Cleaning interiors during covid 19 pandemic

[Coatings=crack]

I wonder what`s *really* required to kill this Virus...I heard one Med. guy say it`s relatively fragile and easy to kill, but I`d hate to be wrong about that!

It does seem that some mechanical aspect of the cleaning is a good idea..those "touchless" approaches with Bleach/Hydrogen Peroxide sure require a long dwell time whereas you can safely wash it off your hands in that now-famous 20 seconds.

IF "any ol` hand soap" is fine, I`d expect most any Interior Cleaner to be OK too, but [REPEAT "hate to be wrong.."].

I do hope that everybody is learning to keep things like Sanitizing Wipes/etc. on-hand all the time. Once somebody`s sick you`re already behind the curve, even with just the Common Cold.

Keeping sanitizing wipes is easy said. Finding is the issue


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[Coatings=crack]

I wonder how many cases we’re going to see of owners damaging their interiors from using the wrong products to disinfect.

And this the idea of this thread. Find effective methods for sanitizing the interior with out destroying.


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[Coatings=crack]

Does anyone know how Hydrogen peroxide would work in interiors?


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[SNP209]

Besides spraying chemicals and using an o zone generator... Would a few passes with some sort of UV wand suffice? I know that prolonged UV exposure is bad for the human body and interior plastics, etc. but you`re not holding the light over any area for very long. Just thinking outside the box...

[PoweredByJenga]

Im not an expert in this issue. But this is what i read. Virus outer protein is quite fragile, soap and water break it down easily. So to me it sounds like a degreaser would also work. Alternative would be antibacterial dish washing detergent (we have few of these available in Australian supermarkets). Any of these if they do not kill 100% of virus they will kill a %, thus degrading its concentration.

Virus will also die naturally on surfaces. So last resort, don`t drive the car for 10 days.. Or get windows and doors open and let sun uv ligh do the damage (this will not work on front window).

Also to remember, this is not a long term application. So if u need to use something stronger on plastic for few dozen applications it will not degrade the surface.

Cheers

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[TheMeanGreen]

Im not an expert in this issue. But this is what i read. Virus outer protein is quite fragile, soap and water break it down easily. So to me it sounds like a degreaser would also work. Alternative would be antibacterial dish washing detergent (we have few of these available in Australian supermarkets). Any of these if they do not kill 100% of virus they will kill a %, thus degrading its concentration.

Virus will also die naturally on surfaces. So last resort, don`t drive the car for 10 days.. Or get windows and doors open and let sun uv ligh do the damage (this will not work on front window).

Also to remember, this is not a long term application. So if u need to use something stronger on plastic for few dozen applications it will not degrade the surface.

Cheers

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Long term, I really see soap, water, time, and sunlight being the only viable solution as we run out of cleaning chemicals that are beginning to run out in supply, at least here in the states.

[Coatings=crack]

Besides spraying chemicals and using an o zone generator... Would a few passes with some sort of UV wand suffice? I know that prolonged UV exposure is bad for the human body and interior plastics, etc. but you`re not holding the light over any area for very long. Just thinking outside the box...

Article i read said CDC doesn’t recommend for humans as you would have to expose the virus to UV for extended period. Trying to hold it over interior would take for ever but probably work?


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[ShaneB]

I would assume steam cleaning would also be an effective way to destroy the virus. Ive heard (dont quote me one this) that the virus gets destroyed at temperatures over 130 degrees F.

Before the order for non essential businesses to close (and the following shelter in place order) here in Michigan, I was also running my ozone machine in every interior I did before returning it to my customer. I figured with steam cleaning all the surfaces and the follow up ozone treatment, that was taking care of most/all of any potential virus threat.

I dont have any science to back this up so take it for what its worth. I havent detailed anything in a couple weeks and nor do I plan to until non essential businesses can reopen. Stay safe everyone

[Oneheadlite]

I wonder what`s *really* required to kill this Virus...I heard one Med. guy say it`s relatively fragile and easy to kill, but I`d hate to be wrong about that!

...

IF "any ol` hand soap" is fine, I`d expect most any Interior Cleaner to be OK too, but [REPEAT "hate to be wrong.."].

....

This has been my thought on the subject as well. If the name of the game is breaking down the fat in the virus structure, it sure seems like most automotive cleaning agents (not just degreasers) would accomplish this in the same manner as hand washing. One of the articles I had read called out Sodium Lauryl Sulphate as an ingredient involved in this action.

I don’t remember the specifics, but I swear I’ve seen SLS brought up on this forum as an ingredient in a DIY... something. Only reason I bring it up is that if it’s common enough people use it for a DIY, It seems like it or a similar ingredient is already in play in the products we already have on our shelves.

Just my thoughts from my basic understanding of what I’ve seen. I’m not saying I’d use my interior cleaner to disinfect an operating room, but I feel ok using it to keep my car clean in combination with taking every best-practice step I can to stay safe.

[Accumulator]

Keeping sanitizing wipes is easy said. Finding is the issue

Eh, I should`ve realized that could come across badly

I was basically making a suggestion for the future. Such stuff is simply an *essential* must-have IMO, every day of every year. I simply never expected people to *not* have it on-hand.

Article i read said CDC doesn’t recommend for humans as you would have to expose the virus to UV for extended period.

Can you tell us more about that article? The UV-C Wand isn`t for use on living things (or food), but I`d think it perfect for other surfaces like Auto Interiors. Yeah, it will expose `em to a bit of UV-badness, but not much as it *supposedly*, according to its usage manual, kills any virus in very short order (seconds).

As for our personal vehicles, nobody but us is getting in `em, so no worries for *us*, but I realize that`s not the case for some people, and I do hope you Pros who are continuing to do work find a good, effective solution.

[Coatings=crack]

Eh, I should`ve realized that could come across badly

I was basically making a suggestion for the future. Such stuff is simply an *essential* must-have IMO, every day of every year. I simply never expected people to *not* have it on-hand.



Can you tell us more about that article? The UV-C Wand isn`t for use on living things (or food), but I`d think it perfect for other surfaces like Auto Interiors. Yeah, it will expose `em to a bit of UV-badness, but not much as it *supposedly*, according to its usage manual, kills any virus in very short order (seconds).

As for our personal vehicles, nobody but us is getting in `em, so no worries for *us*, but I realize that`s not the case for some people, and I do hope you Pros who are continuing to do work find a good, effective solution.

WHO website and Consumer reports. UV on surfaces inconclusive so far on Covid 19. It is effective against other corona virus and could br for this one but no guarantee.No studies yet that i could find on the effect.


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[Stokdgs]

Well, I have only used my VX5000 Steamer and the usual 1Z Einszett=Nextzett products for years, through all the different FLU viruses we have to go through every year, and I have never caught something from, or given something to a Client.. And I never wore an N95 8101 3M mask, unless I was cleaning out mold in the Interior..

Yes, this is a very bad virus; will attack your lungs, make your heart rate go bonkers, and then sometimes, you die, so perhaps the BEST solution is to shut down until they say it`s safe, or when you want to take a chance out there again..

Dan F

[Accumulator]

I`d think the "Pro doing clients` vs. just doing your own" will be the biggie here. Unless there`s some reason to think your personal vehicle is contaminated...

Stokdgs- I`ve never even worn a N95 when doing Mold Remediation...not that I`m saying that was smart Eh, "live to tell"..I was still feeling Young & Immortal. OTOH, I`m the guy who wouldn`t use 3M`s PI-II stuff over its silica, if that.. potential.. bites me I want it to be from smoking, at least I really enjoyed that.

[Street5927]

I start with an enzyme cleaner that is safe for all surfaces. I allow it to dwell for about 10 minutes. On electronic components, etc., I spray a MF towel with it so it is damp and drape over those areas so as not to damage the electronic components. After allowing it to dwell, I use hot steam as the last step. Finally, for those clients who wish to take it one step further, I offer an ozone machine service.

[ERP]

I would assume steam cleaning would also be an effective way to destroy the virus. Ive heard (dont quote me one this) that the virus gets destroyed at temperatures over 130 degrees F.

Based on what is currently out there research-wise I would say that steam likely is an effective way to destroy it BUT there are a bunch of factors at play - specifically temperature and duration of steam contact.

The Covid-19 is pretty fragile compared to something like the Norovirus, C.Diff, MRSA, etc etc.

Regular steam can be used to kill the Norovirus, 5 minutes @ 158 F / 70 C; or 1 minute @ 212 F / 100 C. This is one way how cruise ships disinfect fabrics and beds after noro outbreaks.

Most research on using steam cleaners to disinfect are using large industrial machines with high pressure and high temps (356 F / 180 C) combined with strong disinfecting chemicals (germicides/fungicides/etc) and are focused on cost-effectiveness and make comparisons for residential use difficult. So most steam cleaners will require extended duration, high temps, and/or strong chemicals to disinfect - which makes using steamers as a viral disinfection device for vehicle interiors a less than ideal choice sadly.

There is one caveat though, if you have a steam cleaner with TANCS (Thermo Accelerated Nano Crystal Sanitation technology) these require 3-5 seconds of contact to disinfect surfaces of viruses. I`m not entirely sure how it works. Somehow the steam interacts with the crystals and gets bio-film destroying properties, since Covid-19 is a pretty weak virus and TANCS can knock out hard to kill viruses in seconds - it would make sense that TANCS would be effective against Covid-19. The EPA certified TANCS as disinfecting devices during the Ebola scare, BUT systems with TANCS are pretty expensive though entry level start just under $2k.

(I recently picked up a non-TANCS steam cleaner, so I`ve been doing a bit of reading.)