Coronavirus - Covid-19 - Safe Detailing?

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Coronavirus - Covid-19 - Safe Detailing?


Covid_19.jpg




How is everyone protecting themselves from Corona virus aka Covid-19 when dealing with customer's cars?

The hidden problem is a customer that is infected BUT doesn't know it.

You clean their interior and now you have it. If you have employees, you're employees are at risk. You go home and now your family has it. Even if you're only doing paint correction and coatings, you're likely going to touch the key fob, the steering wheel, etc.

I think we as a detailing community need to discuss this topic and come up with a plan to keep ourselves and our family's safe. Here at Autogeek we do offer products that clean and sanitize surfaces, I don't have an exact list but I can get one. We also carry a large assortment of nitrile gloves, which I shared in this article.

How to avoid germs - Gas Station

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I wrote and posted that article at the end of January, as I type it's been 45 days since then and since then the virus has traveled outside of China and to most other countries. I for one continue to wear nitrile gloves when getting gas as a simple pro-active precaution to protect myself and my circle of family, friends and co-workers. I suggest everyone consider this simple health safety practice.

To self-quarantine your detailing business means not detailing. Not good.

It's super important not to panic but it's also important to be smart in how you interact each day until we're past this situation.


Thoughts? Suggestions? Ideas?



:)
 
Gloves and masks are a no brainer. But as we begin the process of cleaning the interior if a steam cleaner is available I would just start with the process of steaming all of the surfaces as I enter the car. I think that a good quality steamer can disinfect most surfaces of the vehicle pretty quickly to give us access to actually get the job done
 
Also just to add...

I don't know the answer as to how to 100% protect yourself from exposure to this virus when handling other people's cars so please feel free to chime-in and share your thoughts.

Will it come down to full Hazmat suits?

Also - moving forward, while no one wants this virus issue in our lives and in our world, my guess is there's going to be an uptick in business with people wanting to have their car's cleaned and sanitized.

Not exactly the opportunity any of us wants but the reality is - there's going to be a market for this type of detailing.

Let's hope anyone calling a detailer for this type of work is honest and upfront to let the detailer know the reason they want their car interior cleaned and sanitized is because they know it's contaminated.


:dunno:
 
Can any of you professionals comment on what happens when one runs Clorox wipes across automotive interiors, especially over time?
 
Thanks Mike for the reminder on the topic of keeping safe in these days.

For a few comments I have heard is that most of our APC products will do just fine for typical disinfectants on bacterial borne germs.

Microfiber towels are very effective in pulling those off the surface. Yet the COVID-19 is a virus so is not easily eliminated as our everyday cleaning.

Several YouTubers are jumping on the Ozone service as one option but I doubt it will kill a virus but it does help in the total package of services.

Looking forward to more comments and sharing of how to deal with this for our own cars and YES keeping safe and healthy while detailing for profit.


:)
 
APC does not contain any disinfectant and does not kill nCoV by itself (unlike a Clorox wipe). It only functions in the same way that hand soap functions: by loosening the virus from what it's attached to and flushing it away in the rinse. Rinsing body parts sends the virus down the drain which is a great place for it. I fear that wiping auto interiors treated with simple APC just moves the virus around. If anyone has credible citations to the contrary I would love to read them!
 
How long does nCoV survive on hard and soft surfaces?

WHO:
It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses. Studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. This may vary...
Click to expand...

USA CDC:
It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
Click to expand...

Professor Günter Kampf from the Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine at the Greifswald University Hospital:
The evaluated studies, which focus on the pathogens Sars coronavirus and Mers coronavirus, showed, for example, that the viruses can persist on surfaces and remain infectious at room temperature for up to nine days. On average, they survive between four and five days. "Low temperature and high air humidity further increase their lifespan"
Click to expand...
 
:updated:


I just received the most recent Autogeek Newsletter, they have listed products on the AG store that are Anti-Bacterial here,

Anti-Bacterial Car Care

Anti_Bacterial_Car_Care_Products.JPG




I'm not an expert in this area so I don't know if anti-bacteria also means it kills viruses.


If you need more information, call our customer care reps for this info.


1-800-869-3011


:)
 
Also....

The nitrile gloves are not listed on the anti-bacterial page above but everyone should have these right now.

Here's the difference between the black and the orange gloves.



The black nitrile gloves are thinner and cost less. They also rip easier due to being thin.

Disposable Black Nitrile Gloves - Sizes: Medium - Large - X Large - XX Large

blackgloves.jpg




The orange nitrile gloves are much thicker and more stout than the black nitrile gloves and also cost a tick more,

Orange Heavy Duty Nitrile Gloves - Sizes: Medium - Large - X Large - XX Large


orangegloves.jpg





Price differences


Box of 100 black nitrile gloves = $16.00 = 17 cents per glove or 34 cents for a pair to wear.

Box of 100 orange nitrile gloves = $18.99 - 19 cents per glove or 38 cents for a pair to wear.

(in most cases you wear a pair of gloves, not just one glove)


There's a time and place for both types. I tend to prefer the orange gloves when doing any substantial work as they are much more heavy duty and also have dimples on them which increases your grip strength.

I prefer the black gloves when shooting video or taking pictures as the orange tends to blow-out the exposure making them look like they glow, which then takes away your focus from what you're trying to showcase.


:)
 
•Lots of unknown dangers out there; lurking...

*************************************

•If I were to want my vehicles cleaned up (from
being exposed to a bio-hazard such as Covid-19)
by some entity other than myself...

-I would require proof that the detailing business/
detailing personnel to have had, at the minimum,
up-to-date OSHA approved training in areas such
as: PPE, Bio-hazards, Blood-Borne Pathogens, etc.

{I consider this as another means of protecting
myself from that other type of unknown danger.}


•There are businesses whose personnel
have been fully trained, qualified, and
certified to perform biohazard clean up
in my area of the Country. Is yours?

-If not:
Folks interested in obtaining credentials for
bio-hazard remediation can go to OSHA’s
website for further information.

•Some of the training’s highlights:
-PPE/Protective gear (face mask, nitrile gloves
doubled-up, disposable apron and cap, etc.)
-Proper use of chemicals for bio-hazard cleanups
-Use of Red Bio-hazard Bags for disposal of
all the protective equipment and materials
used for these cleanups
-Contact #’s of the proper local authorities
for pick-up/disposal of Bio-hazards.


•Believe me...It’s a serious undertaking:
-But don’t EVER expose yourself to any
unknown dangers!


Just some well intended thoughts.

Bob
 
It looks like I have a completely different take on this than most everyone else:

This appears to me to be a strain of the flu that is only a bit more dangerous because it includes a symptom (lung inflammation) that can be more serious, including more fateful, than the normal flu. I just don't think it demands the level of fear we're all giving it.

Look, I don't WANT to get sick with anything. I've had the flu, and it certainly isn't pleasant. But once I've had a particular strain of a flu, my immunity to that strain is quite high. I don't WANT to get Covid 19, but if I do, I'll deal with the symptoms, and understand I will be a bit more bullet proof to its return.

Please note, this is MY view on the topic, and for those who have a different view, I respect that. But I'm just not going to change my life (more than I am being forced to) for this.
 
mk9750 said:
This appears to me to be a strain of the flu that is only a bit more dangerous because it includes a symptom (lung inflammation) that can be more serious, including more fateful, than the normal flu. I just don't think it demands the level of fear we're all giving it.
Click to expand...

Based on the statistics, COVID-19 has up to 30X+ the mortality rate vs. "seasonal flu".


But once I've had a particular strain of a flu, my immunity to that strain is quite high. I don't WANT to get Covid 19, but if I do, I'll deal with the symptoms, and understand I will be a bit more bullet proof to its return.
Click to expand...


Note that your acquired immunity to a "particular strain" of flu is only for that strain and then only if it's an exact DNA match. Viruses constantly mutate and, for example, the H3N2 strain that might have been common one year may come back again but in a mutated form and then your immunity goes out the window.

As for this SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, there is no guarantee that one will acquire immunity post-COVID-19. Already it has been found that there are at least two types, Type L & Type S, so it is mutating (as all viruses do to survive).
 
Note to all : Anti-bacterial cleaners/products have ZERO effectiveness against viruses. 70% (min.) alcohol solutions, bleach solutions, and EPA-registered household disinfectants (ex. Lysol) are what will do the trick.

Hand washing with antibacterial soap does not kill a virus. The protection it (hopefully) provides is that you wash away the viral matter from your hands which in turn will keep you from spreading it to your mouth, nose, or eyes.

That last part is key. Keeping your hands away from your mouth, nose, and eyes is probably the most important thing you can do right now.
 
mk9750 said:
It looks like I have a completely different take on this than most everyone else:

This appears to me to be a strain of the flu that is only a bit more dangerous because it includes a symptom (lung inflammation) that can be more serious, including more fateful, than the normal flu. I just don't think it demands the level of fear we're all giving it.

Look, I don't WANT to get sick with anything. I've had the flu, and it certainly isn't pleasant. But once I've had a particular strain of a flu, my immunity to that strain is quite high. I don't WANT to get Covid 19, but if I do, I'll deal with the symptoms, and understand I will be a bit more bullet proof to its return.

Please note, this is MY view on the topic, and for those who have a different view, I respect that. But I'm just not going to change my life (more than I am being forced to) for this.
Click to expand...
If you have parents that are still living or grandparents your selfish views on this virus might change. Thank God it's not affecting children as much, but seniors need to be extra cautious.
 
Gloves and masks are a must IMHO. Mike had said numerous time... if its on you then its in you. I took Mike's advice to heart.

I made a mistake of ordering the wrong masks last year. I meant to get N91 but got N95 instead. I eventually forgot about them and left them in the garage. I am so glad I made that mistake now.

I was doing a clients vehicle at his house about a week ago and I took them with me. It actually made him feel more comfortable knowing I had the N95 mask on since he has small children in the house . He was willing to buy any extra masks off me. LOL
 
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