By Kacey Bradley:
The amount of mud, muck, snow, dirt and other debris our cars’ exteriors deal with on a day-to-day basis is massive. If you spend a lot of time in your vehicle, the condition of its interior can start to go downhill quickly, too. That’s why it’s important for us to take care of our rides.
Unfortunately, you might find yourself stuck between either ignoring the state of your car or using toxic, synthetic chemicals to keep it clean. With the environmentally friendly movement picking up so much momentum, car owners deserve options for reliable cleaning products that won’t harm the planet. You should also consider the method you use to wash your car — you could save gallons of water with every wash if you make a few small changes.
If you’ve been searching for ways to keep your car clean without hurting the environment, consider these four tips:
- Spot Clean When You Can
If you just washed your car a few days ago but recently noticed a small bird poop stain or dirt spot on its exterior, don’t feel as if the entire car needs to be washed again. Instead, get a small spray bottle, fill it with water and your homemade car-washing soap, and simply spot clean that area.
Some businesses following this general concept of offering waterless car washes are starting to pop up. Why use gallons of water just to clean one small section of your vehicle’s exterior?
- Go to a Commercial Car Washing Facility
Although washing your car at home may be better for your wallet, taking your vehicle to a commercial car wash is better for the environment: car washes typically collect water runoff, treat it and reuse it. In fact, the average home car wash can use as much as 100 gallons of water, while car wash facilities will use no more than 50 gallons per wash.
- Use a Natural Deodorizer
When you get to cleaning the car’s interior, you could find yourself wondering how to safely clean your leather seats in a way that’s environmentally friendly. As it turns out, baking soda works great to absorb odor. Sprinkle some on your upholstery and floors, let it set for a half hour to two hours, then vacuum it up with the rest of the dirt.
If you want to get creative, mix the baking soda with dried flowers of your choice to leave a pleasant, natural scent behind.
- Make Your Own Car Wax
Once your vehicle has a freshly washed exterior and a squeaky-clean interior, you’ll want to finish the job by giving your baby a little extra shine. Unfortunately, most car waxes are full of chemicals you don’t want to use if you’re looking out for the environment. Luckily, there are tons of recipes for DIY car waxes that are easy to make. This two-step car wax recipe requires only linseed oil, carnauba wax, beeswax and apple cider vinegar.
With the current state of our environment, trying to change aspects of your life in order to help it can be overwhelming. But by making these four changes the next time you wash your car, you’ll be contributing to an eco-friendly movement that could change everything.
Kacey is a lifestyle blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts.
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