Car washing tips

Quite simply, the best way to protect lakes and rivers when washing your car is to take it to the car wash! Commercial car wash facilities often recycle their water or are required to send their wash water to the wastewater treatment plant, so if at all possible, use a facility to keep your car clean.

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Out of doors, go out of your way

If you must wash your car out of doors, here are a few tips to minimize negative impacts:

• Remove all trash and debris from the car washing area
• Use only soap or detergent labeled “non-toxic,” “phosphate free,” or “biodegradable;” The safest products for the environment are vegetable-based or citrus-based soaps
• Do not use acid based wheel cleaners or engine degreasers
• Select a site where the wash water can soak into grass, gravel, or be diverted to nearby landscaping. This will allow the wash water to filter through the vegetation and/or soil instead of flowing directly into the storm drain
• Drive the car onto a piece of plywood or direct the wheels onto 1x8s to minimize soil compaction from the weight of the automobile
• If you select a site that drains into a street, block off the storm drain with sandbags and either divert the wash water to an area where the water can pool and evaporate throughout the day
• Shake car mats into a trash can or vacuum them - do not shake dirt from car mats directly onto the ground
• Use a bucket of soapy water to re-soap rags or sponges throughout the wash rather than adding more soap directly to rags or sponges
• Wring sponges and wash rags into buckets, not the ground
• Conserve water by using a spray nozzle with an automatic shut off and shutting off or kinking the hose when not in use
• Always empty buckets into the sanitary sewer system (e.g. sinks or toilets)

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