ORLANDO, Fla. – Is your car smelling musty? It may be making you sick. A spilled drink here, a leaky window there, even a faulty A/C unit hidden deep in your dashboard can all be sources of mold and mildew. Xtraordinair By Class, a Central Florida company, says it has a process that can leave your car smelling fresh and allergen-free, all in less than one hour.
The company's director, Don Ward, says their "Green Nano Technology" fogger will kill all odor causing bacteria.
"There is definitely a sick car syndrome," said Ward, as he showed off what he calls his company's "revolutionary cleaning product."
Ward said people are getting sick from the bacteria in their cars and they may not even realize it.
Angie Federici says nothing about her vehicle is clean and
fresh.
"My children and I we live in the car, we do," she said. "It usually smells like somebody's sweaty sneakers."
Between school, work and trips to her kids sporting events, her mini van is a home away from home. She thinks it may also be home to mold, mildew and to use her words, "Who knows what else."
"We probably are inhaling all kinds of toxins from the car from the all the things we do in this car," she added.
"This is an issue we're finding more and more. People are getting in their car and having headaches," Ward said. "They buy a used car and there's something growing in it. Suddenly a half hour home they have a headache and they can't figure out why. It's what's in their car."
Allergy and immunology specialist Dr. Jose Aria agrees. He says he sees patients all the time who complain of allergies but many over look their car as the cause.
"There's no doubt that people have problems because if you're very allergic to dust, dog, cat, cockroaches and mold, all that stuff is in your car. You're there for several hours while you're driving and the air most of the time is hitting you in the face," said Arias.
He says common symptoms include irritated eyes, stuffy nose, cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, even headaches.
After a thorough cleaning and a new cabin air filter is installed in the car, Ward places a small machine no bigger than a
milk crate on the passenger floorboard. With the windows up and air conditioning on recirculate, the fogger is put through its three-stage process.
"We're fogging the car and the key active ingredient is titanium dioxide," Ward said. "That's what's been used in hospital surgery rooms to prepare them so that's how effective it is."
He said the chemical kills all odor-causing bacteria. This is the first time it's being used in an automotive application. Ward said the proof is in the smell.
"We don't expect everyone to know what titanium dioxide is or green nano technology. All we want them to do is stick their nose in before and after and are you convinced?" Ward said.
Xtraordinair By Class said they have been working with 58 Central Florida car dealerships for a year. They've been cleaning used car inventory but said a retail location is in the works.
"People don't want to take home something that still smells of nicotine or
might smell of marijuana. We did a car that had a dead rat in it. The guy loved the car but until we treated it there was no way he was going to buy it," he continued. "The guy bought it. He couldn't believe i got rid of that smell."
Ward says the company is hoping to expand into the Jacksonville area. In the meantime, he says the equipment can travel, so if you're interested, you can contact the company and make arrangements for them to come to you.
- Xtraordinair By Class
- (407) 628-4666
