Specialized detailing—odor control

by Bob Dunklau

According to the Car Care Council, four billion dollars were spent last year in the United States on enhancements to keep the interior and exterior of vehicles looking like new. And since the average American spends nearly 20 hours in their car per week and travels more than 200 miles, it’s not surprising that they are looking for ways to rejuvenate their vehicle’s appearance and comfort.

One of the fastest growing segments in the detailing business is odor control. Between the cigarette smoke that can embed itself into the upholstery, the friend that spilled his soft drink, the children and pets that sometimes have accidents, and even the chemicals that are used during detailing processes … maintaining that clean car smell is a difficult task. Customers turn to car washes and detailing professionals to take away the odors that they can’t—and the ability of a business to provide this service is immeasurable to the consumer.

While buzzwords such as “neutralization” and “counteractant” are flying around, it is important to remember that the proof is in the performance of any odor control product. Most deodorizers leave a fragrance behind, but the real test is what happens once the fragrance wears off. Additionally, consumers are more concerned than ever about indoor air quality, health and eco-conscious issues, and in the case of odor control they will be interested in exactly what is being used in their cars to remove a smell.

Understanding Odors

To understand how to rid an area of an odor it is critical to understand the chemical makeup of odors. Organic and chemical are the two basic types of odors can permeate a car’s interior and these are the smells that create lasting issues for the owner. Organic materials, such as milk and mildew, emit odor as a result of bacteria. Chemical odors, such as cigarette smoke, are microscopic particles that have been deposited onto a surface. If the particles are light enough to float in the air, humans can smell them.

All odors are made up of simple or complex chemicals. In order to eliminate an odor, you need to neutralize the offending chemical, which is why it is important to treat odors with a product that has the ability to keep the smell from coming back. For example, mold lets off a number of volatile organic gases as part of their growth cycle. If a product can halt the mold growth, it will prevent the odor from reappearing. Ideally, any odor-eliminating product should have a residual capability of three to six months.

What to Ask the Manufacturer

With the advancements in technology and the plethora of odor solutions on the market, detailers should educate themselves fully about all of the odor removal options available and how each solution works. Don’t take a company’s claims at face value—ask for references and see if they will be willing to let you trial the product out before committing to the purchase. Find a company that will spend time training staff on how to properly utilize the technology and choose a solution that has passed the rigorous guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Some immediate questions to ask include:

• What is the history of the company?
• Can they provide the technical specifications of their odor solution?
• Has the product been tested by an established third party source?
• Are there any health issues associated with using their odor solution?
• Would they be able to provide reference?

What to Ask the Customer

It is important to thoroughly question the customer before you begin searching for the location of the odor. This will hopefully help uncover the source and diminish the amount of time spent scouring; it will also help determine the severity of the issue. For example, if a person has been smoking in their car for several years, rather than just occasionally, it will alter the way in which you treat the problem.

Some immediate questions to ask include:

• How long has the smell persisted?
• Do you or any of your passengers smoke? How often and for how many years?
• Have any liquids been spilled over the past several months?
• Have you left any food in the car for an extended period of time?
• Have your kids/pets had any accidents while in the car?

When evaluating the odor situation and how to handle the issue at hand, it is also important to take into account the make and model of the car. Working with eco-friendly products will give you more leeway in this arena, but taking the time to investigate the type of fabric, upholstery and air conditioning equipment associated with the vehicle will help you determine the best way to treat the odor issue.

Types of Automotive Odor Issues

The first step to combating odors is locating the source of the smell. While it seems to be an obvious first task, there are detailers that automatically assume an odor is emanating just one place in a car. This is not necessarily the case. Odors can embed themselves in a variety places around the car including the upholstery, the carpets and the headliners.

One area that is often overlooked in the treatment of odors issues is the air conditioning system. The air entering into a car passes over the A/C evaporator, which condenses around the evaporator coils when a car is being operated. The moisture on the evaporator makes it a magnet for air pollutants, including dust, dirt, grime, pollen, spores and germs. These pollutants form bacteria, dust mites and fungi, which all add up to create the bad smell that often occurs in A/C systems.

Tricks of the Trade

As mentioned above, using your nose to detect the source of an odor will not always lead you to the right location. Utilizing the proper tools will better help you effectively and efficiently detect the source of an odor. Some lesser-known tools to handle the common issue of urine odor include:

• Ion Wave Ultraviolet Light—fabric may seem clean, but dried urine can’t always be seen by the naked eye. Urine is comprised of salts and uric acid crystals, which glow under black light. To ensure that this is the source of the odor, shine a black light over the carpets. The salts and uric acid crystals will glow if they are embedded in the fabric.

• Moisture and Urine Probe Meter—this handy tool easily locates urine deposits in dry carpet by utilizing two zinc coated probes that penetrate down into the fabric of the carpet. If it hits an area that has been touched by urine a buzzer sounds. Since urine contains salts, it attracts moisture and remains damp. This tool’s prongs allow an electrical current to pass between them when put in contact with a damp area.

• Carpet Extractor—vacuuming only removes dust and dirt particles on the surface of carpets, but a vacuum cannot penetrate the stains and residue that reside within the carpet fibers. Over time, these left-over residues emit pungent odors and wear rug fibers. A carpet extractor are gentle enough on fabric to not cause damage, but strong enough to deeply penetrate the surface of a carpet and attack the odor issue. Having the ability to add an eco-friendly, liquid odor removal additive to the extractor is another advantage to this technology.

The Business Advantage

According to some statistics, a car’s value goes down by 65 percent in just five years. Wear and tear contribute to this price decrease, but lingering odors play a big part in this price reduction as well. This is why it’s not surprising that a customer is willing to pay a relatively high price for an odor to be removed. Eliminating an offensive smell (rather than masking it and having it return a few weeks later).

Since car odors are virtually unavoidable, investing in odor elimination solutions provide companies a business advantage. You will be offering a service that not every business can provide and an expertise in an area that consumers are willing to pay a relatively high price for a business to handle efficiently and effectively.

Of course, as with any aspect of a business, it is important that you have trained staff that understand the science behind odors, are familiar with all the latest odor removal techniques and are aware of the most up-to-date technology associated with odor elimination.

While the upfront costs associated with odor removal may seem steep, the long-term benefits—to your company and your customers—are well worth the investment.

Bob Dunklau is the business development director for OMI Industries, a worldwide leader in providing odor abatement solutions ranging from heavy industrial to commercial and consumer applications. The company’s commercial brand, Fresh Wave IAQ, is currently used worldwide by Hertz Rental Cars to solve a variety of organic and inorganic odor control issues. For more information, visit www.freshwaveiaq.com. Bob can be reached at bob@odormanagement.com.