We tested a new way to sanitize our car that lasts for months (PHOTOS)

The past eight months have made us all much more aware of the dirt, grime, and germs in our lives.

We’ve all had to think differently about the cleanliness of our workspaces, our homes, our neighbourhood haunts — and even our cars.

Rick Hatswell, President of Operations at Craftsman Collision, says he’s heard this concern from customers at many of their 42 locations across Western Canada. The family-owned collision repair chain wanted to find a way to protect against not just the dangers you can see, but the dangers you can’t.

“Germs were gross before COVID,” he explains. “And now it’s just at the forefront of everyone’s minds.”

This is what led them to launch the DrivePur treatment, an antimicrobial coating that fights against viruses, bacteria, mold, and allergens. It’s the first time in the company’s over 40 years of doing business in Western Canada that they’ve offered a new service adjacent to their collision and autobody repairs.

Craftsman Collision

According to Hatswell, this is a natural extension of the company’s commitment to safety. “The safety of Craftsman’s customers has always been at the core of everything we do,” he explains. “Yes, we provide quality repairs, but safety of those repairs is just as important. So, when we heard of this great new product, it was just one more way to keep our customers safe during these unprecedented times.”

To see the DrivePur difference in action, we recently rolled up to a Craftsman Collision location to test drive the product for ourselves.

The first thing to note is that the before and after photos are… anticlimactic. This is because the treatment isn’t about getting dirt and old leaves out of your car mats (much to our collective chagrin). Think of it instead like a giant, invisible sneeze guard for your car surfaces.

Daily Hive

Daily Hive

The DrivePur difference is a two-step process that sanitizes and sustains your vehicle’s cleanliness. The first step begins with DrivePur’s registered disinfectant, Fresch, a botanical thyme oil extract product that has a kill rate of 99.99% against viruses and other germ invaders including staph, MRSA, mold, bacteria, and fungus. 

The second step is a water-based, non-toxic spray with a titanium dioxide formula (the secret sauce). This nano-thin antimicrobial coating covers the interior of your car including the trunk area, plus high-contact surfaces like latches and handles on the vehicle exterior. The coating, when exposed to natural or UV light, scrubs the surface and air for months post-treatment, helping you feel confident and safe when you’re in the driver’s seat (or any seat, for that matter).

While the new offering is especially timely given that the Fresch application attacks viruses including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, the product wasn’t designed for the coronavirus era. It’s actually been around in the US since 2008, where it has been used as a non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning and sterilizing treatment for hospitals, offices, and vehicle interiors, among other environments that need to be cleaned without the use of harsh chemicals.

Daily Hive

Daily Hive

All in, the treatment only took 45 minutes — an easy win for six months of stress-free commuting. Once your vehicle has the treatment done, it’s automatically registered with DrivePur, so you’ll get an email reminder when it’s time to bring your car in for a recommended reapplication in six months.

Getting into the car afterwards, we were greeted by a fresh, eucalyptus scent and a rush of pride knowing we’d done something good for ourselves, our future passengers, and the car.

From now until January 1, 2021, the company is offering the DrivePur treatment for a promotional price of $49 (regular $99). It’s important to mention that the product is currently only available to customers who are getting their vehicle repaired. If your car is in need of a fix or you’re curious about the company’s services and offerings, you can contact a Craftsman Collision near you.