Will we wash our cars in the future?
11/13/08
As the price of fuel rises, sales of new vehicles tend to fall. And many of us are driving around in cars that are not, perhaps, as sexy and new as we would like them to be. For now, all we can do is cross our fingers in the hopes that water-fueled engines are just over the horizon... and keep our older-than-desired cars as clean as we can. And that means plenty of hours spent at the car wash.
But a car wash sucks up a lot of water. It can be difficult for the person who both wants to keep their car clean, and keep the environment safe. And unless you're Rain Man and can count every gallon of water as it shoots out of the hose, you probably do not know what kind of car wash is most environmentally friendly. The answer? All or none. Read on to learn the environmental pros and cons of each car wash method.
Home Car Wash: One good thing about washing your vehicle at home is having complete control over the soaps, etc., you use, as well as the amount of water. Some soaps and products used in washing cars can really harm the earth. But since you have control over what you use, you can use green or environmentally safe products. Plus, you get a bit of exercise, some sunshine, and maybe a water hose fight... pretty fun. However, washing your car at home is also the option that uses up the most water. On average, a person washing his or her car at home uses at least 50 gallons of water. That said, it's important to keep in mind that, if you'd like to limit the amount of water you use, you can... you have total control.
Self-Serve Car Wash: The good thing about a self serve car wash is that is uses quite a bit less water than washing your car at home. For an average sized, not-too-dirty car, a self serve car was uses up only 12 to 14 gallons of water. Plus, if you're using a self-serve wash with your own products, you can choose what to use. One thing you don't get with a self-serve car wash, however, is the lovely convenience of washing your car without even leaving the house-- or getting it all done for you at a full-service.
Full Service Car Wash: A full service car wash has a lot of pros. The obvious thing is that it's ridiculously easy... and gets your car ridiculously clean. A professional car wash also requires less water than using the hose at home; 11 gallons or so for a small car, and 20 gallons or so for a truck or sport utility vehicle. On the other hand, some professional car washes can harm the environment in other ways. Many use products and soaps that leech into the ground water and harm the environment in general. Others, however, are more environmentally friendly... you just have to choose wisely.
Links
Waterless car washing
Car wash supplies