Deadly pathogens in your car are a possiblity
A while back we had a client who had spilled raw unprocessed milk for making cheese in his van. The retired gentleman had taken his vehicle to an express detail shop to be cleaned and the odor removed but they failed to complete the task properly so he came to us for our help.
He explained he was living on a pension and the cheese he makes was quite costly to produce - in fact, he could buy it cheaper at the store; but loved making it himself. So he had gone out to a farm bought 4 gallons of milk and on the way home the bucket spilled over. He went on to explain that he was so upset at himself because his hobby had cost him so much. Between having to re-buy the milk, paying the express detail shop for a job that they didn't do right and having to pay us that his batch of cheese had become the most expensive cheese in the world.
We felt badly for him. The express detail shop should have never taken on that project. They are not equipped or knowledgeable enough to deal with a catastrophe like this. Spot shampooing the carpet, spraying it with air freshener and running the air does not resolve anything. The carpets and underlay were full of mold and the smell was beyond words. View the photos to see what the other shop left behind.
This vehicle recon was a huge undertaking. We had to completely gut this van. After removing the carpet it was given several cleanings to eliminate stains and ensure that the milk was completely removed from carpet and underlay. The van itself had to be completely cleaned using a medical grade antibacterial/anti-fungal solution. A three step system was used to decontaminate the contents and the air. The treatment we used is one that is utilized by hospitals to disinfect laundry, food areas and to make surgical rooms sterile. The first step was to decontaminate the empty van including the ac/heat and vent system. This ensures that there is no chance for mold, bacteria or odor regrowth. Once the carpet and freshly cleaned seats had gone through the drying process, they underwent the same decontamination process. Upon completion everything was placed back inside the vehicle, along with the freshly cleaned seats for a final decontamination and then allowed to air out.
We had the vehicle for 3 days, when he came to pick it we showed him the photo's and explained the entire process to him. He was disgusted by what he saw in the pictures, but he was elated by the final result. He couldn't thank us enough and kept insisting that he should pay us more because he had no idea how in depth the process was going to be. We declined his offer and he ended up taking a pile of business cards to hand out to people he knew. "Give trust, and you'll get it double in return" quoted by Kees Kamies
This story appalls me because the other shop had sold him on a service they could not perform. They lacked the equipment, chemicals, knowledge & training therefore they had no business performing this task. Instead of telling him they couldn't do it or refer him to someone that could they took his money. This in itself is a crime but that isn't the worst of it. In doing so, they put this mans' health at risk. Raw milk can carry salmonella, E. coli O157:H7 or listeria. If this milk contained any of these pathogens this man, his wife, grandchildren or anyone else in the van who made contact with it; would have been exposed to deadly pathogens. Something as simple as his grandson rubbing his hands on the carpet; could have transferred deadly bacteria onto his hands and in the event he didn't wash them, he could have transferred them to his mouth, food or another person through contact.
This is a serious issue and one that should be a lesson to all amateur detailers out there. When you are cleaning a car you must factor in the health risks for both the client and yourself. This includes the chemicals & equipment you use, the protection you wear and the process you utilize. Failure to eliminate possible hazards is a risk to your clients that you don't want to take; nor do you want to create a problem.
You must understand chemistry and be knowledgeable about the chemicals you use. Learn what health risks may be associated with them if any, use them as directed, do your research and always wear the necessary protective gear to protect yourself from exposure. A good example would be using ammonia and bleach (although I would hope you wouldn't ever be using these in a car) but if you did, you could be manufacturing a deadly gas that could cause you or your client to have respiratory failure. Certain chemicals may be poisonous to animals and small children. Several chemicals can be potentially dangerous to individuals with allergies and asthma; so keep this in mind to prevent accidents.
A professional detailer must also have the knowledge, training and equipment to deal with everything including bio-hazards. Failure to meet these requirements puts your health and the health of others at risk. Blood borne pathogens can include but are not limited to hepatitis.
Over the years I have been exposed to many toxic, bio-hazardous and potentially dangerous scenarios including toxic substances, mold, bacteria, syringes, blood, vomit, feces, urine and viruses... but because I assume the risk is there, I protect myself as best I can before it is too late. You don't know where a car has been, what mold, bacteria, fungus, toxins and gases exist so you must take precaution.
Detailers who aren't experienced or knowledgeable enough to effectively or safely remove them, should abstain completely and let the real professional detailers do the job. I have a greater respect for people who admit they can't do something than those who take someone's money and wing it. No one wins when you fail and no money is worth jeopardizing your health or that of someone else !
