How to disinfect the car during the COVID-19 epidemic? What is the best way to disinfect the car during the epidemic?

We all know that the new coronavirus is a new and more difficult virus recently. It can be spread in various ways. In order to prevent infection, many people will frequently clean and disinfect the car, and disinfection in the car is also very necessary. So how to disinfect the car of the new coronavirus? Let's take a closer look!

How to disinfect the car during the novel coronavirus outbreak

Frequent ventilation

Generally, private cars do not need to be disinfected, they only need to be parked in an open area and ventilated. However, if they can only be parked in a closed environment such as an underground garage, it is recommended to close the windows and turn on the air conditioning for internal circulation.

It should be noted that when people are in the car and open the windows for ventilation, they should be careful to prevent colds caused by the large temperature difference between inside and outside the car.

Disinfect frequently

When a vehicle returns home after visiting a public place, disinfection measures must be taken.

The most direct method is to prepare 75% alcohol, put it in a spray bottle, or spray it evenly on a towel or wet wipes, start wiping from the door handles and trunk handles, then open the car door, and disinfect the inner door handles, cabin space, armrests, steering wheels, seats and other frequently touched places.

For disinfection of door handles and steering wheels, it is recommended to wipe with a towel soaked in alcohol; for seats, armrests, ceilings and other areas in the car, it is recommended to use spray disinfectant, and let it evaporate quickly after wiping. After all the cleaning is completed, close the door, let the vehicle stand still for more than 30 minutes, then open the door, lower the window, and keep the car ventilated for about 10 minutes.

If conditions permit, clean your car once before going out and after coming back, which can prevent the virus to a great extent. At the same time, wear a mask and wash your hands frequently, which is not only a responsible attitude towards yourself, but also a responsible attitude towards society.

What is the best way to disinfect the car during the epidemic?

Select/prepare disinfectants according to the material.

At present, epidemic prevention materials are in short supply, and most families can only use the 84 disinfectant, medical alcohol and peracetic acid that they stockpile on a daily basis for disinfection. Although these disinfectants have very good disinfection effects, I would like to emphasize one point here: 84 disinfectant must not be used directly!

First of all, the main ingredient of 84 disinfectant is sodium hypochlorite, and the main ingredient of conventional bleach is sodium hypochlorite, which means that 84 disinfectant has strong bleaching ability. Friends with a little life experience know that if clothes are not handled in time after contacting 84 disinfectant, they will often leave white spots. There are many textile fabric materials in the car interior. If the user does not control the concentration well, it may cause the fabric to leave signs of fading.

In addition, sodium hypochlorite has an oxidative corrosion effect on many metals, and many mid- to high-end vehicles use a lot of metal parts in their interiors to highlight their texture, such as aluminum alloy buttons, chrome-plated trims, etc. If 84 disinfectant directly touches these metals, it will cause corrosion, dull color, or even blistering.

The correct way to use 84 disinfectant is to dilute it with water in a ratio of 1:200, and then use spraying and wiping methods to disinfect plastic parts, imitation wood parts, metal parts and other materials; removable fabrics such as seat covers can be disinfected by immersion.

Not only 84 disinfectant, but also peracetic acid disinfection needs to be diluted. The main method of using peracetic acid for disinfection in the car is spraying. First, the peracetic acid stock solution should be added to water and diluted to 0.2%~0.5%. Since peracetic acid is volatile, the concentration should be guaranteed when it is used, and it is best to prepare it as needed. After spraying the peracetic acid disinfectant in the car, it should be ventilated for more than half an hour before entering the car. When using peracetic acid for disinfection, the following matters should be noted: The peracetic acid stock solution is corrosive and cannot be touched directly by hand. To prevent the liquid from splashing on the skin, it is best to wear rubber gloves when preparing the solution. Moreover, peracetic acid is corrosive to metals and cannot be used to disinfect metal surfaces in the car. When spraying, the operator should wear a mask.

Secondly, 75% concentration of medical alcohol is also a common disinfectant, but! Alcohol cannot be used to wipe the leather parts and pure wood trims on the car directly, otherwise it will fade, peel or turn white, which cannot be repaired, and the gain will outweigh the loss. Friends who can't buy alcohol can also use "waterless sterilizing hand sanitizer" as a substitute. Its main ingredients are alcohol, propanol, etc. It has a good sterilization effect, and it is a gel-like solid, easy to carry and safe to use.

What disinfectant can't be used in the car?

Never use alcohol disinfectant by spraying.

Because the flash point of ethanol is 12.78℃, its fire hazard is Class A. The flash point of 75% ethanol disinfectant is about 22℃, so its fire hazard is still Class A. In such a small space in the car, because it is dry in winter, the static electricity generated by clothes is enough to ignite alcohol!

Another point to note is that 84 disinfectant needs to be diluted 1:100-1:200, and chlorine is harmful to the human body. Never spray it towards the air outlet of the air conditioner. Also, pay attention to the dosage. It is best to use small amounts multiple times, spraying once every hour for better results.

Does the outside of the car need to be disinfected?

In theory, the interior of a private car can be disinfected to a certain extent, but it is not necessary to disinfect the exterior of the car. Because the virus must attach to living cells to survive for a long time, and its spread depends on the gel in the air; then there will naturally be no living cells on the surface of the car. As for the virus, whether it relies on droplets or the moisture contained in the air itself, there is a probability of transmission. Even if it is attached to the body of the car, facing the wind resistance caused by the car traveling at medium and high speeds, it seems that any way of virus transmission cannot attach to the car shell. Therefore, the disinfection of the car shell is theoretically meaningless, and the disinfection should mainly target the interior of the vehicle. (Again: except for transportation to epidemic areas or special vehicles)