Clean and green: car cleaning the natural way

We all like to see our cars gleam like new. But if you’re using sprays and plastics that harm the environment that can really take the shine off.

Here are some cleaning products that you can use with a clear conscience, and that in some cases can save you money too.

How do you clean your car without polluting the planet? Aussie company Solvables

has the answer. It offers three car cleaning products: an interior cleaner, a glass cleaner and a wheel cleaner.

They all use a tablet system. Fill your reusable spray bottle with warm water, add a tablet and when it’s dissolved, start cleaning. The tablets are non-toxic, pH neutral, and made with biodegradable detergents. They contain plant and mineral-based ingredients, are fragrance-free and don’t contain ammonia, chlorine, parabens or phosphates. So if they end up in waterways or your grey water or septic tank, no worries.

What’s more, the reusable bottle is made from 100% recycled plastic and the packaging is either recyclable or compostable, which all adds up to a very green clean.

Washing your car can use a lot of water. Whether you’re filling up buckets, spraying with a hose, or sitting in the driver’s seat, watching those big brushes do their work, you can guarantee there’s going to be plenty of H2O involved: often more than 100 litres, even at home. Sometimes you really need water – if your car’s particularly dirty, there’s no avoiding it. But for a light clean, you can go for a waterless option, which not only reduces your water use, but keeps all that soapy stuff out of the stormwater system, too.

Waterless wash products allow you to wash your car water free. Simply spray onto one section of the car, leave for 10–20 seconds, wipe with a microfibre towel, then buff so the formula’s carnauba wax can add protection and shine. You can find these products at your local supermarket or auto store.

Do you have leather seats? Look after them – and yourself – with natural products that use lanolin and plant-derived ingredients. Make sure your products contain no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the harmful gases given off by some cleaning products have been linked with poor air quality and health issues. Nice-smelling leather and clean air? What’s not to like?

You can get eco-friendly cleaning products for just about all parts of your car these days. E-Valence

produces a 100% water-based, 100% biodegradable, and 99–100% silicone, solvent and VOC-free product range that includes everything from an engine cleaner to a soft top and vinyl cleaner that will clean and condition your convertible’s soft top or your ute’s tonneau cover.

If you want total control over ingredients – and to save a whole heap of money at the same time – you could always have a go at making your own car cleaning products. The internet is, of course, packed with ideas – such as using baking soda to clean car seats. Do your research, be careful about which sources you trust, and if in doubt, buy a proven, clean, green product instead.

^Disclaimer

^{Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.}