This article will briefly examine the cleanliness side of being a rideshare driver for Uber or Lyft, as a reminder of the philosophy that “cleanliness is next to godliness.” After having driven for several months, while maintaining a user rating at or above 4.5, the following open-ended list of experience, presented as a list of top-11 points for cleanliness as a rideshare driver, will help to cover some of the key points for being a successful rideshare driver as it pertains to being clean :
- Keeping a clean interior is far more important than keeping a clean exterior. Your ratings will partially reflect how clean you keep the inside of your vehicle. Remove all dust, dirt, trash, stains, and smells. Vacuum the interior at least once per week.
- The exterior will get covered in dark-colored brake dust, pavement powder, oil, and general grime over the course of driving throughout a week. It tends to build up and leaves hand and fingerprints all over the vehicle handles and commonly touched spots as if it were submitted to a crime scene investigation in search of fingerprints. Water alone can only get the loose parts, so you will have to wash the vehicle every week or two, on average. Some car wash locations have a monthly plan providing a certain number of washes, or even unlimited washes, inside and out of your vehicle. It may be cost-effective to get one of those memberships, especially if you are unable to wash the vehicle yourself.
- Do not smoke in your vehicle, and do not let others smoke in your vehicle. The smells remain for a while, even when you become desensitized to them the lingering smell is still there for others. Do not leave burnt cigars, cigarettes, marijuana, etc. in your vehicle. Do not eat meals in your car for the same reason that the smell tends to stay much longer than you are aware of. Spraying Febreze, having scented sprays or oils, plug-ins, or A/C vent air fresheners, etc., are fine, while the best to have is either “fresh car scent” or nothing at all. Even when the scent is there, it must be a very light fragrance as to not upset passengers’ possible allergies. Strong smells, even when pleasant, can quickly become overwhelming especially in closed quarters like a vehicle with the windows up. Covering up bad smells with sprays can make things even worse for people. Having the windows down in-between rides, and prior to picking up the customer, can help to air out the vehicle of smells unbeknown to the driver. Do not vape in your car when customers are present, or if they will soon be present, as to where the smell lingers. If the customer asks to vape, the driver can decide as to whether or not they will allow it. Asking the customer if it is permissible for you to also vape in the vehicle is a great way to get bonus niceness points, as they usually agree to allow you to vape as well. Vape scents do not linger for long, so I usually permitted passengers to vape in the vehicle during their ride with an open window. By allowing your passenger to vape, this creates a better condition for them to relax their nerves and this will be reflected in your star rating, profile compliments, and the tip.
- Do not cuss much or speak negatively, because your passengers will believe your “unclean” words reflect an “unclean” driver. Speaking negatively is usually a way for a person to release their tension or ignorance. With that tension being released in a vehicle, it is usually intended that the person receiving this information is to share in their anger or negative state of mind. When a driver speaks negatively, it puts the passenger in a negative mind frame, and that can reflect in the rating and the tips because the person will then be less optimistic and less excited.
- Do not use your horn in anger, and do not speak negatively about other drivers on the road. People see negativity and anger as being “unclean.” Overall, it is best not to be negative at all when riding with passengers. It is an ongoing sentiment to hear that rideshare drivers and taxi drivers are either upset or too quiet. Negative mindsets tend to perpetuate problems. Keep on the positive side, not only for the passenger’s benefit but equally for your own.
- Maintain your appearance by not stinking, not wearing much cologne or perfume, keep your hair well-kempt as that is what people see all day, and wear a nice shirt. Your shoes should be comfortable for driving, and also clean. Your pants must also be clean. Do not have body odors, and do not smell of food, smoke, or other commonly offensive smells. Bathe regularly, keep your teeth clean and breath fresh, and nails cleaned and trimmed. Your appearance goes a long way to provide an impression of yourself, and this does play somewhat of a part in your star ratings.
- Make time for your health every day, as this adds to the cleanliness perceived by the passengers. If you can workout for at least 30 minutes per day, your internal and external health should improve, and this will help maintain better mental and physical health. It will also promote your self-esteem, confidence, stress levels, and overall appearance. By strengthening your muscles, you will also be able to sit for longer while driving with fewer aches and pains. Snacking on carbs and sugars through each shift will also wreak havoc on your health. Also, it is best not to leave your wallet in your back pocket while sitting for long periods as this can cause aches and pains in the body.
- Save all of your rideshare related receipts in a plastic zip folder in order to save for business purposes, and to maintain an organized environment. You can also get an app for your smartphone that will digitally store your receipts. Not only is your vehicle a chariot to get passengers from point-A to point-B, but it is also your work station. It is important to stay organized for your peace of mind and for the cleanliness seen by your passengers.
- Keep certain cleaning supplies conveniently located in the vehicle at all times. Some of these items include Tide pens or something like it to get out stains in clothes or cloth interiors; Febreeze for emergencies after passengers leave that did not smell great or had food with them (be sure to air out the vehicle after spraying and letting settle); paper towels and tissues readily available to get up simple messes or provide to passengers; Goo Gone, or something like it, to remove sticky substances; a couple of empty/clean grocery store paper bags for convenience and as possible vomit bags unless you already have those tucked in the backseat area; a small bag for trash in the front seating area; a clean towel in the trunk for more urgent messes; hand sanitizer readily available; and, a bottle of water in the trunk for cleaning or emergency purposes.
- It is better to not drive with a companion animal of your own, but to be open and welcoming to anyone bringing their companion animal. For this reason, it is also important to keep a lint roller readily handy for removing pet dander, fur, and hair. Greeting their pet directly by name, as though they are also an official passenger, tends to warmly comfort the passenger. When they are being dropped off, it helps to also thank the pet by name and say goodbye; this is done for the human passenger’s sake more than the companion animal, and this is sometimes reflected in the ratings and tip.
- When driving for a while in a region, you will begin to notice patterns of behavior, receive the same questions, hear similar conversations, listen to the same excuses, and feel like Sisyphus or stuck in the movie Groundhog Day on a daily basis. You will also hear your own excuses on repeat, and hopefully this will inspire you to begin to look at how to solve those issues rather than feeding into the apathy that stunts our personal growth. It is better to make life happen than to let life happen to you. Trust the process.
