Question from miko
I am chemically sensitive and i am shopping for another car. i am very confused and overwhelmed by all the things to consider.
New cars will reek all the formaldehyde, plus whatever is put in by the manufacturer ( would you know the specifics?)
Used cars, usually if they have been well taken care of, will have a lot of armour all, would have beeen taken to the car wash several times to have the upholstery and floors cleaned, shampooed, and etc,and there goes more,more and more chemicals!
My old and out gassed car needs a brake, and I need to go on a long road trip to see my doctor in California. I am getting lost facing so many things to take into consideration!
PLEASE HELP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
thank you
Debra’s Answer
(updated 7/16/07)
Several readers have sent me links to a healthy car guide compiled by the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor Michigan. The guide is at www.healthycar.org.
It contains a report on the chemicals of concern in car interiors, AND it allows you to look up many vehicles where you can see what the measurements of chemicals are. They also give a rating for each vehicle for “level of concern” and list best and worst of the different classes of cars (my PT Cruiser was “low concern”). This is a great resource we’ve been needing for a long time.
Here are some articles written by others about this report:
* http://autos.aol.com/article/general/v2/_a/new-car-smell/20070709103709990001
(you’ll have to cut and paste this one, I can’t get the link to work, but it’s the right URL)
* http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17651756/
Another great website by the Ecology Center on this subject is Toxic at Any Speed: Chemicals in Cars & the Need for Safe Alternatives. It has a wealth of information on the toxicity of car interiors, including a report on finding PBDEs and phtalates in car interiors, Auto Company Chemicals Policies, Other Toxins Inside Vehicles, a chart of PBDEs phtalates found in cars ranked by manufacturer, and about a dozen links to other articles on the subject.
Air fresheners will never come out as most other chemical cleaners. You can rent a really good water extractor carpet cleaner for the car from home depot while using a sprayer to apply the water/cleaner and try using citric acid odor remover, bac-out enzyme cleaner or baking soda but we have tried several times on several car without success. There are a couple of commercial cleaners that say they remove all smell, but the owner of one told us not to use if you are chemically sensitive as some of the salts are left behind and continue to work. Oh and ionizers do not work either.
Hello….I love your site! I just bough an older suburban…just had a new baby and we need the room! My husband handeled the transaction so I didn’t drive the truck ahead of time. I drove it to the store today and realized that it had ineed been shampooed and it looks like the back seat leather was repaired in one spot. I like the idea of leather because I can r-clean them with natural products, but what do I do about the carpts? I’m terrified to pt my newborn and toddler inn it ue o their toys falling on the crpet etc. Could I re-shampoo them with vinegar to get rid of residues? I think Bissle sells a small compact shampooer….would that help?
COMMENT FROM DEBRA:
I have no experience with this. You might try vinegar, baking soda, or a steam/vac.