Bacteria Lurking in Your Car

You’ve probably heard the expression “don’t cry over spilled milk”, but have you ever been in a car that milk spilled in?  Something as simple as spilling milk in your vehicle can have terrible repercussions.  Milk will sour quickly if it isn’t properly cleaned up.  If milk spills are not removed fast enough, there could be many repercussions: ongoing odor, permanent damage to carpet/seats, live bacteria and the list goes on.  Removing milk and other spills with the correct cleaning procedures is vital to saving your interior for years to come.

We tend to forget that our vehicles are a cesspool of bacteria, allergens, micro-bugs and fungi.  Improper surface cleaning may remove contaminants from the major surfaces, but bacteria and fungi can reappear in hidden areas.  With automobiles being an enclosed space bacteria can grow and spread rather quickly.  Even clean cars can be dirty, with layers of sweat, dead skin and food too small to see.  This is why a deep disinfection, after removal of the more noticeable debris, is necessary.

There are two classifications of disinfectants: alcohols and oxidizing. Disinfectants containing oxidizing agents are the ones best suited for your car. Alcohol based disinfectants are used to sanitize human skin, not the surfaces in your car.  Chlorine remains the most potent disinfectant when it comes to killing germs.  Hydrogen Peroxide and Ozone are also used as disinfects, with Ozone being almost as powerful as chlorine when it comes to killing germs. Ozone is a gas.  Usually we think of liquid disinfects that you can spray on a surface and wipe off. This has been the traditional form of disinfecting since you both remove the contaminants and disinfect in one step.

Usually, when we think of disinfecting something, we think of spraying it with a cleaner and wiping it off with a towel or rag.  New developments of misting and vapor technologies have shown great promise for disinfection and deodorizing.  This gas is extremely flexible and can permeate all of the nooks and crannies within a vehicle, which allows for odors to easily be eliminated. Ozone generators work by being placed in your car for a few hours with the windows up. The ozone will permeate and disinfect the interior of your car, and within a few hours your car will no longer be plagued by odors.

Overall, the development of newer technologies and the exploration of disinfectants will allow for a cleaner and better smelling vehicle.  GK’s owns two ozone generators allowing us to eliminate pet, cigarette and other odors from your car overnight.  You can find more information about this service on our website, www.gkscustom.wpengine.com, or you can give us a call at (440) 937-4457 or email us at frontoffice@gkspolishing.com to set up an appointment for your next detail.