Washing cars in your driveway or at most car wash stations (including in supermarkets) means that oily water goes untreated down storm drains and into the sea. This causes mini oil spills, which harm marine wildlife. Instead, either use a car wash that recycles the water, or use one of the new waterless car wash brands, which clean and polish your car in one.
Rubbit is a kit to clean cars without water, designed by two airline pilots, and happily used by over 15,000 customers. They worked with chemists to design a formula that turns into foam, absorbs dirt and can be wiped without risning. Originally made for aeroplanes, it’s now available for cars.
If you wash your car every two weeks, this kit will save over 3000 gallons of water. One kit can wash your car 25 times, and can even remove bird poop, without scratching paint. The neutral PH means it’s safe for all parts of your car.
Just soak the used Microfiber towels (included) in a bucket of water as the detergent will already have washed them (this stops microplastics being leached in the washing machine).
The company also makes eco-friendly windshield window tablets that dissolve to clean your screen (though you may wish to give the included air-fresheners a miss, as they look like they are made with fake scents). Use a charcoal purifying bag (below) instead (especially if travelling with babies or pets).
Use with a plastic-free dog-bone sponge. Bin this at end of life (don’t compost as any oil could leak into the compost bin, and harm garden creatures).
Dude How’s My Car? (London) is an eco-friendly mobile car wash service (almost waterless), that saves up to 300 litres of water per wash, and donates to sustainable water projects worldwide. It also uses electric vans, and plants trees.
Environmental Benefits of Waterless Car Washes
Most car washes use up to 150 litres of water, and produces chemical runoff that pollutes rivers and seas. Waterless car wash products are super-simple to use. Just spray on, wipe off and your car is spotless.
No need for hoses, buckets or getting soaked. If you wash your car at home, it also works out cheaper, as you save on water bills (and having to buy separate products to polish your car).
How to Remove Bird Poop Off Car Paint
We’ve all been there. Park your car under a tree and return to find the gulls and pigeons have used it as a toilet! Note bird poop left on car paint for a long time will burn it, so it’s best to remove it immediately. Bird poop often contains seeds or stones, which is why it can scratch your paintwork.
The best way to immediately remove bird droppings from your paintwork is to mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda in a litre of warm water, then shake to mix and spray from a bottle, leaving to soak for 10 minutes. Then rinse off with a wet cloth or hose.
To prevent more birds pooping on your car (apart from not parking under trees), a survey found that birds hardly ever poop on a green car (perhaps because they recognise the colour?)
Concerns On Car Washer Welfare
Concerning reports have emerged over exploited workers at some supermarket car washes (just like nail bars). The Conversation reports that some people working at ‘hand car wash’ services’ were being paid just £40 for a full day’s work of 8 to 12 hours.
This issue came to light in 2015 when a Romanian working at a hand car wash died from electrocution at his rat-infested flat, while showering due to faulty electrics that were not maintained. A raid on a car wash in Wales recently led to one Sudanese worker fleeing onto the factory roof, where he fell and died.
The EAC says that a car wash costing a few pounds may well be ‘funding modern slavery’. If workers were being paid minimum wage for these prices, they would need to wash one car every 7.5 minutes (without add-on costs of water, electricity etc).
Car wash workers also should be given protective clothing and equipment, due to chemicals to valet car interiors. If you book a hand car wash, look for one using the Safe Car Wash phone app.
How to Valet Your Car, Naturally
- Invest in a car trash bag to store rubbish, until you get home.
- Use a plastic-free cloth and biodegradable unscented cleaner.
- For odours, use a charcoal purifying bag (if you smoke, use a personal ashtray to extinguish the butt, for safe disposal later on).
- Use a windscreen cover over toxic de-icers (parking your car east will defrost the screen early morning). Or rub half an onion on the screen the night before (the oil lines the glass to stop freezing – keep onions away from pets).
- Learn of more simple tips to be a (slightly) greener driver.