Have you tried the frustration of washing your car and wiping it with the special cloth that absorbs all the moisture until your car sparkles and when you finish, rain falls and flushes all your efforts down the drain? I have, and it is one experience you would not cherish.
I used to be a freak when it comes to maintaining a clean car, washing my silver Toyota Camry almost every morning and automatically reaching for a wiping cloth whenever I see a smudge or dust. I vacuum the floors and car seats and keep everything spic and span and nice smelling but after that frustrating experience, I gave up and decided to cut any close ties with any car.
I still keep my car minimally clean though, so as not to compete with the “dirtiest car on island” title but minus the dedication and commitment I had before. Besides, living in an area surrounded by the ocean makes washing your car necessary to protect it from corrosion.
Michael Bloch, author of Green Living Tips.com, shares these few tips on how to wash your cars without impacting the environment as well as the island’s water resources.
• Wash your car on the grass. This way, you will be giving the grass a drink and prevent the water from entering drains and winding up in local waterways.
• Use a water hose with an adjustable nozzle to help reduce the water consumption but improve the water pressure.
• Use earth-friendly detergents to wash your car and follow the dosage recommended by the manufacturer.
• Find a shady place to wash your car. Water evaporates quickly when it hits hot metal so you will require more water. You can also wash your car early in the morning, or late in the afternoon when the sun is not too hot.
• Wash your car less. You can also use the services of car wash companies because they usually use less water than what you would use at home.
• Waterless car wash is another option. There are some companies that offer waterless car wash using environment-friendly products.
