Bacteria inside a car

**Nth Degree** · 11-01-2012, 06:05 PM

Stumbled upon this article. Reminded me of a study years ago from Oxford University, IIRC, that said a car steering wheel harbored more bacteria than a public toilet.

Learn where the top bacterial hot spots are in your car

Here`s a thought. Make interior components easier to remove or access.

Great selling point, and it makes me wonder about how effective some of the common interior cleaners (Meg`s APC+, OPC, etc.) are at killing bacteria. Would love to see this test done on a car before and after a detail to demonstrate the benefits.

**TacoHerder** · 11-01-2012, 06:17 PM

Steam would be my go at killing bacteria.

**Old Pirate** · 11-02-2012, 09:59 AM

There are alot of area`s in the car interior that hold/have bacteria`s that some products won`t even touch that stuff.

**Addicted2Bling** · 11-02-2012, 04:37 PM

I wash my hands 2 times, after I clean a car, and after I wash my hands.

PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!

**Old Pirate** · 11-02-2012, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by TacoHerder

Steam would be my go at killing bacteria.

Yes, a streamer will do the job for one.

**MarkD** · 11-02-2012, 08:16 PM

Will a Steamer actually do anything to kill bacteria? As I understand it, a lot of guys use these for cleaning their records, and I`ve heard the "water" at the nozzle is about 130F.

**TacoHerder** · 11-03-2012, 01:02 AM

Steam is used to sterilize. Not all bacteria will be able to be killed with a steam cleaner. Some actually need to be at a temp higher than spoiling water for hours. Most you come across in your car should be killed with a good dose of steam. I even used my steam cleaner to kill all the bed bugs in my mattress last winter....

**Todd@RUPES** · 11-05-2012, 07:11 AM

I know of one detailer who used a hospital grade bacteria meter (not sure how these work) to measure bacteria in a car, then would offer steam cleaning to kill the bacteria load, and remeasure. He would print out before/afters of the measurement.

He charged a lot of money for the "sterilization" of the interior but he also worked in an affluent area of LA, so he people had money and were concerned about this stuff. He made/makes a lot of money doing it.

**elbro** · 12-01-2012, 08:55 PM

Your best bet to kill out a bacterial load on a steering wheel or any other interior surface is to first get it very clean. I would think that most soap based cleaning supplies removes the bulk of the bacterial load. It takes a lot more than 130 degree steam to sterilize anything...

**TacoHerder** · 12-01-2012, 09:00 PM

I steam sterilize mushroom substrate all the time.

**Rocket** · 12-01-2012, 11:11 PM

I`m not sure any of the APCs we use have antibacterial properties. While they may be strong they aren`t made for that purpose. I would think you would need to use something specific to kill germs and bacteria. I always keep a can of Lysol around the house. Why not spray that around the hard surfaces of the car (steering wheel, shifter, door panels)

I saw AG is carrying PURE Hard Surface Disinfectant Spray. It says it`s for hard surfaces.

**Paintxpert** · 12-02-2012, 02:46 PM

I use an emulsifier called D-stroy which is a microbial bacteria eating product. It is made by State chemical here in the Northeast. It keeps on working for weeks after the actual detail has been performed. Avoid making material surfaces real wet. Very effective on puke and animal cars, which I get a premium to clean. Steam is good if you have the climate to dry it out later. In the Northeast it is now 30 degrees and steam is NOT a great idea.

**Paintxpert** · 12-02-2012, 02:48 PM

Lysol is good but its NOT pro grade. D-Stroy is the way to go. Again from State chemical.

**Old Pirate** · 12-02-2012, 04:46 PM

That`s way in some countries in the far east they all wear white cotton gloves when driving.

**OpenRoad** · 12-02-2012, 11:19 PM

Why the paranoia?

We are all faced to live with common strains of bacteria all of our lives. THEY are out there 24/7. Hospitals often have the really "cool" (not!) resistant strains of common organisms. Staphylococcus is everywhere, unless you live in a autoclaved cocoon. S. aureus, and most other ubiquitous bacteria are part of our everyday lives,...including inside our cars & homes, and contacting our skin, etc,...even though we can`t see them, or feel them.

Unless someone is severely immune-compromised,...Why...the question?

A simple 10% bleach solution (9 parts water + 1 part bleach) will kill many common microscopic organisms on contact. 70% alcohol (don`t cheat here...It`s NOT the stuff you drink..?) will also eliminate most bacteria on CONTACT. Crevices and cracks, obviously will require a different approach.

Alcohol also works as a solvent on many surfaces. Bleach...well...can "bleach", although a weak 10% solution is pretty innocuous, unless left to "dwell" for long periods of time. Both will dry surfaces. Both can damage leather, allowed to penetrate for many minutes.

Enzyme-based cleaners commonly/basically break down organic compounds, and also have have their uses, but are not necessarily a first line of defense against bacteria. Barf, urine, blood, etc,..respond well to enzyme products.

How many bodies were in the trunk?

Sorry, couldn`t resist........