It often does not seem so obvious, but maintaining a car as we are used to doing is not very environmentally friendly. Indeed, water wastage during washing, use of petrochemical cleaning products, lack of recycling of worn parts are all proof that this operation is not so eco-responsible. Fortunately, today there are various solutions to reduce the environmental impact when it comes to maintaining your car. We tell you more in this article.
Save water when washing
On average, washing your car’s bodywork at home consumes between 400 liters and 500 liters of water. In comparison, a roller wash at a specialist car wash typically only requires a maximum of 300 liters of water to consume. It is also possible to choose a high-pressure jet cleaning from a professional. This registers a maximum consumption varying on average between 70 liters and 100 liters. Obviously, we realize the great water savings achieved by entrusting the cleaning of your vehicle to a specialized station.
Moreover, if you necessarily want to carry out washing at home, you must avoid the use of tap water as much as possible. It is wise to install, for example, an underground or above-ground tank to collect rainwater to be used instead. By reducing the consumption of drinking water, the development of infrastructures for the production of this water (catchment, purification, distribution, etc.) is reduced accordingly.
Various chemical treatments of water intended for human consumption that are harmful to the environment are avoided. Finally, on a larger scale, accessible volumes of fresh water are preserved. You can now choose waterless cleaning which also offers very interesting results for the maintenance of your car.
Environmentally friendly cleaning products
More and more manufacturers of car care products offer their customers biodegradable solutions to wash their vehicles easily and correctly. For example, the Genius Car brand offers you a complete range of professional products for exterior car cleaning:
- tar remover,
- shiny tire,
- concentrated windshield washer fluid,
- wheel cleaner,
- car shampoo,
- bodywork shampoo.
For effective cleaning of the interior of the car, interior plastic cleaner, fabric and carpet cleaner and tar remover are available to you at very attractive prices. Designed using green chemistry, these cleansers contain 97% formulas based on plant-based organic raw materials and other ingredients of natural origin. They are therefore less hazardous to handle for human health.
In addition, their use reduces the need for water to a very strict minimum. You just need to bring microfiber cloths, brushes while following the instructions for use to properly clean each part of the vehicle. However, the cleaning results obtained are at least equal to those obtained with conventional cleaning products. It is explained by the excellent alkaline composition products that allow them to easily overcome all kinds of impurities.
Whether done by yourself or by a professional, washing without water is also to be encouraged to reduce pollution linked to wastewater. It should be noted that wastewater from conventional washing also contains particles of oil and tar, polluting chemical substances such as phosphate, ammonia, terpenes or synthetic surfactants. If the water is not treated before being discharged into nature, its infiltration into the ground can contaminate groundwater.
This is also one of the reasons why station washing is recommended, because there are generally settling tanks for waste water. Ideally, if you insist on washing in the garden, you will need to install a specialized device (compact filter, small wastewater treatment plant, plant filter) in your home to treat polluted water. However, you should know that it will cost you a lot, since the devices in question are usually very expensive. But the problem is not completely solved.
Indeed, wastewater treatment facilities in stations or at home do not eliminate all toxic substances, because certain chemical molecules require additional special treatment before disappearing. Waterless biodegradable car cleaners are therefore an important and effective choice to make to preserve nature.
Always in a logic of eco-responsibility, consumers are invited to prefer locally manufactured products which therefore imply a smaller carbon footprint. In addition, these solutions should ideally have low-polluting and recyclable packaging (cardboard, for example). Finally, white vinegar, black soap, vegetable oil or baking soda are natural homemade solutions to clean your car in an eco-responsible way.
Mechanical interventions can also be eco-responsible
Experts recommend regularly checking the inflation of car tires. Indeed, under-inflated tires lead to overconsumption of fuel (+2.8% on average). Additional fuel consumption implies additional fuel production at a time when oil reserves are already stretched. On the other hand, the overconsumption of fuel necessarily leads to an increase in the release of CO2 into the atmosphere.
To reduce fuel consumption, it is also important to prevent premature wear of vehicle parts, especially those in the engine compartment. It is therefore necessary regularly TO DO have the car serviced by a qualified mechanic. To this end, it is important to choose, if possible, a garage certified with the LABEL ECO ENTRETIEN®. This certification, which recently came into force, testifies to the automotive professional’s commitment to using targeted and appropriate solutions to reduce your car’s polluting emissions.
In addition, if you request it, the professionals can use spare parts that have been salvaged from scrap cars to perform work on your vehicle. Of course, the reliability and functionality of these accessories are confirmed before any action. At the same time, you save a lot of money, because used parts are cheaper than new parts.
In the same way, the recovered elements which are no longer usable in mechanics (used motor oils, empty batteries, torn tires, etc.) are redirected to specialized recycling channels. They gain a new life and can be used for other tasks.
Whether it’s mechanical maintenance or cleaning a car, there’s no shortage of ecological solutions for carrying them out. In particular, waterless biodegradable cleaners can now significantly reduce the environmental impact of car maintenance.
Conclusion
There are a number of ways that the car can be made environmentally friendly, including using water efficiently when washing, using environmentally friendly cleaning products, and using mechanical interventions to reduce the amount of gas used. While these solutions will not entirely eliminate the impact on the environment, they can help to make a significant contribution.