How Ultra Pure ClO2 Outperforms Standard Surface Cleaning for Rideshare and Taxi Fleets
The Challenge
Passenger vehicles are ideal breeding grounds for bacteria, mold, viruses, and pathogens that spread cold and flu viruses. As microbial and fungal populations grow, the risk of illness increases for both drivers and passengers, and persistent odors become difficult to eliminate with conventional cleaning products.
Odor Smarts set out to measure the effectiveness of two treatment protocols across two comparable passenger vehicles. The goal: reduce bacteria and fungi to safe levels and fully eliminate associated odors.
Treatment Protocols
Cab A: Hard, nonporous surfaces cleaned and disinfected using Selectrocide (Ultra Pure ClO2 liquid disinfectant). No gas treatment applied.
Cab B: Same Selectrocide surface treatment as Cab A, followed by a one-hour Clobberizer gas treatment delivering 99.9% pure chlorine dioxide gas throughout the vehicle interior.
Surface swabs were taken from multiple locations before and after each treatment. Colony Forming Units (CFU) were counted to quantify bacteria and fungi levels.
Results
CFU (Colony Forming Units) measures the number of viable microbial colonies present in a sample. Lower numbers indicate a cleaner, safer environment.
Surface cleaning with Selectrocide eliminated the majority of bacteria and fungi across all tested locations, with only trace counts remaining on the steering wheel and foot well.
The combined protocol of Selectrocide surface cleaning followed by the Clobberizer Ultra Pure ClO2 gas treatment brought every tested surface to zero detectable bacteria and fungi. Pre-treatment levels in Cab B were significantly higher in some locations, including over 10 million CFU in the foot well and 8 million CFU at the passenger door. All were reduced to zero after treatment.
Context: How Dirty Is a Taxi?
For perspective, consider the bacterial counts found on common everyday surfaces:
Pre-treatment bacterial loads in these vehicles far exceeded those found on cell phones, bathroom door handles, and public toilet seats. The Clobberizer gas treatment eliminated all detected microbial life, outperforming surface cleaning alone.
Summary
Vehicle interiors tested in this study contained dangerous levels of bacteria and fungi, including common pathogens such as:
- Staph and MRSA
- Norovirus and Rhinovirus
- E. coli and Influenza-A
The dual-treatment protocol combining Selectrocide liquid disinfectant with the Clobberizer Ultra Pure ClO2 gas treatment proved most effective, eliminating all detected odors and reducing bacteria and fungi to zero across every tested surface. Vehicles treated with Selectrocide surface cleaning alone showed only negligible traces of remaining bacteria and fungi.
Recommended Protocol for Vehicle Interiors
- Spray and wipe all hard, nonporous surfaces (glass, steering wheel, dash, floor well, door panels, etc.) with Selectrocide Ultra Pure ClO2 surface disinfectant.
- Follow with a minimum 3-hour Clobberizer gas treatment using an Ultra Pure ClO2 gas unit.
- For severe or persistent odors, an overnight Clobberizer treatment is recommended.
Testimonials
“Often I smoke cigarettes in my vehicle and am not pleased with the smell that lingers. I used an Odor Smarts jar for an overnight treatment and was surprised at how well it eliminated the smells. I’ve tried various air fresheners in the past, but the smell of smoke never seems to go away. I cannot even smell any cigarette smoke in my car now! My son is amazed!”
- Rene S.
“During our last move, we took my daughter’s fish tank, that was overdue for a cleaning, in the car to our new house. In the commotion, it spilled! I dried the back seat out as best as possible, had the car detailed, tried baking soda and air fresheners but could still smell the musty pond smell you can imagine. We then gave the Odor Smarts Odor Eliminator jar a try and I was shocked to find the smell was gone!”
- Jeffery R.
See how transportation and emergency response teams use Ultra-Pure ClO₂ to deodorize, disinfect, and restore vehicles, equipment, and enclosed spaces.
Ready to decontaminate your fleet?
Contact us at 1 (855) 256-8299 | inquiry@selectivemicro.com