Rental cars compare to public restrooms?

Was your used car previously a rental car? Or, when was the last time you drove a rental vehicle? This article definitely made me stop and choose to pack the Chlorox wipes the next time I use a rental car.

From today's Autoblog.com....:

Rental cars don't have easy lives. They can be abused and flogged by nearly anyone who wants one, and most of the people who drive these vehicles have the "it's not my car – who cares" mentality. However, a new study from the folks at The Today Show takes a deeper look into the overall cleanliness of these vehicles, pointing out some really interesting facts about the levels of bacteria found on the most commonly touched surfaces (steering wheel, gear shift, door handles, etc.).

The results are slightly shocking, and true as they may be, we find it a little odd that the reporters have compared the sanitary levels of these cars to that of a public restroom. We'll agree that it's absolutely unacceptable to find food crumbs, sticky messes, and even vomit (yes, vomit) in a ready-for-duty rental car, but we must remember that sharing germs is an inherit risk when you use anything that's moved around to hundreds of people each year. It's an interesting study nonetheless, and you can see the full details for yourself by watching the video.

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