By Sally
Spring is the time to get out your truck, jeep, car, or ATV and take it off road for some fun. But the more fun you have, the dirtier your ride gets, and you don’t want to harm the environment by washing it with a bunch of chemicals. The good news is you can get all that mud and dirt off in an eco-friendly way. Here’s how.
Take it to the Car Wash
A lot of people think this is the worst thing you can do for the environment, but they’re wrong. Car washes have been leading the way in water recycling and conservation for years. Initially, it was to control their costs for water, but now they’re jumping on the environmental bandwagon by using less water and more pressure to get your vehicle clean. Look for a car wash that uses phosphate-free cleaners that are biodegradable.
Wash it Yourself
If you won’t want to or can’t take your vehicle to a car wash, you can always wash it yourself. Just keep these suggestions in mind to minimize the impact on the environment.
Use a spray gun that restricts the water flow, and keep the amount of water you use to a minimum.
Choose a safe cleaner that doesn’t contain any phosphates. It should be water-based and biodegradable. No matter what cleaner you use, wash with as little as you can to get your vehicle clean.
Use a waterless cleaner. If you don’t have a ton of dirt or mud on your car or truck, a waterless cleaner may do the trick. You have to use some water to dilute the concentrated solution, but then you just spray it on and wipe it off. Check the label to make sure it doesn’t contain phosphates.
Wash on the grass. When you wash your car or truck in the driveway, the water and cleaners run off into the storm drains. If you wash on the grass, the water gets absorbed into the earth. Much better for the environment.
If you have a bucket of water left after you’ve gotten all that mud and grime off, take it inside and dump it down the sink or toilet. This gets the water into your household wastewater system where it will eventually be treated. Dumping it outside means it ends up in the storm drain.
Don’t Wash at All
If you don’t mind driving around with mud or dirt on your ride for a day or two, you can wait for Mother Nature to clean your car for you.
Leave it outside when rain is predicted, and all that dirt will be washed away. It may not leave your car with that new car shine, but it will get most of the grime off with no negative impact on the environment. It’s also free, and your car, truck, jeep or ATV will be ready for your next off-roading adventure.
