Service News
To:

General Managers
Service Managers
Service Technicians

From:
Subject:

Elizabeth Jolin – Director, Reliability
Sanitizing Customer Trucks – Surface Finish Care

Region:

☒U.S.
☒CAN

Bulletin: SNV20-004
Date: March 30, 2020
Valid to: N/A
Action Required? ☐Yes ☒No

SANTIZING GUIDELINES:
In order to sanitize and also avoid damaging surface finishes in customer trucks, below are the recommended sanitizing
methods. Please note, solution must be prepared according to manufacturer’s instructions. Products must not be applied
undiluted, or at concentrations outside of the manufacturer’s instructions.
CONTACT TIME Contact time is the amount of time the surface should be treated for. The surface should be visibly wet for the duration of
the contact time. Contact time varies widely by brand, product, and application method (wipe vs. spray).





Ethanol wipes: 5 minutes
Lysol® disinfecting wipes: 10 minutes
Lysol® disinfectant spray: 10 minutes
DS1 Signet® Neutral Disinfectant: 10 minutes

SOFT SURFACES 




Soft surfaces (cloth, vinyl, leather, and nonwovens) must be cleaned with ethanol ONLY:
Ammonia based cleaning solutions (for example Lysol® brand non-bleach disinfectant wipes or ready to use
spray) and hydrogen peroxide must NOT be used to sanitize soft trims.
Isopropyl alcohol must never be used on leather seats or leather steering wheels, use ethanol ONLY.
Bleach in any form (wipes, ready to use spray, solution from concentrate) must NEVER be used on any surface.

HARD SURFACES 

Ethanol only must be used on:
o Painted/surface treated plastics: e.g. deco trims, chromed accents, controls like knobs and buttons
o Mold-in-color plastic surfaces: e.g. A/B pillars, non-leather steering wheels, plastic grab handles
 Ammonia based cleaning solutions (for example Lysol® brand non-bleach disinfectant wipes or ready to use
cleaning spray) and/or ethanol may be used only on the following:
o Painted or enameled metal surfaces: e.g. exterior door handles
o Unpainted metal surfaces: e.g. exterior metal grab handles
o Exterior decals: e.g. window blackout film
 DS1 Signet® Neutral Disinfectant may only be used as directed on the manufacturer’s label on washable hard, nonporous surfaces.
o glass surfaces
o laminated surfaces
o metal

Page 1 of 2
© 2020 Volvo Group North America, LLC. CONFIDENTIAL - For limited distribution only to circulation list above. This bulletin, and any information herein,
is subject to change by Company without notice. For the most current and accurate information, always refer to Trucks Dealer Portal for the electronic
version of this document.

stainless steel
plastic such as: polycarbonate (PC), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP)
chrome
vinyl (hard plastic ONLY – DS1 is NOT to be used on vinyl-covered upholstery: seats, walls, IP or DP parts, or
mattresses/cushions)
o enameled surfaces
o Formica®
Bleach in any form (wipes, ready to use spray, solution from concentrate) must NEVER be used on any surface.
White spirit/paint thinner should NOT be used as a sanitizer. It will also cause damage to most surfaces.
o
o
o
o




Sanitizing methods for surface treatments: Summary

ETHANOL

DS1 Signet® NEUTRAL DISINFECTANT

AMMONIA-BASED (Lysol® or similar)

OK for all hard and soft finishes, including:

OK for washable hard, non-porous surfaces
including:

OK for limited surfaces ONLY. If in doubt,
use ethanol!









Fabric
Vinyl
Leather*
Nonwoven
Hard deco trims
Painted plastic
Molded in color plastic

*Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) must
never be used on real leather. Use ethanol
ONLY!













glass surfaces
laminated surfaces
metal
stainless steel
plastic such as: polycarbonate
(PC), polyvinylchloride (PVC),
polystyrene (PS), polypropylene
(PP)
chrome
vinyl (hard plastic ONLY – DS1 is
NOT to be used on vinyl-covered
upholstery: seats, walls, IP or DP
parts, or mattresses/cushions)
enameled surfaces
Formica®





Painted or enameled metal
Unpainted metal
Exterior decals

NEVER OK
BLEACH, WHITE SPIRIT/PAINT THINNER

DS1 Signet® NEUTRAL DISINFECTANT

The following should NEVER be used to, in
DS1 may NOT be used on the following:
any form (wipe, ready to use, diluted solution,

Fabric
etc.):

vinyl upholstery including seats,
walls, IP or DP parts, or

Bleach – will discolor and damage
mattresses/cushions
surfaces, even in dilute solution!

seat leather

White Spirit/Paint Thinner

steering wheel leather

nonwoven or carpet

on or around electronic controls
like knobs and buttons

on or around touch or display
screens.
Page 2 of 2
© 2020 Volvo Group North America, LLC. CONFIDENTIAL - For limited distribution only to circulation list above. This bulletin, and any information herein,
is subject to change by Company without notice. For the most current and accurate information, always refer to Trucks Dealer Portal for the electronic
version of this document.