Washing your car the ocean-friendly way while on lockdown

You may not be driving your car much at the moment, but perhaps it could use a wash. And if you have kids, perhaps you need an activity to get them out of your face...we mean, give them a chance to get some fresh air outdoors while still on your property. Car-washing is one of the activities that can contribute to pollutants reaching the ocean via storm drains. Not just the soap you use, but all the stuff like oil and grease and toxic heavy metal particles gets washed off and can then end up in the nearest waterway. However, there are a few things you can do to make your car-washing efforts more ocean-friendly. So our next post in our “quarantine-friendly” #MauiEarthMonth2020 series is focused on a few tips for ocean-friendly car washing.
 
The best thing to do is take your car to a commercial car wash, since they use less water and the water is recycled and treated, meaning it doesn’t get into the nearby storm drain. While we’re all under stay at home orders at the moment though, you’re left with washing it at home.
 
Tip #1. Wash it on your lawn. Biological action will help deal with the pollutants rather than sending them directly into a storm drain via the wash water. But once you're done, dump your bucket of excess wash water down the sink or into a toilet anyway.

Tip #2. Use a nozzle. This will conserve water, which is always a good thing.
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Tip #3. Use a nontoxic biodegradable cleanser. We have used Shaklee’s Basic H and it has worked well. It's super concentrated so one bottle will go a long way. However, you won’t see a lot of suds which is FINE. Let Tova tell you why in this video from our first-ever ocean-friendly charity car wash, starting at 2:25. 

 
BONUS! Maui residents: post on social media using #MauiEarthMonth2020 and email us a screenshot of your social media post of your kids or yourself washing your car the ocean-friendly way and we’ll send you a gift card to one of Maui’s essential businesses (while supplies last), and will share your photo on our website and social media. Please include the address where we should send the gift card.

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