Get your Car Gorgeous–the Eco-Friendly Way

It seems like every time I turn around I need to wash my car again. I guess I could blame the unpredictable Dallas weather, but really it’s just my forgetfulness.

Washing your car regularly is a good thing to do for yourself. Other than making a good impression, it also just helps you keep your sanity when you have a million things to do.

Many people have childhood memories that include carrying a bucket of hot, soapy water outside to polish and shine the car on summer evenings or Saturday mornings.  Your dad most likely gave you constructive criticism about how you washed the tires and showed you the “right” way to do it.

But what really sticks out in my mind was how we let the hose just run whenever we were washing the car. Knowing what we know now, this seems like a really terrible idea for the environment. So today I’m going to give you a few pointers on how to wash your car the eco-friendly way, and some of the tips may just surprise you.

•If you’re going to wash your car at home, pull it up on the lawn. I know you might think I’m crazy and the neighbors will probably stare, but this is the best way to avoid pollution. Think about it: if you wash your car in the driveway, the water runs rapidly down the street and into the gutter. That doesn’t sound so bad until you think about all of the gasoline, oil, and chemicals from the soap that went along with it. If you wash your car in the lawn, then at least the dirt will soak up most of it.

•This goes without saying, but try to limit the amount of water you use during your at-home car wash. Limit yourself to one small bucket for washing and one small bucket for dying, and also remember to turn off the hose when you’re not using it.

•Use an eco-friendly soap when you make your wash mixture. Just a little dab will do ya, I promise. Put the small amount of soap and pour lukewarm water in. You’ll have enough suds to clean your car and then some.

•If at all possible, really try to avoid cleaning your car at home. I know that typically the “green” thing to do is to make things yourself, but in this case it’s not. Automatic car washes have to abide by several environmental laws to ensure that the cleaner they use doesn’t end up in our drinking water or ruin an animal’s habitat. Most of them also have technological ways to ensure that only the necessary amount of water is used during the wash. Plus, you don’t have to lift a finger. It’s a win-win.

•When it comes to the interior of your car, it’s best to leave it up to the professionals as well. Interior car cleaners can be very toxic and damaging to your indoor air quality. Kiwi Services offers interior car cleaning along with our other many services!