Is it better to wash your car at home or at the car wash?

Few people realize that washing our car in our driveways is one of the most environmentally unfriendly chores we can do around the house.  Unlike household waste water that enters the sewer and undergoes treatment before it is discharged in to the environment, what runs off from your car goes right into storm drains and eventually into rivers, streams and wetlands where it poisons aquatic life and wreaks other ecosystem havoc.  After all, that water is loaded with a cocktail of oils and other residues – not to mention the detergents being used for washing itself.

Commercial car wash facilities, on the other hand, are legally required to drain their wastewater into sewer systems, so it gets treated before it is discharged back into the environment.  And commercial car washes use computer-controlled systems and high-pressure nozzles and pumps that minimize water usage.  Some also recycle and re-use the rinse water [Water Rhapsody greywater recycling systems have been used successfully].

Automatic car washes have been found to use less than half the water of even the most careful home car washer.  According to one study, washing a car at home typically uses between 150 and 550 litres of water, while a commercial car wash averages less than 170 litres per car.

So, if you do wash your car at home, at least be sure to choose a biodegradable soap and do the washing using a bucket and sponge not the lazy wasteful way with a running hosepipe.  You can use a cup of your existing green liquid dishwashing detergent with a three quarter cup of powdered laundry detergent in 5 litres of water to make up a perfectly good exterior car wash soap (don’t forget to check the laundry detergent is also a chlorine- and phosphate-free brand).  Even when using earth-friendly cleaners, it is better to avoid the driveway and instead wash your car on the lawn or over dirt so that the waste water can be absorbed and neutralised in the soil instead of flowing directly into storm drains or open water bodies.

For small jobs and spot cleaning, look out for waterless formulas that are now available and which are applied with a spray bottle and then wiped off with a cloth.

Source: Simply Green May/June 2010

Also see The eco-friendly way to wash a car.

Wherever possible, the amount of waste water being sent to the storm water drains and to the sewer systems, should be reduced.  Many sewer systems in South Africa are over-capacity- too much wastewater results in overflows of untreated sewage which then enters our waterways.  This is another good reason why we should recycle and reuse greywater for toilet flushing and irrigation.  Another exceptionally bad-for-the-environment activity is when we backwash our swimming pools and allow the backwash water to enter the environment and stormwater drains (read Don’t let your swimming pool backwash water damage the environment).

Water Rhapsody Water Conservation Systems Mpumalanga offers water tank and rainwater tank installation, rainwater harvesting systems (see rainwater FAQ), grey water recycling  (see greywater FAQ) and water-saving devices for swimming pools and toilet flush systems (see product demo ).  Our WWF Award-winning water systems can be retrofitted or built into new buildings and can be adapted to small households or large business blocks, hospitals, schools, lodges & hotels.

Water Rhapsody has incorporated Yes Solar- official distributor of German-made Solsquare solar water heating systems that are installed by Eskom-accredited solar installers (our solar geysers are eligible for Eskom solar energy rebates).  We are authorized JoJo Water Tank dealers and Atlas Plastics water tank suppliers in Mpumalanga and Limpopo Province (best water tank prices in the Lowveld!).  We are also able to supply sanitary hardware such as waterless toilets through our JoJo Tanks and Atlas Plastics dealerships.

Contact us for a FREE QUOTE on a solar water geyser, water tank or rainwater/gray water system.  South Africa now has eco-friendly insurance- another way to go green, switch to green insurance cover and reduce your carbon footprint today!

A foamy, clean-smelling mixture travels down your driveway into the street storm drain – you think that it’s clean and perfectly safe for the environment. After all, it’s soapy, unsoiled water that’s ending up in our streams and rivers, right? Wrong. Conserving water might be your biggest concern when washing your car in the summer months, but there are many other factors to consider, as well.

This liquid blend picks up dirt particles, oil and maybe pesticides from your lawn, as well as chemicals from conventional cleaners, and enters local streams and lakes. This can have a major negative impact on the environment and even fish and other marine life.

In order to avoid contaminating our natural water supplies and to conserve water in general, consider these tips when washing your car:

• Since one home car wash can use up to 160 gallons of water, think about investing in a rain barrel. One rain barrel alone can hold up to 500 gallons of water. No “new” tap water will be wasted. Also if possible, use a low-volume, water-saving hose nozzle.

• When picking a place to wash your vehicle, the driveway – which is a non-porous surface – is not ideal. If you can move the car onto your lawn, or another porous surface, the water will be able to be absorbed into the land, instead of running off into the storm drains. If you have some money to spend, consider investing in a porous concrete and vegetation-filled walkway and driveway. This way, your lawn won’t suffer the impact of the heavy automobile, but you’ll get the same absorbing affect.

• When choosing cleaning supplies, always buy organic, naturally derived and eco-friendly products, such as those by Seventh Generation, or a glass cleaner by Method. These biodegradable formulas, often made with citrus-based solvents, won’t contaminate the runoff water or your lawn like chemically-derived cleaning agents would. You might even be able to make your own, safe cleaning products using basic items from your kitchen, such as baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice (note the acidic pH, this is the cleaning agent).

• If you need to get rid of older, dried spots and dirt off your car, you can purchase a sponge made from natural fibers, which is also biodegradable and won’t scratch surfaces. Make sure to reuse it many, many times!

• The absolute best thing for you to do is to buy waterless car cleaning products such as Eco Touch or Freedom; or use a steam-cleaner. These will eliminate the usage of water altogether.

• When drying your car, either from washing it with rain water or wiping away the waterless car detergent, use durable microfiber towels instead of paper towels (saving trees and reducing 3000 tons of waste per day).

If you wish to go to a car wash instead of doing it on your own, that would be a great  choice! Commercial car washes are required by the International Carwash Association, to reuse their rinse water over and over again [USA], and to treat it before discharging it into the environment. The machines they use also monitor the amount of water released for each wash – this saves ‘needless’ water.

Whether you’re up for some soapy fun and like washing your car at home, or you’d prefer a hassle-free way of someone else doing it for you (even if it’s a machine), cleaning your car can certainly be eco-friendly. Please consider these options the next time you ‘suds up’ your car or visit your local car wash, and save the Earth from some not-so-friendly toxins.

Source: EcoPlum (Mike Greenwald)

South Africa’s commercial car wash regulations are not comparable to those of Europe and the USA.  However, whether commercial or private, washing cars can have a serious impact on the environment if not done in an eco-conscious way.  In South Africa’s rural areas, cars and pick-ups can often be seen at the edge or even in rivers while the owners wash them.  This is very bad practice as oils and other contaminants enter the water system and may harm humans and the ecosystem.  In urban areas, any reduction in stormwater runoff is good for the environment.

Water Rhapsody Water Conservation Systems and Yes Solar Mpumalanga offer eco-friendly rainwater collection systems, rainwater tanks, grey water recycling, swimming pool backwash recycling, water-saving toilet flush mechanisms and high quality Solsquare solar water geysers.

Contact us for a FREE QUOTE on a solar water heater, rainwater harvesting system (see rainwater FAQ), gray water recycling system or water tank (we are authorized South African JoJo Water Tanks dealers and supply the full range of JoJo water tanks and JoJo tank stands).  Our water tank prices are hard to beat in the Mpumalanga & Limpopo Lowveld.

Water conservation and renewable energy such as solar energy are two issues that affect the global community; make a difference and start conserving water and switch to renewable energy today.  Another way of reducing your carbon footprint is to switch to green insurance, now available in South Africa.

Few people realize that washing our cars in our driveways is one of the most environmentally un-friendly chores we can do around the house. Unlike household waste water that enters sewers or septic systems and undergoes treatment before it is discharged into the environment, what runs off from your car goes right into storm drains — and eventually into rivers, streams, creeks and wetlands where it poisons aquatic life and wreaks other ecosystem havoc. After all, that water is loaded with a witch’s brew of gasoline, oil and residues from exhaust fumes — as well as the harsh detergents being used for the washing itself.

Commercial Car Washes Treat Waste Water
On the other hand, federal laws in both the U.S. and Canada require commercial carwash facilities to drain their wastewater into sewer systems, so it gets treated before it is discharged back into the great outdoors. And commercial car washes use computer controlled systems and high-pressure nozzles and pumps that minimize water usage. Many also recycle and re-use the rinse water.

The International Carwash Association, an industry group representing commercial car wash companies, reports that automatic car washes use less than half the water of even the most careful home car washer. According to one report, washing a car at home typically uses between 80 and 140 gallons of water, while a commercial car wash averages less than 45 gallons per car.

Think Green When Washing Your Car
If you must wash your car at home, choose a biodegradable soap specifically formulated for automotive parts, such as Simple Green’s Car Wash or Gliptone’s Wash ‘n Glow. Or you can make your own biodegradable car wash by mixing one cup of liquid dishwashing detergent and 3/4 cup of powdered laundry detergent (each should be chlorine- and phosphate-free and non-petroleum-based) with three gallons of water. This concentrate can then be used sparingly with water over exterior car surfaces.

Even when using green-friendly cleaners, it is better to avoid the driveway and instead wash your car on your lawn or over dirt so that the toxic waste water can be absorbed and neutralized in soil instead of flowing directly into storm drains or open water bodies. Also, try to sop up or disperse those sudsy puddles that remain after you’re done. They contain toxic residues and can tempt thirsty animals.

Waterless Car Wash Products are Good for Small Jobs
One way to avoid such problems altogether is to wash your car using any number of waterless formulas available, which are especially handy for spot cleaning and are applied via spray bottle and then wiped off with a cloth. Freedom Waterless Car Wash is a leading product in this growing field.

A Better Car Wash Option for Fundraising
One last caution: Kids and parents planning a fundraising car wash event should know that they might be violating clean water laws if run-off is not contained and disposed of properly. Washington’s Puget Sound Carwash Association, for one, allows fund-raisers to sell tickets redeemable at local car washes, enabling the organizations to still make money while keeping dry and keeping local waterways clean.

Source: About.com: environmental issues

Contractor washing construction vehicle in the Komati River

Washing vehicles is a necessary part of maintenance.  However, some people go to extremes and waste f a r too much water just to remove superficial dirt.  Generally, using a bucket as opposed to running water from a hose , will save water.  Eco-friendly cleaning products allow you to wash your car on your lawn- thus saving irrigation water.  As an added bonus, many eco friendly cleaning formulas are better for your car’s paintwork.  In many parts of rural Africa, vehicles are parked in or on the edges of rivers and washed.  This is a normal activity for many with no thought of water contamination from carwash soap and oil and grease from the vehicle. During c onstruction projects, contractors can be heavily fined if any of there vehicles are washed outside of a proper washbay that has oil traps installed.  Many aquatic organisms are super-sensitive to even minute amounts of contaminants.  Edu cation at school level is required to put an end to this environmentally damaging habit. A clean, shiny car is often a source of pride to the owner but it’s not acceptable if the environment is harmed to keep it that way.  Use waterless washing formulas to clear away light dirt and when a major wash is required, try to use an automated car wash that recycles water.  Water Rhapsody have developed a special water recycling system for automated car wash machines; and have begun installing these around southern Africa.  Contact us for all your water conservation needs (we supply and install water tanks too!).

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