CommentsThe state of California is working to reduce urban per capita water use by 20 percent by the end of 2020. One major concern to reaching this goal is the car washing industry.
Since January 2014, a car wash regulation mandated that commercial car washes must re-use at least 60 percent of their rinsed water to help the state reach their water usage goals.
These water restrictions have opened up new opportunities for car washes and created a car washing subculture focused on eco-friendly services and mobility. To negate the view that saving the environment takes time and energy, car washes are becoming mobile and on-demand. You can now turn on your phone and order a car wash, even when you’re not at home.
Here’s how mobile car washing companies are combining ease and a green thumb to help Los Angeles meet its water reduction quota.
Using Less Water
It is estimated that a 10-minute car wash with a standard garden hose uses more than 100 gallons of water, which is why the Los Angeles Department of Water prohibits washing cars with hoses that do not have automatic shutoff nozzles. Although washing your car in commercial car washes reduces the use of water, many car washes still use roughly 30 gallons of water per customer.
WashOS, a company founded in 2015, has drastically reduced their water usage from 30 gallons to just 1 gallon of water. Offering mobile car-washing, this company will come to your door with eco-friendly solutions and microfiber cloths that help it cut down on water usage by over 95 percent.
Waterless Cleaners
Believe it or not, there are waterless car wash cleaners that are eco-friendly - they effectively minimize the amount of water needed to rinse a car. You simply spray it on and then wipe it clean.
There are even some that are biodegradable and perfectly healthy for the environment. Keep it Klean is a company in Los Angeles that will make house calls to clean your car. They offer a waterless, eco-friendly car wash that uses a citrus-based cleaner. This cleaner is not harmful to the environment and reduces water’s environmentally footprint.
Other Mobile Car Washes in Los Angeles
Other car washes that follow some of the same eco-friendly procedures include Squeegy and Earth Car Wash. Now saving the environment and doing your part to helping California reach its water reduction goals is as easy as picking up the phone.
(Sally Collins is a freelance writer with many years experience across many different areas. She made the move to freelancing from a stressful corporate job and loves the work-life balance it offers her. When not at work, Sally enjoys reading, hiking, spending time with her family and travelling as much as possible.)
-cw
