Did You Know?
Ozone is proven to be super-effective in killing up to 99% of pathogens in the air including influenza and SARS. Even though tests are still being performed on how effective it is against the Coronavirus, it’s been proven to kill tougher viruses in the past. As supported by researchers, ozone can be used to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease that has gripped the world since last December. In this post, we will discuss more about Ozone, the Ozone Generator, and how you can book a service to decontaminate your car.
What is Ozone?
It is a reactive gas and composed of three oxygen atoms used to kill dangerous threats such as viruses. It can be both man-made and natural. The natural ozone layer helps to reduce the amount of harmful UV radiation being exposed to the surface of the earth. Whereas man-made ozone is popularly used as a super-effective, yet safe disinfectant. For example, Ozone for many decades has been commonly used by hotels to remove cigarette smell , marine boats to remove the fishy smell and by supermarkets to decontaminate storage rooms when there is rotting food present.
It has been used for sterilisation, deodorisation, disinfection, and treatment against toxic substances. Ozone can migrate to every corner of the environment using an ozone generator, a relatively small unit that can output ozone. A perfect airborne disinfectant against microorganisms such as mould along with its productive spores, which can be hard to visibly see, which is why it is a great tool for car mould treatment as well.
How Can Ozone Kill?
Ozone is oxidizing in nature, making it an ideal and safe choice for killing bacteria, viruses, and germs. For this benefit only, ozone can be used to clean cars, particularly the car interior. It kills the bacterial while eliminating the source of unpleasant smells and odour. It deals with air borne contaminants in areas in which you may find difficult to reach and wipe with disinfectant, literally addressing every corner of the environment that it is exposed to. All of which, can be generated from an ozone machine
According to an experiment result, Ozone was able to kill the SARS virus at a killing rate of 99.22%. Researchers also discovered that the coronavirus and SARS were 80% similar in nature in the genome sequences. Drawing the thought that perhaps, ozone could be an effective solution against the existing virus.
Self-Hygiene and Cleanliness is Key
Many of us drive our vehicles every day. It has become a part of our normal life. However, we most often never devote enough time to have the car interior cleaned. As a result, your car becomes a breeding ground for many harmful bacteria, germs, and viruses. Common areas contaminated tend to be your upholstery, so your carpet, seats and mats, dashboard, console and steering wheel (especially the steering wheel). Of course, using an Ozone Generator is not enough, in fact, it should be used an additional level of cleaning. That is, have your car thoroughly interior detailed i.e. wiped down, sterilised, vacuumed, rubbish removed, thoroughly shampooed and extracted. Once complete, an ozone generator is an excellent option to reach areas that are difficult to reach, such as underneath your seats and through all the nooks and crannies – a common procedure performed by professional car detailers.
Steps Involved with the Ozone Generator
The most common uses of the Ozone machine is to remove/treat/minimise unpleasant odours, such as, cigarette smell, musty or mould smell, spilled liquid (milk, wine, juice, etc.). By using an Ozone Generator, it can help kill germs and bacteria, which cause the smell – so straight at its source. Usually, a single session will do, but depending on the condition of the vehicle, an extra session might be needed for the more severe case. Here are steps on how to use the Ozone Generator.
Step 1: Clean the vehicle in preparation for the Ozone Treatment
Before you start with an Ozone Treatment, always start by cleaning and removing any contamination inside your vehicle. Whether you are dealing with mould, food scraps or spilt/leaking beverages, the main source must be removed. If the source of smell is of liquid form such as urine, milk, coffee or so on, then the carpets, mats and seats tend to be the main areas affected. A good shampoo with APC, brushing with a soft bristle head and deep extraction should allow for maximal removal – all in all, a thorough interior car detail is crucial to its success. In cases where liquids have gone too far into the fabric beyond the reach of an extraction, replacement may be the next best option. Sometimes the fumes from cigarettes can get stuck in the roof lining, in this case, replacing the roof lining may be a better option. Cleaning can be done, but it will not be as smell proof than a completely new liner, but will of course be an additional cost for a car roof lining repair service. Unfortunately, because the roof liner has very fragile glue, we cannot apply the usual extraction method as this may disrupt the liner and cause a saggy car roof liner.
Step 2: Setting up the Ozone Machine
The Ozone Generator is designed to generate ozone from the air. The device draws air from one side and then passes it through an electric charge to convert the Co2 to O3/Ozone. You will have to insert the generator unit inside your vehicle usually on the front passenger seat or on the armrest.
Step 3: The Ozone Treatment Process
During the operation, while on, it is very crucial to have the air-conditioning on to effectively remove odour as it helps to distribute and ciruclate the ozone disinfectant. Usually, it would run for about 20-30 minutes ( (if it is a strong unit, weaker units will require more time). The required time of ozone treatment would depend on the condition of the odour, size of the vehicle and other factors. For worse cases, a second session is required. This would take place with the windows up and the internal circulation setting switched on.
Step 4: Post-Treatment
Because ozone is harmful to the body, the service needs to be conducted in a well-ventilated area where there is no one within proximity. Once the time has elapsed, open the vehicle to allow the ozone to escape from the car with the air conditioning switched to circulate with the outside. Ozone itself has a very short half-life and will pretty much become inactive after a short period of time. Even though the ozone treatment is very useful as a disinfectant, it can be as equally as harmful if misused. This is why we always recommend using a professional when opting to use the Ozone Treatment service
How Does It Work?
The Ozone Generator is designed to generate ozone from the air. The device draws air from one side and then passes it through an electric charge to convert the Co2 to O3/Ozone. You will have to insert a generator unit inside your vehicle for about 20-30 minutes (if it is a strong unit, weaker units will require more time). While on, it is crucial that you have the air conditioning on with internal circulation only. Because ozone is harmful to the body, the service needs to be conducted in a well-ventilated area where there is no one within proximity. Once the time has elapsed, open the vehicle to allow the ozone to escape from the car with the air conditioning switched to circulate with the outside. Ozone itself has a short half-life and will pretty much become inactive after a short period of time. Even though ozone is very useful as a disinfectant, it can be as equally as harmful if misused. This is why we always recommend using a professional when opting to use this service.
Regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic, it shouldn’t be the only reason motivating you to maintain a clean car on a regular basis. Staying clean and hygienic is a great way for families to not only take care of the health of their own but of other pedestrians too. Although, washing the car may appear to be enough with the usual wipe and vacuum, it most often is not. That’s why organising a regular car interior detail is recommended, especially the use of a shampoo and extraction along with an ozone generator.
Stay Safe
At Schmicko, we also offer the ozone generator as an optional add-on to our existing packages. If you are serious about having your car cleaned thoroughly then you can book online or call today to arrange for a professional car detailer to come to your house – Please select your area: Sydney or Melbourne – Please select your area: Sydney or Melbourne – Please select your area: Sydney or Melbourne. Don’t wait until you are sick to organise an interior car detail, better yet, take preventative measurements for further protection.
Car Care Advice For The Everyday Driver & Enthusiast
As a seasoned author on our team, Chester also known as ‘Gadget’, for his love for all things mechanical, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table, particularly when it comes to automotive topics.
