Cars seem to get dirtier in the summer. The dry wind kicks up dust. That, mixed with the occasional rain shower, makes our vehicles filthy.
But if you’re someone who washes their car frequently, you may want to consider the environmental ramifications of where and how you wash it. So, before you grab your bucket and sponge, read below for the facts about car washing.
Commercial Car Cleaners
From a conservation standpoint, the best place to wash your car is in a commercial automated facility or in a bay using a giant spray gun. Put simply, they use less water and are more efficient than washing cars at home.
Many commercial facilities recycle the water they use before flushing it down the pipes to the local wastewater treatment plant. Some municipalities in Texas even require car washes to recycle their water if it comes from a drinkable source.
Not only do they recycle their water, but they use much less of it than you may realize. The average homeowner uses 116 gallons of water washing their car at home. Most commercial car washes use around 60% less water than a homeowner uses. Part of the reason why they’re so efficient is that commercial facilities use high-pressure water nozzles. These devices do more with less water than a standard garden hose.
Leave It on Your Lawn
If you prefer to wash your car at home, try doing it over your lawn. Washing and rinsing your vehicle over your grass allows the soil to act as a
natural filter for the grime and soap that wash off. Your grass and trees will appreciate the extra water you’ll give them too.
Just be mindful of crushing any sprinkler heads or other hazards hidden beneath your grass. You don’t want to puncture your tires or damage your irrigation system.
Sensible Soap
The soap you use matters! Use a biodegradable, phosphate-free, water-based soap.
Conventional soaps containing phosphate can cause problems when they enter our water bodies. Phosphates cause excessive algae growth. When the algae die, they starve the water of oxygen which results in fish kills and other harmful biological issues. Additionally, conventional soaps destroy the mucus layer in fish, which protects them from harmful parasites.
The Deluge on Your Driveway
If you wash your car over your driveway, use a bucket for your sponge and soapy water. This prevents the excess soap from flowing into the storm drain. When you’re done, pour the dirty water into either a toilet or a sink. Don’t dump it out into the street. Otherwise, all the oil, exhaust fume residue, brake pad dust, and soap chemicals run off the hard surface and flow directly into the stormwater drains. A stormwater system doesn’t filter and treat water the way your wastewater system would. Instead, it flows into the watershed polluting our water bodies.
Most importantly, attach a nozzle with flow restriction to your hose. This will minimize water use and water runoff. Don’t commit the sin of letting the water gush out of your hose into the driveway while you’re distracted. Be water wise!
Since our drought is expanding—along with many of our local water restrictions—it would be a good idea to check with your city for your assigned watering days. Not only are you allowed to irrigate your lawn only on certain days, but you’re likely restricted to washing your car only on those days as well.
Washing a single car may not seem like a problem. “After all, it’s only one car” one might say, but collectively, car washing can add up to problems for our watersheds, lakes, and streams. It can also waste one of our most precious resources.