Safety & Maintenance | Leasing & Rental
October 1, 2020
Disinfecting and Protecting Your Cab Interior
Help stop the spread of COVID-19 and prepare for cold and flu season by regularly disinfecting your truck cab. PacLease locations disinfect truck cabs after every service to help reduce the spread of germs. Protect your interior components by following the research of the PACCAR Technical Center (PTC).
To preserve your cab’s interior, it is a best practice to spray the cleaner on a microfiber cloth and then wipe down the parts being cleaned with the wetted cloth. Do not directly spray part surfaces where the cleaner can get into openings between panels or switches. Do not leave residual cleaner on the part surface for longer than is necessary to disinfect the surface in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Any residual cleaner on the surface should be wiped off with a clean cloth after the surface has been disinfected.
The PACCAR Technical Center conducted testing of cleaning solutions to determine the impact on cab interiors. The tests evaluated if the cleaners would cause damage to interior features, including cloth, leather and vinyl surfaces, hard trim, polyurethane smartwheels, dash panel components, rocker switches and window controls.
Recommended cleaners when used properly:
Bleach-Based Cleaners. Cleaners with concentrations of bleach up to 5% (3/4 cup beach mixed with 1 gallon of water) are recommended for use in cab interiors. They are found to be safe to use on interior components over time. Example products include: Clorox Bleach Wipes, Micro-Kill Bleach, Lysol Bleach Multi-Purpose Cleaner, Fantastik All Purpose Cleaner with Bleach, and bleach and water solutions mixed at concentrations up to 5%.
Citric Acid-Based Cleaners. Cleaners with concentrations up to 5% citric acid are recommended for use in cab interiors. They are found to be safe to use on interior components over time, but should not be left for prolonged periods of time on cloth or vinyl surfaces.
Not recommended cleaners:
Alcohol-Based Cleaners. These are not recommended for repeated use on interior components as they may cause damage over time. Example products include: hand sanitizing wipes, certain disinfecting sprays and disinfecting wipes.
Cleaners containing Quaternary Ammonias. These are not recommended for long-term and repeated use on vinyl surfaces or polyurethane steering wheels.
Cleaners with a glycol ether, alcohol and sodium hydroxide blend – such as what may be found in heavy-duty cleaners, degreasers, and disinfectants – are not recommended for use in cleaning as they cause damage to interior components.
Cleaners containing Ethoxylated Alcohols or Ethers. These are not recommended for repeated use on interior plastic part surfaces as they may cause damage over time. Example products include certain disinfecting sprays.
General Information Only
This article is to provide general information about the effect of cleaning solutions on cab interiors. The cleaner categories above are not intended to represent all cleaner types on the market. Not all example products listed above have been tested by PTC. Specific products tested by PTC include Birko Quadra-Quat, Spray Nine, a 70% isopropyl alcohol and water solution, and a 5% bleach and water solution.
Exercise caution and follow manufacturer instructions for safe and effective usage and for handling of all cleaning and disinfecting products, including, but not limited to, wearing gloves and/or masks, ensuring proper ventilation and not mixing cleaner types.
The PACCAR Technical Center did not evaluate the effectiveness of the cleaner categories above in killing germs or viruses. Please refer to the manufacturer’s instructions and applicable public health resources (e.g. the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Environmental Protection Agency) for information regarding the proper use of disinfectants.
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