[IneedAZ]

I would imagine the next big thing for car interior care will be the products we already love with some sort of disinfectant in it. Wonder how long it will take before we start seeing this push?

[KirkH]

Doubtful because the disinfectant usually affects the surfaces, and there are different surfaces- plastic, carpet, leather, etc. Bleach is not good. Alcohol will work on hard plastic surfaces. Steam is not an option either because it takes 3 minutes in one place to disinfect and that will cause damage.

This is why I shut down during the virus. I couldn’t guarantee the safety of my customers or myself.

[Gunkk]

The FDA/CDC approved COVID-19 disinfectants are Diluted Bleach, >=70% Alcohol, Peroxide, Quaternary Ammonium, and Soapy Water. See the EPA list here.

My take:

• Alcohol can be used on touch screens, glass, exterior painted surfaces (door handles), vinyl and hard plastics, but can damage leather.
• Peroxide, Bleach and Quarternary Ammonium compounds should be avoided in general as they can stain, damage or leave undesirable films on most automotive materials.
• Soapy Water <-- Best bet if you want a single ... solution

[SSport16]

I would be real careful with any of those type of cleaners/disinfectants with vehicle interiors. The only real place I regularly disinfect is the rubber all weather GM mats in my 2018 Equinox, I use some Microbar Citrus scent to clean ad disinfect. An alcohol type of screen wipe or an IPA/distilled water mix on the touchscreens.

[KirkH]

Originally Posted by Gunkk

The FDA/CDC approved COVID-19 disinfectants are Diluted Bleach, >=70% Alcohol, Peroxide, Quaternary Ammonium, and Soapy Water. See the EPA list here.

My take:

• Alcohol can be used on touch screens, glass, exterior painted surfaces (door handles), vinyl and hard plastics, but can damage leather.
• Peroxide, Bleach and Quarternary Ammonium compounds should be avoided in general as they can stain, damage or leave undesirable films on most automotive materials.
• Soapy Water <-- Best bet if you want a single ... solution

Great post

[KirkH]

Originally Posted by SSport16

The only real place I regularly disinfect is the rubber all weather GM mats in my 2018 Equinox, I use some Microbar Citrus scent to clean ad disinfect.

That's a good point. You can track stuff in on your shoes easily.

[KirkH]

LOL GTechniq put out an update todays saying I2TriClean and products with their BioCote kills corona virus!

[IneedAZ]

Originally Posted by KirkH

LOL GTechniq put out an update todays saying I2TriClean and products with their BioCote kills corona virus!

Interesting, was this product on the market prior to the breakout?

[Gunkk]

I found the MSDS for I2TriClean, attached, which dates back to 2015 at least so it has been around a while. It contains 2-Butoxyethylene and Alkyldimethylbenzylammonium Chloride. The latter is part of the Quarternary Ammonium compounds which are common in disposable disinfecting cleaning wipes.

The US Gtechniq website does make a bacteria kill claim but says nothing about viruses.

In the USA, disinfectant marketing kill claims akin to "kills 99.9% of household bacteria and viruses" are regulated by the EPA as pesticides (viruses are pests) under federal law 40 CFR 152 and generally such claims must be substantiated though clinical testing by accredited labs prior to submission for acceptance. This process typically this costs between $25k and $100k for the lab testing and takes many weeks to complete through EPA approval. Gtechniq, being a small company that isn't in the business of selling disinfectants to hospitals is almost certainly under the radar for regulatory action.


Health Canada's website states that "Alkyl Dimethyl Ethylbenzyl Ammonium Chloride" is approved for COVID19. The EPA list only shows such compounds as "quarternary ammonium" and doesn't list the specific chemicals, FWIW.

So if you trust Canadians or believe in American generalizations, then it'll work

EDIT - But Gtechniq says they haven't tested it yet. Here's the Gtechniq press release. Looks like they did some testing under the EU EN 14476 standard which is likely the basis for the bacterial kill claim. But they also state that "It is important to note that the human strain (SARS-CoV-2) has currently been classed as a level 3 Biohazard and as such it has not yet been possible to carry out specific tests again this particular strain."

https://usa.gtechniq.com/about-gtech...s-coronavirus/

[EJR8402]

What do you guys think about using an alcohol-based cleaner to disinfect a leather-wrapped steering wheel, followed by an automotive cleaner or other product (303, Meguiar's, etc.) designed to condition the leather?

[Scraps0f]

What about using ozone generators in the car and letting it air out sealed overnight?

[Sales@Phastek]

Originally Posted by Scraps0f

What about using ozone generators in the car and letting it air out sealed overnight?

That is a good idea. I'd be interested to see how well that option works.


-Sean

[Gunkk]

Originally Posted by EJR8402

What do you guys think about using an alcohol-based cleaner to disinfect a leather-wrapped steering wheel, followed by an automotive cleaner or other product (303, Meguiar's, etc.) designed to condition the leather?

TL/DR: No to alcohol. Yes to a post-cleaning conditioner.

Long version:

Viruses don't "soak into" leather. They sit on the top surface in the goo you ooze when you smear your skin oils/tears/snot from face touching or when you breath/speak/cough/sneeze your sputum onto the surface.

Sorry to say, but alcohol at the >70% concentration required for COVID19 disinfectant and is probably the last thing I would recommend on anything made of leather. It's really harsh and will prematurely age leathers and the tanned finishes on them. To kill the virus, you have to have the alcohol in contact for 3 minutes and in that time it's going to really do a number on your steering wheel.

On the other hand, soap dissolves the fatty acids that coronavirus shells are made of on contact, literally disintegrating them more or less instantly.

So mechanical agitation with a soapy water rag/sponge will be best, IMO. After that or one of the "quarternary ammonium compound" based sanitizing wipes which will be more convenient "on the go" and a lot less harsh on the leather than alcohol. You need the mechanical agitation to break up the dried sputum, and the wet soap (or QA chemicals) will dissolve the dried bits and kill the virus.

Then wipe dry and then use a leather conditioner to protect.

As to ozone, it may help reduce the surface life of the virus, but I've not seen anything in the literature. The EPA says no on their FAQ site. IMO, an hour or two baking in the sun will do far more to disinfect because virus fatty acids melt at elevated temps and 840 watts/sq-meter of UVA/UVB laden sunlight is a very effective disinfectant.

[KirkH]

Originally Posted by EJR8402

What do you guys think about using an alcohol-based cleaner to disinfect a leather-wrapped steering wheel, followed by an automotive cleaner or other product (303, Meguiar's, etc.) designed to condition the leather?

It has to be 70% IPA to kill the virus and I personally wouldn't use that strength on leather. Always test on a small area that can't be seen first.