Car Washes More Eco-Friendly Than You Are

I’ve got to come clean: I use an automatic car wash. I’m WAY too OCD to start cleaning my whip at home. Thanks to a press release from the Splash Car Wash chain, I’ve got a cover story: environmentalism. The company whose name is begging for a spear wants us to know that it’s qualified for the International Carwash Association’s WaterSavers™ program. And you haven’t. Which makes you—and you know who you are—bad, bad people. “The Facts: Using a commercial car wash helps you go green because compared to driveway or parking lot car washing, effluent is routed to treatment facilities as opposed to the curb and storm drains. Once in storm drain systems, toxic wastewater can enter local lakes, streams, rivers and oceans where it becomes a threat to aquatic life. The contaminants found in car wash wastewater are twofold. Firstly, there are the residual chemicals and matter — more severe than run-of-the-mill dirt and dust — that are freed from a car’s exterior when washed. These substances can include oils, greases, rust, trace amounts of benzene and residues from brake pads and exhaust fumes. Secondly, the wastewater can include chemical residues originating from the cleaning agents (soaps, degreasers, sprays, wipes, etc.) used in the car washing process.” And then there’s the water . . .

The Facts: Professional car washing also uses less water with advanced, computerized technology to control water output reducing the water amount used by up to 60 percent compared to a home wash with a garden hose. Splash Car Wash uses special pumps and nozzles that combine half water and half air to create pressure that effectively cleans without requiring large amounts of water. At home washing requires between 80 and 140 gallons per car. Splash Car Wash uses less than 45 gallons per car.

So that’s it guys. Put down that hose and step AWAY from the Griot’s Garage brochure. Think of the fishies!