Would you be surprised if I told you that when you are washing your car at home, you are wasting A LOT of water! I am guilty as charged but by learning the facts from WaterSavers, I am now going to get my car professionally washed, as it is much greener for the environment.
Whether a Saturday morning ritual or charity fundraiser, washing vehicles on driveways, parking lots and streets can do far more harm than good. That’s because the dirty water entering storm drains from pavement, washing does not undergo treatment before it is discharged. The dirty pollutants are then entering our environment.
A study by the City of Federal Way, Wash., found that residential car washing led to numerous pollutants being released each year into their storm sewer system, including 190 gallons of gasoline, diesel and motor oil; 400 pounds of phosphorus and nitrogen; and 60 pounds of ammonia.
WaterSavers®, a consumer awareness campaign from the International Carwash Association® (ICA), wants to give you more information on the environmental benefits of washing your car at a professional carwash.
You may be surprised to learn that professional car washes are typically a much greener option for washing vehicles than washing your car in the driveway at home. Washing at home with a garden hose can use more than 60 gallons in as little as five minutes, but most professional car washes treat and recycle water, virtually eliminating waste. The average homeowner uses 116 gallons of water to wash a car, according to the Mid-America Regional Council, and most commercial car washes use 60 percent less water for the entire process than a homeowner uses just to rinse the car.
WaterSavers professional car washes use only 40 gallons or less of fresh water per car wash – that’s less than the typical home washing machine uses per load. The process cleans and re-uses the water for future car washes, or it undergoes treatment prior to returning it clean to the environment. For more information and to find a certified location near you, visit WashWithWaterSavers.com.
This summer, instead of grabbing a bucket and hose, take your car to a local professional car wash to help save water, protect aquatic life and preserve the environment. Be sure to follow WaterSavers on Facebook and Twitter to learn more!
I know I surely will be going to the car washes now, rather than washing my car at home! Will you join us in helping the environment?!!
GIVEAWAY: One winner will receive special WaterSavers prize package including Branded USB Car Charger, Pop-Up Trunk Organizer,Car Vent Clip, $15 VISA Gift Card. This giveaway is run via rafflecopter so click read more to see the actual giveaway. The only mandatory entry is to tell me if you use professional car washes in the comment section proceeding the post. While the other entries are optional, I highly suggest filling them out to increase your chances of winning. Us only. Good luck!
* I am working with the International Carwash Association to share these tips. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.
We rarely wash our older model car. I generally let the rain take care of it instead
My husband and I get our cash washed professionally twice a year, before Winter season and after Winter season.
My son goes swimming at the swim club instead of getting wet with the sprinklers.
We take our cars to the car wash occasionally.
I use car washes for my car
We don’t use professional car wash, we wash our cars ourselves but it would be nice to go to a professional one too once in awhile.
We never get our car professionally washed. We generally wash our car with an automatic car wash.
No, I use the rain.
No, we wash at home.
Occasionally. I used it recently after getting covered in mud trying to get out at a local festival. Otherwise, i have usually washed it at home
I use professional car wash.
I usually wash my car at the drive in, do it yourself, places. In between I try to prolong washes by keeping my car covered.
Every once in awhile. We like to wash the car ourselves when it’s nice out
We hand wash our car once a month and go to car washes other times.
We occasionally use a professional car wash.
I do not use a professional car wash!
I usually go to a drive through car wash
I usually wash the car myself
I run our cars through the touchless carwash with the rainbow soap. The kids get a kick out of it.
I have in the past but I don’t do it regularly.
No, I wash my car or my son does.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Very rarely! My car is a mess!
I don’t because I try to keep my car as clean as possible!
We always washed our cars at home when I was a kid. Now my husband says we can’t due to the hard water spots left by the hose water. He thinks it’s much worse than rain and ruins a car’s finish. So automatic car wash it is! Mister Car Wash is our favorite.
Yes, we occasionally take our car to a professional car wash.
Yes, that’s the only way we wash our car
We don’t.
Yes we sometimes take our car to a professional car wash.
Very seldom – most of the time we wash ours ourselves
annabella @ centurytel dot net
Sometimes, depending how bad the damage is!
I rarely use professional car wash services.
Most of the time I wash it at home.
I use professional car wishes in the winter, but I hand wash in the summer.
Yes! My father owns a few self-service carwashes, so I’m actually familiar with “Carwash News” and the whole industry!! Always use a carwash; never do it yourself. They recycle their water.
i sometimes use a professional car wash but some times i just do it at home.
Only about once a year.
Yes, all the time!
sometimes we wash at home and sometimes at the car wash!
I try to use professional ones when possible.
Yes, I do.
We use them a few times a year
I use them occasionally! I’m pretty bad at finding time to wash my car at all!
Lots of time we let God wash our car (rain) but we do use a professional car wash as well. I never knew that professional car washes use so much less water.
I will run my through the car wash every other month or so.
honestly I do not wash my car that often, just a couple of times a year. Out of those times, I washed my car in my driveway once (oops) and another time I went to a car wash drive thru at a gas station.
Sometimes I use car washes
we have in the past but rarely do. the hubby likes to wash the cars himself with our daughter.
Yes, from time to time.
I use a professional car wash for my suv. It is hard to get to the roof of the suv.
Sometimes. It really just depends on how hot it is!
not too often
vmkids3 at msn dot com
Nope, we wash em ourselves.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
yes i do
kport207 at gmail dot com
Most of the time my husband does the car washing. thanks
Most of the time we wash our vehicles ourselves but when they get really dirty we do have them professionally washed.
I usually wash my car myself
i do but most of the time I wash my car at home
Most of the time I do.
yes on occasion
I do sometimes. It just depends.
I have in the past.
sometimes
My husband will usually wash the cars at home.
I use professional car washes most of the time, though I occasionally wash it myself to save money as well.
I usually wash my car at home. Entered the rafflecopter as “Wild orchid”
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
I rarely use professional car washes.
i do not
Very rarely. I always get them free when my car has services done, but never go to use them.
Rarely use them and my car looks like it is rarely washed.
No, I wash my car at home.
I wash my car myself.
Rarely, we just let the rain wash the car off, lol.
My husband usually washes our car. Thanks for the chance.
to the car wash
Take it to the car wash.
Thanks for the contest.
Sometimes, but not often
Sometimes..not very often
once in a while
we very rarely use car washes. probably less than once a year
We have washed cars both at car washes and at home.
not usually i just do it myself.
Nope, I just wash it myself or run it through a quick wash at the gas station
We do go to professional car washes because we are generally on water restrictions here in West Texas due to drought.
We hardly ever wash our car. Lately all it has is rain, so we do not need to wash our car. I go once a year to get it professional cleaned.
I do use a professional car wash. In fact, I don’t remember the last time I washed my own car.
I usually wash my car myself!
We go to professional car washes on occasion
I always take advantage of professional car washes. Cleaning my own car just seems like such a daunting and dirty job. Plus I am left with a load of rags ti wash.
I don’t.
I give my son chore money for washing our car!
Maybe once a year, when I actually wash my car…
Yes I do!
Every now and then but not often
not that often they are way tooooo expensive these days – scary
No!!!!!! hand wash
We do, but only a few times a year.
Yup!! I love letting someone else wash my car!!!
I usually don’t . My kids LOVVE to wash our car. It is still fun for them. Now if it is crazy I might drive it through..but that is rare.
I usually wash my car in my driveway with my kids!
i do not
yes
Sometimes, most of the time I just go through the drive through car wash
No, we usually pay $2 to spray off the car.
I have only had my car detailed once. It was awesome, but a bit more expensive than I can normally afford.
Yes I use car washes
I wash at home every now and then.
I wash the car mainly at home with the elbow grease.
We wash at home
We always use professional car washes to clean our cars.
never! leaves too many scratchs
i used to but since ive moved i havent found a close one. I used to use Quick Quack
I use them more in the winter than summer…nothing like washing your car with a hose to keep you young.
It really just depends sometimes we do
sometimes I do.. sometimes I do it myself
We occasionally use professional car washes.
We use pro car washes every once in a while.
No I haven’t used one in years
Pro car washes are our only option since we are under drought watering restrictions, but they can get costly, so it doesn’t happen too often. I’m thinking about it this week though.
We use a professional car wash! Always helps when your husband runs one
No, we wash our cars at home.
We do use them!
Sometimes, but we usually wash them at home to save money!
Yes, I do.
Yes- Local chain Delta Sonic!
We have done it at home and at the car wash
we do sometimes
I don’t usually!
We do, but luckily, my husband is rather negligent about it so maybe once or twice a year, lol.
Yes right now, only because we live in an appt. But when I used to have a house I always washed my own car.
I almost exclusively use professional car washes. We have a really good place here that does a very thorough job!
on occasion we do. my husband used to work at a car dealership, so we got them for free there!
Yes at least every few months.
No, very rarely. We have used the self-service ones before.
WE go to car washes
Yes, in winter when it is too cold outside but I need to wash the salt off my car
xo
yes, we use them. not very often but we do use them.
Yes, we alternate between professional car washes & doing it ourselves – depends how busy we are & how badly the car needs to be washed.
I sure do since I have friends that own some locally! Thanks
For the chance to win
Occasionally we do.
Not often!
hand wash at home
We don’t get our car professionally washed, we just wash it at home.
Yes I go to a drive through car wash
Not really only once an awhile
We do both professional as well as doing it ourselves. It just depends on time available and where we are going.
no only cause when i bought my car back in 2001 it was brand new and it came out all scratched up from the car wash, i vowed never to go back lol.
We use car washes not often.
I’m so bad about washing my car. If it gets really dirty and I’m going to be driving around a big group of people I may take it to a professional car wash.
no, we wash the car ourselves
Used to but not anymore.
I try not to. I use the reclaimed water at the house.
i do occasionally
I only use professional car washes.
I prefer to wash our vehicles, but we usually just go to the car wash!
Do you use professional car washes?
i have in the past
I do all my own car washes or sometimes when I get my oil changed at the dealership they wash my car for me.
I do you a professional wash!
I’ve had my current car for 4 years now and I think I’ve had it professionally detailed twice.
Very rarely….like when my Mothers going to be in the car!
No, I wash my car.
No, I wash my car myself with the hose, a bucket and a sponge.
yes i do use car washes.
I occasionally use a professional car wash
I wash my car myself.
Yes I use professional car washes.
Yes we do – they’re cheap in TX
yes sometimes I do
Yes occasionally.
I do not wash my truck very often, but if I do then I use a professional car wash
Not very often. It seems so much $$ to just wash a car and it generally only turns out kind of well.
No, I don’t use a professional car wash.
no i dont
I rarely use professional car washes
I use them sometimes!
I go there once in a while
I do sometimes!
I do after the winter since all the salt is so stuck on my car but i try not to so much!
Sometimes I use professional car washes other times I do some that kids throw at churches or local schools.
We always wash our own cars and we have thought about how much water is wasted by doing so
no i do not use carwash
I’ve never been to a professional car cleaner but it would be good to do like twice a year in the spring & fall
Thanks.
we generally wash at home
I usually take mine to the local gas station and wash it myself!
I do occasionally.
No, I don’t use professional car washes.
Sometimes, since it only cost $6!
I go every couple months when my car is really looking dirty!
Not often.
No do not use professional car washes.
yes. not as clean but less time spent.
I rarely wash my car, but when i decide to I use the automatic washes.
My husband takes care of my car and does a mix of professional and his own special touch.
I usually go to a car wash.
I use professional car washes on rare occasions.
no, i usually clean my car in the driveway or once in awhile i go to one of those drive-in do-it-yourself car wash places.
No, we do not use professional car washers.
yes, i do once in a while
Yes, I do when I need to wash my car.
no, i like to wash it myself
I use car washes for my car.
Yes, I do. I dislike washing my car due to the heat.
Very rarely
Sometimes, depends on our mood.
Very rarely
If you count a gas station car wash as a professional car wash, yes I do use them.
very rarely do I use a professional car wash
I do use car washes sometimes.
No, we wash at home.
In the winter when my hose is turned off and drained, I use a wash-it-yourself car wash. Otherwise, I wash my car in my driveway.
I never get my car professionally washed. It costs too much over what it costs me to do it.
No. I usually just wash my car at home.
facebook.com/danabeeman/
@hazelfinn / danabeeman(at)gmail(dot)com
nope can’t afford it
Yes, it’s much easier.
I don’t wash my car much, and I do it myself.
Yes I do sometimes.
I do, about 1 a month
I haven’t washed my car in years! it’s a clunker…
I do, maybe twice a year.
We do use professional car washers
Sometimes we do but my hubby mostly does it himself.
My husband and my son wash our car.
We usually wash our cars at home.
Sometimes but the last time the back of my mirror came off and i had to run back in to get it
Yes, whenever our vehicles are washed we do.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
We usually wash our car at home.
I usually go to a car wash
Wife does it.
I use a commercial car wash rarely, maybe once a year.
yes, it’s owned and operated by a local family
I use a professional car wash operated by a family friend and his family. <3
I enjoy keeping my car clean and do use the professional car washes. I find them efficient and I like to pay into the local economy. The place I go is the same one I remember going through as a little kid with my brother-in-law who was always so proud of his cool little sports car.
I will usually hose my Jeep down every week or so to keep the dirt off. I truly believe it runs better when it is clean. I also do not like a bunch of junk in it and keep it pretty tidy inside too. Though older, my car is the most expensive item I have ever purchased, so I take care of it.
Nope!!
I usually wash my car at home, thanks!
Once in a while…but usually I wash at home!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
I do use professional car washes when I do wash my vehicle.
I use professional car washes. I live in an apartment so I can’t wash my car at home.
I wash my car at home
In the winter, yes.
if professional means my local gas station drive-through!
rafflecopter: daniel
Sometimes we wash it at home, but mostly we are too lazy – so we take it to a professional carwash!
Not usually
I do….I prefer to do that rather than pollute our drains.
No usually don’t use professional car washes
I use professional car washes. I don’t usually have the time to wash the car myself.
Yes I use a professional car washer.
I use professional car wash.
I usually get it done through a car wash, yes.
sibabe64 at ptd dot net
No, we live in the country and by the time I get home the car is dirty again.
I have never used a professional car wash.We wash our own vans (plus the kids love helping).
I don’t generally bother to get it washed unless I’ve had to drive through a real mess.
No I don’t!!
No, I wash my own car.
I do, but very rarely.
No, that’s what teenager sons are for lol
I do use professional car washes!
Sometimes we do but it doesn’t happen that often.
Once or twice a year we get the car professionally washed otherwise we just let the rain do it.
No, I do not use professional car washes.
Yes I use car washes when I can. They save water, time and my energy, especially in the summer heat!
I have, but not in a while!
I don’t trust the fully automated machines not to rip my top off
Sometimes I do!
I do more now since I can’t wash it myself anymore.Thank you
Sometimes
I occasionally get my car washed professionally!