert tip: Bird mess seriously damages paint – so remove it quickly.

Leave wet kitchen towel for a few mins to soften bird poo, then remove carefully. If a mark remains, try specialist wipes, such as ArmorAll Bug & Tar Wipes (£2.66 for 30) or AutoGlym Bird Dropping Wipes (£7.50 for 10)

Clear glass will keep you working

A clean car is a safe car says Dennis Halley, part of the Driver Development team at Otto Car. “We have evidence of crashes that were caused by dirty windows and glare from sunlight” he explains.

This can be avoided by regularly cleaning the windows – both inside and out – using glass cleaner.

Any window-cleaning product will do but it’s wise to use two clean, microfibre waffle cloths (ie one wet, one dry). Waffle cloths trap dirt within them to prevent smearing. They also resemble a waffle.

Remember to clean your rear view mirror and wing-mirrors. Check the lens of your dashcam too.

Expert tip: use different strokes on each side of the glass

Clean glass on the outside in a horizontal motion, and on the inside with a vertical motion. That way, you can easily tell whether any smears are inside or outside the car.

Refresh the car after every ride

If you’re new to the game, this seems like a big ask but you’ll soon get into the routine. It’s easy to quickly wipe down the touch-points (i.e. door handles, grab handles, window switches and seatbelt buckles). You can either buy car-interior wipes, like super-versatile, anti-bacterial Wonder Wipes (£6.11) or simply use a microfibre cloth soaked in water.

Avoid food in your PCO car because the smells linger. Of course, riders sometimes bring their own odours with them. In which case, an air freshener such as Jelly Belly – from £3.20 – is your friend.

Experienced PCO driver, Eniola Robbins, told Otto Car she suggests Fabulosa Multi-Purpose spray (£0.90 for 500ml) because it’s antibacterial as well as smelling nice.

Keep the cabin free of rider litter with a leakproof bin that attaches to a front seat, for £13. Also consider a boot organiser for storing small objects securely. Halfords does a good one for just £12.

This will securely hold cleaning products, laptops, or even a first-aid kit. If this stuff is loose in the car cabin, it might hurt someone in a crash – and it could also result in a fail during a TfL vehicle spot-check.

A basic portable car vacuum can help you clear-up any leftover crisps or clumps of mud in a flash. The Beldray Wet & Dry BEL0676 handheld vacuum is £34, from Currys.

Expert tip: After each ride, check the cabin for lost property

Promptly alerting a rider who forgot something will score you a big tip.

Tackling emergency mess

Most PCO drivers won’t let riders bring food or drinks into the car. Should you spill something yourself or, worse, a passenger is sick, then you’ll want to fix this fast. This is why most of our cars either have leather seats or come with free leatherette seat covers.

If a health disaster strikes, Uber will reimburse you for the cost of having the mess cleaned professionally. Take photos, make a note of the journey when it happened and get receipts for the cleaning, then submit them to Uber. However, that won’t necessarily help you to get back onto the road.

One smart idea is to keep a pack of absorbent granules in the car. These absorb the liquid and then dry out so they can be easily vacuumed away. For instance, HypaClean (£12.81 at Amazon) is good for vomit, while Carlube’s Absorbent Granules (£12.99, Amazon) will deal with drinks.

If a stain remains on the seat or carpet, use a specialist upholstery cleaner. In tests, Auto Express highly rated Magic Valeting Strong Arm (£8 for 500ml but can be diluted). It also recommended Halfords Upholstery Cleaner (£4 for 500ml).

If your PCO car has real leather seats, only use products for leather trim. These will help the leather maintain its natural oils, and can be either sprays or wipes. If the leather is tired, cleaning may not be enough – a conditioning balm may be needed. For both, try the Leather Repair Company, which offers a kit for £29.95. A cheaper alternative that’s nearly as good is Primal Instinct, at £15.40 for a three-pack of plastic cleaner, fabric cleaner and leather care.

Expert tip: how to remove pet hair from a car seat

Even if you do not accept Uber Pet fares (yes, it’s a type of Uber fare), PCO drivers must take guide dogs – and riders who own pets will often have some hair on their clothes. One simple hack is to use a rubber washing-up glove to stroke pet hair into a pile. You can then suck it up with the vacuum cleaner.

Did you know?

The American Car Wash in Shoreditch is open 24 hours a day. Good for an emergency clean.

How to fix minor scrapes

No matter how carefully you drive, there will often be drama on the road. It’s worth saying a waxed car has a better chance of shrugging off paint transfer from a scrape but, obviously, that won’t always help.

The good news is that paint marks from, say, a close encounter with a traffic bollard can sometimes be easily sorted with a scratch-removal kit from 3M – for less than £20.

Sam Milani, Director of A2Z, our garage partner over at our Colindale hub points out that the team is always eager to help our family of PCO drivers and they should not be nervous about coming forwards.

“If it’s a minor scrape, like a bit of yellow paint from a carpark bollard, we’ll see how we can help our family of drivers,” says Milani. “If it’s more serious, we provide a free estimate required for insurance claims.”

Also worth saying Otto Car drivers should discuss any cosmetic work during their free vehicle health check. “It’s a chance for us to ensure the vehicle is within the fair wear and tear rules,” says Milani.

Expert tip: If it’s not your fault, you can easily prove this.

Our cars come with our free smart dashcams. They protect your income against a ride dispute or accident as you work with 24/7 video capture.

About Otto Car

Getting started as an Uber driver can feel complex but you are not alone. Otto Car is London’s largest community of private hire drivers. We offer easy access to excellent PCO cars with no credit checks.

Be part of something big. Join the family.

Taking the next step

Whether you prefer a flexible rental or an inclusive ownership plan, we’ve got you. Pop into any of our five London hubs for a chat or say hello on 020 8740 7444.