TheMeanGreen
New member
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.
Cleaning interiors during covid 19 pandemic
- Thread starter Coatings=crack
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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
Active member
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
New member
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
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
Member
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
Well-known member
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.
Coatings=crack
Active member
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
dansautodetailing.com
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
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
Well-known member
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.
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
New member
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
New member
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.)
Accumulator
Well-known member
That`s a great point! It`s often buried in the finer print of the User Manual that i suspect many don`t read. My steam-mop for the household floors would take *forever* to actually "sanitize" them, life`s too short...and I see my "good steamer" in that light too.
Gee, I bet those TANCS are pricey!
Oh, and Welcome to Autopia! I don`t think we`ve shared any threads before now...
Street5927
New member
I have had great success with the use of allowing an enzyme cleaner to dwell and high pressure hot steam. As indicated, there evidence of an outer layer that needs to be compromised to help kill the virus. With the combination of the enzyme cleaner and using my Vapor Rhino steamer which is rated at 145 PSI at 210*-240* at the tip. I have taken several temps and have averaged 230* at the tip consistently.
Using a brush attachment to help contain the tip temp and the pressure, I move slowly throughout the interior of the vehicle. Keep in mind that the Vapor Rhino is only 5% humidity, so it is a dry steam (which from what I read is detrimental to the virus as well. I heard that the virus thrives well in cold, dark, wet conditions and does not like hot, dry, bright conditions. I used some food grade bacterial swabs. Using them before, I have gotten a purple reaction (contaminated) and then afterwards a green reaction (non-contaminated). I swabbed the usual areas...door handles, steering wheels, knobs, shifters, radio buttons, etc. to get a good sample of the interior. With that being said, I am fairly confident that I am decontaminating the surfaces to kill most bacteria immediately, and I think as far as Corona goes, the virus is still so new that if they are correct in saying that compromising the outer layer will help destroy the virus, then I feel my process should be effective.
Given data that 56*C (132*F) @ 15 minutes will kill the virus. Almost double the temp, and the reduction in time to around 8 minutes *should* be equally as effective in killing it....
Just some food for thought.
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ERP
New member
Ooo where did you get those swabs?!
Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses with a protective fat layer, disinfectants tear apart that fat layer, which compared to non-enveloped viruses (e.g., Norovirus) they are pretty fragile.
Eight minutes of 230 F steam should be more than enough to destroy the virus seeing has the hardier Norovirus wouldn`t even survive that. So it is highly likely your process is killing the virus.
I do have two questions though:
(1) Does eight minutes of 230 F steam not damage plastics?
(2) Have you tested the effectiveness of the of each component in your disinfecting method (steam & enzyme cleaner) individually?
It`s possible that for your cleaning method the (a) enzyme cleaner by itself is performing 100% of the disinfection, or (b) steam is the primary means of disinfecting, or finally (c) effective disinfection requires the combination of both steamer and enzyme cleaner.
I suspect that the disinfectant injection system on your steamer is doing the bulk of the work in terms of bacterial and viral sanitation. At 145 psi I also imagine you are able to penetrate porous surfaces with disinfectant quite effectively without over saturating the area (the specs on the commercial rhino steamers are great). I imagine you would get similar disinfecting results with disinfectant fogger - but you wouldn`t get any of the cleaning (stain removal, carpet cleaning, etc) benefits of a steamer.
I think steam as a means to disperse disinfectant cleaners is great, but for systems that don`t have that capability steam is a poor choice.
Street5927
New member
Hi ERP, I have not had any damage done to any plastics at that temp. I have not individually tested the enzyme v. steam. I have only tested the combination. Yes, I love my Vapor Rhino. It is actually my go to machine for many different aspects of detailing. It does a great job in door jambs, steam injected carpet cleaning/seat cleaning when the suction is hooked to my Mytee is amazing! I get much better results than my Mytee, using much less water and leaving the seats/carpets not nearly as wet.
I have also completely washed vehicles with the Vapor Rhino. I love it so much, that I wish it has a little more power/heat for washing exteriors so I am kicking around the Fortador Cleaner next....but that is a big dollar investment.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Huh, I`ve damaged (and in a huge way ) interior/other plastics, including synthetic carpet, with even very brief exposure to steam. Like..seconds as opposed to minutes. One of those !YMMV! things, so I`d sure be careful around anything irreplaceable.
) interior/other plastics, including synthetic carpet, with even very brief exposure to steam. Like..seconds as opposed to minutes. One of those !YMMV! things, so I`d sure be careful around anything irreplaceable.
ShaneB
New member
My steamer is what they call "ATIS" certified. Which seems to be unique to daimer brand steamers. It`s a kleenjet mega 1000cvp. I use the injection feature with APC, I would think the heat plus the cleaner would destroy most things pretty quick if not instantly. It sure cleans really fast when you hit surfaces with superheated apc/steam.
I also have damaged plastics with steam, and it can happen rather quickly (most noticably on older vehicles). I`ve learned what to watch out for and haven`t had an issue in years. Treat steam like a rotary polisher. Keep it moving, don`t stop in one place. If 1-2 seconds of steam won`t get something off, back off and try something else
I also have damaged plastics with steam, and it can happen rather quickly (most noticably on older vehicles). I`ve learned what to watch out for and haven`t had an issue in years. Treat steam like a rotary polisher. Keep it moving, don`t stop in one place. If 1-2 seconds of steam won`t get something off, back off and try something else
SuperBuick
Member
This is spot-on about steam. I had purchased a TANCS steamer a few years ago for this exact reason (EPA certified disinfecting) and at this point in time I am extremely glad I did. It works great around the house and in cars (steaming headliners with a white cloth pad is particularly rewarding), and I don`t have to keep (and let dwell) harsh chemicals around my two little boys.
What specific make and model of TANCS-certified steamers do you have and what are you using as an enzyme cleaner(s)?
Seems to me that this type of service will be in great demand once "Stay-at-Home" and "Shelter-in-Place" state and/or local government mandates/recommendations are reduced or lifted. And not only for vehicles, but residential homes and business buildings as well.
I imagine that this will be the next "run" on COVID-19 related cleaning equipment and products for this service. (Economic) Opportunity for someone!
To all those who have posted responses here in this thread on this particular subject, I say "Thank You". Your insight, experiences, and suggestions are not taken lightly by myself coping with this virus and the extraordinary circumstances and conditions we all face. And while this is just a seemingly small aspect (vehicle deep cleaning) of that circumstance, I find it to be an important part of the process getting through this pandemic while reducing or mitigating its effects on personal health, and hopefully, back to a more "normal" life as we know it in America.
Seems to me that this type of service will be in great demand once "Stay-at-Home" and "Shelter-in-Place" state and/or local government mandates/recommendations are reduced or lifted. And not only for vehicles, but residential homes and business buildings as well.
I imagine that this will be the next "run" on COVID-19 related cleaning equipment and products for this service. (Economic) Opportunity for someone!
To all those who have posted responses here in this thread on this particular subject, I say "Thank You". Your insight, experiences, and suggestions are not taken lightly by myself coping with this virus and the extraordinary circumstances and conditions we all face. And while this is just a seemingly small aspect (vehicle deep cleaning) of that circumstance, I find it to be an important part of the process getting through this pandemic while reducing or mitigating its effects on personal health, and hopefully, back to a more "normal" life as we know it in America.
Stokdgs
dansautodetailing.com
From 50 years ago, a great song by John Lennon - Isolation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8lOLNfnCBg
Dan F
Dan F
I am bumping this thread to ask if there are any Autopians out there who work at new car dealers or at used car lots and what procedures your are using to disinfect or clean vehicles: IE specific equipment, microfiber manufacturers and type/names, and chemical manufacturer cleaning products you may be using.
I just want to know if there are specific protocols and methods in place for vehicles being delivered for customer purchased vehicle pickup or after potential customer test drives.
I would really like to know if your car dealership or lot is considering purchasing or has bought steamers, ozone generators, or commercial misters/atomizers/sprayers and what make and model they are.
This COVID-19 sanitizing process is becoming the "new normal" and applies to ANY business that has person-to-person contact as part of their business process, whether retail, hospitality, transportation of people, tourist attractions, food and beverage, entertainment (including sports venues), healthcare, churches and schools, fitness or training gyms, government institutions, and general service (like car detailing).
I just want to know if there are specific protocols and methods in place for vehicles being delivered for customer purchased vehicle pickup or after potential customer test drives.
I would really like to know if your car dealership or lot is considering purchasing or has bought steamers, ozone generators, or commercial misters/atomizers/sprayers and what make and model they are.
This COVID-19 sanitizing process is becoming the "new normal" and applies to ANY business that has person-to-person contact as part of their business process, whether retail, hospitality, transportation of people, tourist attractions, food and beverage, entertainment (including sports venues), healthcare, churches and schools, fitness or training gyms, government institutions, and general service (like car detailing).