Car dealers, car wash services and automobile restoration experts know too well that no-one wants to buy a smelly car. And no car owner wants to sit in a stink. But some food odours, pet odours, mould odours, and – worst of all – smoking odours don’t always disappear with a car valet and vacuum.
The simple solution
An odour-free ozone generator makes car odour removal a breeze. Instead of covering up smells with perfume-like air fresheners, you can eliminate odours altogether with the power of ozone.
How it works
An ozone generator pumps ozone gas into the car where it can saturate the fabric and other interior components, and kill the bacteria creating the odour. An ozone generator is placed in the vehicle for a designated amount of time (the length of time depends on the strength of the smells). As the gas permeates the car, the odour is neutralised and any bacteria and viruses are killed.
The science behind ozone treatment
Ozone generators use coronal discharge or ultraviolet radiation to break normal oxygen (O2) molecules down into single oxygen atoms. These single oxygen atoms then bind to O2 molecules, creating ozone (O3).
Ozone is a gas that is inherently unstable, as the extra oxygen atom tends to break off and bind to other molecules. When this occurs, the ozone molecule turns back into regular oxygen, and the other substance is altered by having an additional oxygen atom attached to it. When an oxygen atom binds with the molecules of smelly substances, this will alter the chemical structure of the molecules, neutralising the original bad odours.
What can ozone treatment be used for?
Ozone treatments are the best method for removing stubborn odours. Because ozone is a gas, it can reach inside vents, far under seats, saturate upholstery fibres, and reach all the nooks and crannies that you can’t get to with a vacuum, cloth or other detergents.
An ozone generator can remove odours from a number of different sources:
- Food odours
- Liquid spills
- Pet/human odours
- Smoking odours
- Mould odours.
Dealing with lingering smoking odours
Of all the many odours that can affect a vehicle, smoking smells have to be some of the most persistent. Cigarette smoke has a nasty habit of seeping into porous surfaces like the car’s upholstery and carpeting. It also tends to leave an oily residue on other surfaces, all of which contribute to a lingering smell of smoke.
Fight smoke with gas!
Ozone generating technology can be used to combat stubborn smoking smells. Unlike air purifiers or ionizers, the effectiveness of ozone doesn’t rely on molecules being big enough and the filter medium being fine enough; ozone can work on any size molecules.
The ozone odour-neutralising process
- Clean the vehicle interior and remove any sources of the smell.
- Place the ozone generator in the vehicle.
- Run the ozone generator, filling the interior of the car with ozone gas.
- During the ozone treatment, run the vehicle’s internal heating and cooling systems to recirculate the ozone and ensure that it passes through the ductwork and vents.
- Turn the ozone generator off after the designated time and air out the vehicle with all windows open.
- Wipe down or vacuum all the vehicle surfaces.
Clean your car with caution
Remember that ozone generators can be hazardous to your health, so it’s best to use them in unoccupied areas, turning the generator off before the area is used again. Avoid using an ozone generator while the vehicle is in a confined space like a garage, and try not to breathe in too much ozone gas during the process.
The easy ‘AutoValet’
Envirowater’s AutoValet air ozone generator has been designed for use in commercial car washes. The unit has been designed with ease of use in mind. It operates on a simple push-button basis for activation and will ozonate the car for a pre-programmed period of time. Once the timer has run, the unit indicates that it is ready for the next car to be treated and that the car is clean and safe to enter. The AutoValet comes complete with a usage counter and large, bright LED indicators.
Find out more about this clean car solution: https://www.envirowater.co.za/contact-us/.