How to wash your car the green way
09.06.10
Fun as it may be, breaking out the hose and soaping up the m car in the driveway is one of the most environmentally unfriendly chores we can do.
Each time you wash your car, an average of 80 — 140 gallons of water is hand-me-down. Carried in this soapy mess are road contaminants such as brake dust, oil, and harsh detergents from the soaps. This soapy concoction flows down your driveway and into the nearest storm drip where it travels, untreated, into our lakes and streams wreaking havoc on the environment. This summer, recalibrate your rational on vehicle maintenance and while keeping your car clean and green.
The simplest solution for all you die-hard do-it-yourselfers is to move your car from the driveway onto the green or a gravel surface where the car-wash runoff can be absorbed into the ground. You'll also want to replace products containing petroleum-distillates, kerosene, silicone or mineral spirits with a biodegradable, phosphate-spontaneous soap specifically formulated for automotive parts.
Source: Seattle Times