If you’re concerned about toxins in your home, why ignore your car? Between running errands, shuffling kids back and forth to school (if you have them), commuting to work and driving on vacations, you literally spend a significant amount of time in your car so technically it serves as your secondary homes on the road. Here at Ace Glass we have come up with a few easy ways to detox your vehicle after the holiday season. We don’t only know about windshield repairs at Ace Glass, we have complete car safety covered!
Dusting your Car – regardless of the age of your vehicle, it is important to clean the interior with a damp cloth regularly. The dust that accumulates consistently in your vehicle such as flame retardants from the seat cushions (especially seen in older vehicles), dirt, pollen, dead skin, hair that tends to cover your gauges, consoles and dashboard. Regularly wiping these elements of your interior provide relief to asthma sufferers and reduce allergens in your vehicle.
Air it out – If you’ve recently purchased your vehicle, you’re definitely familiar with that new car smell that makes you euphoric. This distinct smell is a combination of VOC (volatile organic materials) that are used to manufacture the vehicle including diazinon, xylene, styrene and formaldehyde. The best way to eliminate this potent odor is to leave your windows down whenever you can including when driving and even when parked (under supervision). Adding to this, avoid parking in direct sunlight unless of course you can roll your windows down as heat increases the rate of chemical discharge from the materials.
Remove the Food and Get Rid of Mold – Food wrappers from your favorite fast food joints are probably common sightings in your vehicle, but eventually these remnants will begin to decompose or grown mold. These have the potential to create mycotoxins, cause allergies and conceive cancer causing aflatoxins. Mold is not afraid of salt and sugar found in left over packets either, and tends to grow in warmer temperatures and even during the spring and summer months.
With regards to mold, no car is airtight or even watertight and given this compromise, rain water and snow can create moisture build up in your vehicle. You might not be able to sense these moisture leaks at first, but the dang, musky smell eventually will make it quite evident. The best way to prevent moisture from getting the best of your vehicle is by repairing leaky spots and cleaning up spills as soon as they occur.
Steer Clear of Fumes – If you’re stuck in congested traffic, trailing behind a large diesel truck or simply waiting your turn at the gas station, it may be hard to avoid the gas fumes discharged in these situations. In any of these situations, the best thing to do is cover your nose when outside or roll up your windows if seated in your vehicle.
Pet Owners – pets tend to bring their own friends along on short and long trips, fleas per se. These parasites are passionate about any and every pet they befriend, and are not just a nuisance but can cause allergic reactions, rashes and even spread diseases. They have a high survival rate without feeding, which means that you are risk even when your pets aren’t present in the vehicle. Regular and thorough cleaning of upholstery, seat and floor covers with help minimize and prevent the occurrence of these types of parasites.