You should clean your family car every one to three weeks to keep it in top condition, according to CNN. But if you wash your car this often with standard car cleaning products, you’ll pollute the environment and potentially damage your health. Thankfully, these eco-friendly cleaning tips will ensure your car sparkles all year round with very little negative impact on the world.

Use a commercial car cleaning company

There are more than 100,000 commercial car wash companies across America, but many vehicle owners still opt to do the job themselves on their driveway. This isn’t beneficial though, as you’ll use up to 262% more water than a commercial car wash service would, and the dirty wastewater will wind up straight in the sewer. In contrast, commercial car washes are bound by U.S. law, and have to drain their wastewater for treatment purposes, making it safe to be reused.

Eco-friendly car washing at home

If you don’t fancy paying the average $15 for a full car wash and would prefer to save your cash to spend on your kids, then there are environmentally-friendly ways to clean your car at home. The first rule is that you should use biodegradable soap every time. These can be purchased ready-made, or you could make your own using environmentally-friendly dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent and water. You should use eco-friendly products on your car’s interior, too, especially as this is a confined space that you and your family will sit in for significant periods at a time. Both Castile Soap and All-Purpose Cleaner will work well in this area, and best of all, they’re free from synthetic ingredients.

Make the most of the rain

The average annual rainfall in the U.S. is just short of 30 mm, so there are plenty of opportunities to utilize this water to clean your car. When it rains, you and the kids should get outside and gently wipe off any dirt and debris from your car with a cloth or soft brush. Not only does this spruce up your set of wheels, but it also means you’re not using unnecessary water. You do, however, need to be careful with this method, as it can affect the quality of your car’s paintwork. If you do notice that the paintwork on your car has lost its shine, you can repair it by turning to an online vehicle maintenance resource and following a tutorial designed for the make and model of your vehicle. 

Invest in reusable cloths

You’ll need a fair few cloths to clean your car to a good standard. These include sponges, microfiber cloths, and chamois leather cloth. These are typically available as single-use items and as reusable ones, and you should make sure you choose the reusable ones every time to avoid clogging up landfills. Microfiber cloths are particularly a good investment, as if you care for them correctly and wash them in an environmentally-friendly laundry detergent, they’ll last up to 500 washes.

Your family car is likely to be one of your most used and loved possessions, and cleaning it regularly is an absolute must. But there’s no need to worry about your car cleaning regimen damaging the environment or your family’s health when you follow these tips.

Contribution by freelance writer Sally Preston