When your air-con is switched off in the cold of winter, nasty bacteria can grow in the pipework.
Germs are then flushed through when you turn it back on in summer.
This is why dealers urge you to book in for regular services. But the Puratise Air-Con Cleaner is a cheaper option than a full garage flush, as it weighs in at only £15.
We tested it in a musty BMW, and the procedure was simple enough.
After closing the windows, we started the car, with the air-con set to re-circulate.
The can was then placed behind the front seat, and we pushed the nozzle down, closed the doors and left it to empty.
Only 15 minutes later, our car was much fresher.
Yet while the Puratise is good value compared to garage cleans, it looks expensive given that rival products – from Comma and CarPlan – perform as well for less than £10.
* Contact: 01488 689400, www.saxon-brands.com
* Problems? Expensive for a single-use product, strong smell means you have to vent car for a while afterwards.
* So why buy? Cleans the system in only 15 minutes, successfully removes smells.
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I have used all 3 of the products mentioned in the trial and was surprised by the low score given to Puratise. Both Comma & Car Plan products left a huge pool of water in my vehicle which I had to mop up. The Puratise product left no residue at all. It is also a larger can making it suitbal for large saloons and mini buses etc - this is reflected in the higher price.
My view - should have scored 5/5 it is an excellent product