2021_ADN_V6_No3_web

DETAIL
DOCTOR
Safe & Clean
Outlining the necessary
safety tips when using
disinfectants and sanitizers
Bud Abraham is Founder and President Emeritus of DETAIL PLUS Car Appearance Systems, with more than 40 years of experience in
the car care industry as a manufacturer, operator, distributor and consultant. He writes articles and gives seminars on the subject of
auto detailing throughout the automotive industry. He can be reached at buda@detailplus.com.
By Bud Abraham
buda@detailplus.com
The last couple of years should
have taught astute detail
business owners that they need
to clean with caution...
Without a doubt the COVID-19 pandemic
has fundamentally changed the way
detailers think about germs, sanitizing and
disinfecting, that is if they ever thought
about these things in the first place.
As we move into the post-pandemic
world, it is important that detailers retain
any knowledge they might have learned
over the past couple of years about preventing
the spread of the COVID-19
virus, and retaining the best practices
they’ve learned.
Everyone working in the detail industry
should have learned the differences
between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting.
If anyone has not, then go to the websites
of the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Be sure to keep in mind that when it
comes to killing germs the following processes
involve three actions to achieve
three different levels of cleaning.
TAKING ACTION:
REMOVE,
REDUCE OR KILL?
ACTION #1: Cleaning
Cleaning removes germs, dirt and
other impurities from surfaces but it does
not kill germs.
Cleaning works by using shampoo
and water to physically remove germs
from a surface.
ACTION #2: Sanitizing
Sanitizing lowers the number of
germs on a surface by reducing the germs
to levels considered safe by public health
standards or requirements.
ACTION #3: Disinfecting
Disinfecting kills germs by using
chemicals directly on the surfaces. This
process does not necessarily clean a dirty
surface or remove germs, but by killing
the germs on the surface after cleaning
it, disinfection can lower the risk of
spreading infectious germs.
CHEMICAL SAFETY
Anti-Microbial disinfectants can be
very effective in killing harmful viruses
and bacteria in vehicle interiors. However,
it is important for every detail professional
who uses these products — and the
customers that occupy the vehicle interior
— that certain precautions are always
taken and that these products are used in
accordance with the manufacturer's label
instructions, which, by the way, are reviewed
and approved by the EPA.
The following are some safety tips
you can implement when using cleaning
chemicals:
✔
✔
Read, read, read: Be absolutely
certain that anyone using or even
handling disinfectant chemicals are
familiar with the directions for use
as indicated on the product label.
And make sure they understand
what they read. Too often
employees read the instructions
but, for whatever reason, do not
really understand what they read.
Remember these instructions
have been carefully developed by
the chemical manufacturers, and
reviewed by Federal Regulators.
Follow the rules: Be sure you
know if the manufacturer indicates
that personal protective equipment
should be used. In many cases
the directions will advise that the
product should be used in a wellventilated
space. Disregarding
label instructions or attempting to
✔
✔
✔
take shortcuts can result in serious
consequences for both the owner
and the employee. Keep in mind
that the Labor Board in your state
most often sides with the employee
in the case of on-the-job employee
accidents, not the employer.
Clean it up: If you spill any
disinfectant, clean it up immediately,
no matter how small the spill. Also,
do not attempt to put any spilled
product back into the original
container, which can contaminate
the entire container. Instead, clean
up the spill and properly dispose of
the contaminated chemical.
Have container awareness:
Never remove disinfectants, or
other chemicals for that matter,
and put into unlabeled containers.
This can result in accidental and
improper use of the chemical,
which can have serious and harmful
consequences. If you do place
any chemical product in any other
smaller container be certain to
photocopy the label that contains
the name and instructions for use
on the smaller container.
Look around: Before using a
disinfectant check to ensure there
are no open flames, exposed
food or any other consumables.
Also be certain that all employees
22 | AUTO DETAILING NEWS | VOL. 6, NO. 3 • FALL 2021