Disinfecting the car of coronavirus with ozone machines

The use of ozone generators for disinfecting and eliminating odors inside vehicles is nothing new, nor a technique developed because of the coronavirus epidemic. Many car wash specialists already offered this service, most often as a purifier and to eliminate bad odors.

Now, ozone’s effectiveness in eliminating all types of bacteria, in addition to odors, is leading many manufacturers and companies to consider it one of the best means of removing possible traces of coronavirus and disinfecting the interior of their vehicles in a simple way. Private users are also considering buying an ozone machine to carry out the process themselves.

Lexus, for example, has already announced that to the comprehensive sanitizing protocol it applies to new, nearly new, or workshop-serviced vehicles before delivering them to customers, which consists of disinfecting 45 points using a biocide, it now adds an ozone treatment.

Why use ozone machines?

Ozone was previously used to combat another virus, SARS. It is one of the most efficient antibacterial gases when it comes to fighting viruses, fungi, germs and all types of bacteria.

The advantage is that it is effective not only when applied to hard surfaces such as the dashboard, but also on soft surfaces such as upholstery, carpets, floor mats… In addition, it acts very quickly due to its high reactivity. And being a gas, it makes it easier to decontaminate the least accessible corners.

What’s more, the ozone used in the process of sanitizing a car’s cabin ultimately turns into oxygen and leaves no residue, unlike when chemical products are used.

How much does an ozone machine cost?

A complete cleaning of the vehicle at a specialized service, including exterior and interior using ozone, can cost between 50 and 70 euros. Now, powerful ozone machines for self-service are also beginning to be offered, like the vacuum cleaners at car wash tunnels, with prices around 8 euros per session, which usually involve 2-3 minutes of ozone application followed by ventilation.

For this reason, many people are considering buying an ozone machine and carrying out the disinfection process themselves.

Compared with the more powerful professional machines, capable of generating up to 5,000 mg of ozone per cubic meter of air per hour, used to disinfect large spaces, a domestic machine can generate around 100-200 mg/h of ozone per cubic meter of air. These machines cost around 200 euros, and can even serve a small room.

For use inside the car there are also smaller portable machines that plug directly into the 12 V power socket. In this case, their ozone generation capacity is much lower, between 5 and 10 mg/h per cubic meter of air. They are also much cheaper, found from around 20 euros, but they are not very recommended due to their low effectiveness.

How do you disinfect a car with ozone?

The process of disinfecting a car’s interior depends on the power of the ozone generator used and on the dirt or odors the vehicle’s surfaces may retain.

In general, the complete process with a low or medium-power portable machine can take around 15 or 20 minutes. Simply place the machine in the vehicle, switch it on and let the ozone act with the doors and windows closed, without staying inside the cabin.

Running the air conditioning with recirculation on for two or three minutes of the process is advisable to also disinfect the climate control system. Once the process is finished, it is best to open the car’s windows and ventilate for another 10 or 15 minutes.

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