Environment

Home Car Washing - Water Saver or Water Waste?

The sun is closer, and the days are longer. That means spring is coming, along with warmer weather, and car washing season. Home car washing season that is. It's usually about this time of year that vehicle owners start to get excited about washing their cars in their driveway. It's a classic vision for all home/car owners. The hours spent in the gorgeous summer sun perfecting the ultimate car wash, a frosty beverage and perhaps some great music or a baseball game on the radio.

Before we get too wrapped up in this dreamscape, let's go through a few reality checks. Why do people wash their cars in their driveway, besides comfort and pleasure? Some believe it saves water, is more beneficial for the environment, and does a better job.

While there's no doubt that spending an unlimited amount of time hand washing your vehicle is guaranteed to produce the results you want, all of those myths about being safer for the environment need a little straightening out.

Time to Bust Myths

Washing your car in the driveway saves water!

Quite the opposite, engineering studies have shown that washing your car in the driveway can use up to ten times more water than a professional car wash. Take Valet Car Wash... their automatic car wash uses a small amount of water and squeezes it into high pressure. Computers precisely turn that equipment off and on when required. If it's the personal touch you like while washing your car then use of one Valet's self serve bays. Self serve bays use even less water than automatics and offer a variety of options and functions. Unfortunately car washes are often labelled as water hogs because of their high visibility, however professional car washes in fact use very little amounts of water to keep your vehicle looking like new.

Time for myth #2

Does washing your car in your driveway benefit the environment?

Not at all! It also happens to be illegal in many cities in Canada. When you rinse off your car, all of the water and chemical residues get washed into storm drains, which gets deposited directly into our lakes and rivers. If your driveway happens to be next to your lawn, the water can also leek underground and pollute water tables and harm beneficial soil organisms. At Valet Car Wash, all waste water is sent directly to sewage treatment facilities, so that all chemical residues are removed and the water is purified before returning to the environment.

Lastly, myth #3

Does washing your car at home do a better job?

Some people may swear by it, but when was the last time you tried a professional car wash? At Valet, our automated exteriors start at just $11.49, take only three minutes, and are a fantastic way to get your vehicle sparkling clean without harming the environment. If you really enjoy taking on the task yourself, then look no further than our self-serve bays. They save water, don't pollute the environment, and still provide you with the opportunity to give your vehicle cleaning that personal touch.

Do yourself and the environment a favour. Visit Valet Car Wash today. Located in Guelph, Cambridge, Mississauga, St. Catharines and Kitchener. For more information in regards to environmental effects go to watersavers or reasons to wash your car