Can we wash our cars anymore?
 
   

As the price of fuel rises, sales of new vehicles tend to fall. Many people are finding that their finances force them to drive cars that are not as flashy and new as they would want them to be. Until oxygen-fueled cars are invented, however (and let us hope it is soon), all we can do is keep saving... and try to keep our older-model cars sparkling clean and looking nice. And that means plenty of hours spent at the car wash.

But a car wash sucks up a lot of water. If you want to be environmentally friendly while keeping your car clean, it can be hard. 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 car wash products are particularly damaging to the environment. 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 best thing about a self-sevice (generally coin-operated) car wash is that you'll use much less water than you'd normally use at home. At a self-service car wash, washing a normal sized car uses up about twelve to fourteen gallons of water (if it's not too dirty). Also, when you go to one of those self-service car washes where you bring your own products, you're the one who chooses how environmentally safe those products are or are not. 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.

Professional 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. There are some, however, that "go green" with environmentally safe soaps and products... you simply have to choose the right one.

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Article Author: Al Zan
Author Home Page: Search optimization
Article Category: Automotive
Article Topic: Automotive
Article Keywords: car washing supplies,waterless car washing,car wash supplies,car polish,car wash supplies