Can we wash our cars anymore?
View PDF | Print View
by: rickashman
Total views: 103
Word Count: 499
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. Which means a lot of trips to 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 youre 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: When you wash your car at home, you have total control over what products you use and how much water you need. Some car wash products are particularly damaging to the environment. With a home car wash, however, you can control what you use, and use soaps and cleaners that dont do as much harm to the environment. Plus, you get a bit of exercise, some sunshine, and maybe a water hose fight... pretty fun. However, of all your car wash options, a home car was is the one that tends to use the most water. On average, a person washing his or her car at home uses at least 50 gallons of water. That said, its important to keep in mind that, if youd like to limit the amount of water you use, you can... you have total control.
Self-Service Car Wash: The best thing about a self-sevice (generally coin-operated) car wash is that youll use much less water than youd normally use 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 youre using a self-serve wash with your own products, you can choose what to use. You lose the ease of a full-service car wash and the convenience of washing up at home, however.
Professional Service Car Wash: A full service car wash has a lot of pros. For one, its super easy and convenient, of course. It also uses less water than washing at home, with about 11 gallons of water being used for compact cars, and 20 for trucks and SUVs. On the other hand, some professional car washes can harm the environment in other ways. More than a few of them use products that drain hazardous chemicals into the oceans and ground water. Others, however, are more environmentally friendly... you just have to choose wisely.
About the Author
More coverage of ultimate car wash, preview AddictedToYourCar.com.
Rating: Not yet rated