Eco-Friendly Car Washing At Home
Did you know that the average person at the self-serve car wash uses over 15 gallons of water just to wash their car? At the drive-through or automatic car wash, the number can be 50-75 gallons. In nearly every case, these car washes send the dirty water into the sewer.
Some car washes, of course, recycle their water by cleaning it on-site and using it again. That's rare, however, and even then, water ends up in the sewer eventually. Or the garbage cleaned out of the water goes to the dump or into the sewer.
You can wash your car at home and be a much better husband of resources by doing that.
The average home owner puts over a hundred gallons of water onto their lawn every week. More precisely, the average home owner sprays 100 gallons of water towards their lawn. Not all of it ends up there. That is also a large use of water.
A solution to both problems is to combine them. Pulling your vehicle onto the lawn (better yet, two or three) can do that. Plus, it's a family activity that can be a lot of fun.
Using soap (preferably natural, non-detergent soap), a bucket to mix suds in, and a garden hose with a sprayer on it, you can make your car shiny easily. Using non-detergent soap, like that found in some hand soaps, natural ivory, etc., will not remove your paint's wax coatings, which means less work for you in the long run.
Pulling the car(s) onto the lawn, place them as close to center as you can or uphill from center. Squirt a little soap into a 2-3 gallon bucket and spray water to fill it. Then wash the car with a sponge, old rags, towels, whatever. Once they're scrubbed, rinse with the hose again. Get any spots you missed, rinse again, and dry.
All of that water (which, admittedly, is more than would have been used in a self-serve bay) goes into your lawn. That waters the lawn and the ground is a natural filter to clean impurities.
With all of that said, here are some caveats:
- Do not wash or scrub alloy wheels, engine compartments, brake liners, or undercarriages on your lawn. This is where most of the grease, metal flakes, and even asbestos are found and you definitely don't want that on your grass or in the ground water. Surface wash only on the lawn.
- Use non-rinse cleaners for tires/wheels and use the wash bay to high-pressure wash the engine and undercarriage every month or so.
Overall, though, combining your car washing with lawn watering saves water and it gets you and your family outside in the sunshine together once in a while. What could be wrong with that?
Buy Eco-Friendly Car Wash Products
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Eco Touch WCW24 Waterless Car Wash 24 oz List Price: $12.99 Sale Price: $9.94 Average Rating:   |
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No more hose, bucket, or soapy mess. How? Simply spray your car with waterless car wash formula, wipe clean and admire away. Eco Touch will leave your car — and your conscience — clean. Directions: 1... |
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Green Earth Technologies 01212 Car Wash 16 oz Sale Price: $6.88 Average Rating:  |
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Totally Green Heavy Duty Hydrophobic Car Wash. G-WASH™ Heavy Duty Hydrophpobic Car Wash is a highly concentrated cleaner/degreaser which uses the power of nanotechnology and American grown base oils to tackle the most difficult cleaning job... |
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Lucky Earth 201 "Waterless" Car Wash - 32 oz. List Price: $14.99 Sale Price: $14.99 Used From: $12.99 Average Rating:  |
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Lucky Earth Waterless Car Wash is designed to leave the car spotless and clean. No more water, hose, soap or mess. Just spray on the car with Lucky Earth Waterless Car Wash, wipe clean and admire the shine... |
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Eco Touch Waterless Car Wash Concentrate - 16 ounces List Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $18.42 |
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Eco Touch took their most popular Waterless Car Wash product and made it into a concentrate. Excellent for automotive detailers, fleet managers, municipalities or car enthusiasts. This concentrate can be used as a traditional waterless car wash product or even as a quick detailer or clay bar lubricant... |
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Smartwax 20105 SmartTone Waterless Wash Wax and Sealant In One - 16 oz. List Price: $10.95 Sale Price: $9.89 |
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The first Environmentally Friendly one step answer to achieving a show perfect shine effortlessly and without water. An ultra slick non-stick high-shine all-weather gloss magnifier, organically formulated to wash, polish, wax and protect in one step, with no water waste, water spots, swirl marks, streaks, or scratches which may result from conventional car washing... |
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Car Planet Car Wash 32oz Eco-Friendly Sale Price: $8.50 |
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Car Planet's Car Wash was designed to effectively remove dirt while enhancing the paints shine and ability to repel water. Our Car wash breaks down and attaches to every particle of dirt to safely clean your paint... |
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Lucky Earth 504 Starter Kit Sale Price: $39.99 Average Rating: |
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Lucky Earth Starter Car Care Kit includes the essentials to make your car shine. The offering includes one Waterless Car Wash, one Tire Shine and six Microfiber Towels. Lucky Earth Waterless Car Wash lets you wash your whole car, inside and out, with no water, hose, soap or any traditional way of washing a car... |
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The Original California Super Duster List Price: $29.99 Sale Price: $15.95 Average Rating: |
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The Original California Super Duster is an ideal detailing tool for large/tall vehicles like trucks, SUV's and RV's. The patented baked-on wax treatment thoroughly lifts dust, providing a just-washed look without scratching... |
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THE BOSS- Waterless Eco Friendly MOBILE DETAILING UNIT + FREE ITEMS Sale Price: $395.00 |
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The Boss- Is one Professional Grade Unit. The Boss- Complete Waterless Detailing System is 100% cordless allowing you to move about anywhere in any location without restrictions. The Boss comes complete with Long-Life rechargeable battery, professional handle, Industrial spray gun, Spray tip... |
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GO GREEN WATERLESS CAR WASH SYSTEM W/ CARNAUBA & KAOLIN CLAY (1 GAL.) Sale Price: $42.35 Average Rating: |
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Go Green Waterless Wash takes minuets and deliver the finest wash you have ever seen in minutes. An ultra slick non-stick high-shine all-weather gloss magnifier, organically formulated to wash, polish, wax and protect in one step, with no water waste, water spots, swirl marks, streaks, or scratches which may result from conventional car washing... |
Tags: car wash, eco friendly car washing, eco friendly hand car wash, environmentally friendly car wash, was car at home
