We’re recycling more, eating organically and using green alternatives to gas, electricity and transportation. But can changing the way we wash our cars really help save the planet?

Did you know that washing your vehicle in the driveway or parking lot contravenes the Clean Water Act mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency and many local city government ordinances?

Washing your car in the driveway or parking lot creates a small but toxic flow of detergents, surfactants, oils, rust, engine grime, wax, brake dust and degreasers that eventually ends up in our rivers and streams. It does not take much of such potent materials to do damage.

For instance, detergent concentrations of only two parts per million (ppm) strip away a fish’s protective coating, causing it to absorb double the amount of chemicals it would normally. Detergent concentrations as low as 5 ppm will kill fish eggs. Significant fish kills occur when detergent concentrations approach 15 ppm. 

Wasting Water
Washing cars the old-fashioned way by hand at home is also a highly inefficient waste of water.  The average homeowner uses between 80 and 140 gallons of water* during a single driveway car wash. Assuming you wash your car at home once month using 110 gallons of water, that comes to about 1,320 gallons per person per year of untreated water entering our waterways.

Automatic car washes aren’t much better when it comes to water waste. While some do have reclamation systems that let them re-use water, the average automatic wash consumes between 50 and 85 gallons or water per wash. To achieve that ‘spot-free’ finish, a car wash can use between 2 and 7 gallons of fresh water to produce just one gallon of ‘spot-free’ water.

Conserve Water with Zero H2O^® & Protect the Environment
Using one 24-ounce bottle of our Zero H2O^® DriWash can save up to 800 gallons of water. A gallon of Zero H2O^® can reduce your water consumption by more than 4,000 gallons!

It’s well established that petroleum-distillates are harmful to both our own health and that of aquatic organisms, and many of today’s auto-cleaning products use a petroleum, kerosene or silicone base. Fortunately for you and the environment, Zero H2O^® doesn’t rely on petro-chemicals for its cleaning agents. Our product is truly a green car wash.

*International Car Wash Association