Environmentally Friendly Car Washing Tips
The sun is a’shinin’ and the car needs washin’. Lots of people wash their cars during the spring and summer months and as innocent as it seems, washing a car in the driveway can be super unfriendly to the environment. Here are some tips for staying green while polishing your ride and some eco friendly alternatives for keeping your car clean.
My brother-in-law will not allow anyone else to wash his two vehicles so I know that these kind of people do exist although I do not personally relate. So if you must wash your car in the driveway first make sure you are using a phosphate free, biodegradable soap. Simple Green makes a car wash soap that is biodegradable or you can even make your own homemade car wash. If you can, wash your car on the grass. Biodegradable soaps do need to travel through soil to biodegrade properly. If you are washing the soap down the driveway and into the gutter it is entering storm drains and will end up in nearby creeks, rivers and oceans.
Choosing a commercial car wash can be a more planet friendly choice. Most commercial car washes have regulations they have to follow regarding the treatment of the water and they also recycle rinse water. The actual usage of h2O can be much lower when using a commercial car wash. But make sure the carwash you use does recycle water. If it doesn’t, you would be better off washing your car on the lawn with biodegradable soap and a nozzle on the end of the hose to keep water from flowing.
If the car wash is a fundraiser, check with your city to see if they offer free fish-friendly car wash kits. (tip: try googling “your city+fish friendly car wash kit.”)
