Dirty car wash water?

[noobhax0r]

Hey everybody,

How do you dispose of your dirty car wash water containing grease and oils? Toilet? Street drains? Home toilet/bathtub? Road? Lawn? Trying to be ecofriendly while keeping the car clean.

Thanks!

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Dirty car wash water?

Some communities recommend pouring it out onto the lawn so that it is filtered as it works it way down to the water table while others may be more specific and more strict.

But consider how much of the road film on your car gets rinsed onto the driveway compared to how much goes into the bucket...... unless you're using a waste water reclamation system like a professional mobile detailer uses (usually by law!) you're going to be washing a lot of that stuff into the storm drains anyway.

If you're really concerned about this, flushing it down the toilet may be your best bet. Far more food grease enters waste water management facilities this way than the small amount of sediment you'll have in your car wash bucket once a week.

[Stangfan]

Re: Dirty car wash water?

Quite honestly, I would suggest the lawn. A lot easier than taking it inside to dump in the toilet, and probably the most ecologically sound solution for most folks.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Dirty car wash water?

I usually empty my buckets on the lawn.

[JohanD]

Re: Dirty car wash water?

I usually empty my buckets on the lawn.

I rinse my car and it goes out into the street, but most of the dirt is on my wash mit and rinsed off on the grit guard. This gets dumped onto the lawn.

Now about detailing under the hood. I have not done that yet but I'm not sure where the super degreaser / APC+ will rinse off too.

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Dirty car wash water?

The lawn or laundry room sink. The important thing is that you think before you dump it.

[tcope1]

Re: Dirty car wash water?

Plants in my yard. I don't see any reason to waste good water. As mentioned, I don't think there should be that much grease or dirt in the bucket as it should be hosed off the vehicle.

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Dirty car wash water?

Plants in my yard. I don't see any reason to waste good water. As mentioned, I don't think there should be that much grease or dirt in the bucket as it should be hosed off the vehicle.

Some of use don't use the old school method of washing cars, so its a little different for us.

[Brad777]

Re: Dirty car wash water?

Dump it on the lawn for sure. I'd recommend throwing it out so it gets spread over as big an area as possible. There is a huge benefit in addition to being resourceful with the water...the soap in it. The bugs in your grass hate the soap because it makes them itch. While it won't kill them, it will certainly let you know what insects are infested in your grass and dirt beneath it.

I suspect if you like your car looking it's best, you probably like your grass looking it's best too. We can be so anal.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2256024_rid-lawn-insects-pests.html

[noobhax0r]

Re: Dirty car wash water?

good to see MOLers ecofriendly as well! I pour my waste water onto a tree since there are really no lawns in the city

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Dirty car wash water?

Dump it on the lawn for sure. I'd recommend throwing it out so it gets spread over as big an area as possible. There is a huge benefit in addition to being resourceful with the water...the soap in it. The bugs in your grass hate the soap because it makes them itch. While it won't kill them, it will certainly let you know what insects are infested in your grass and dirt beneath it.

One thing I hate are all of the ants that crawl up my ankles and shins when washing my car. Now I wear thick wool, calf-length socks when I wash. The wool nap traps the ants. When I'm done washing the car, I just peel off the socks and toss them into the washer. I look like a middle aged tourist wearing those geeky socks, but they do the trick

And one more vote for dumping the waste water on the lawn.

[the_invisible]

Re: Dirty car wash water?

Speaking of dumping water onto the lawn...

I think I had literally destroyed an ant colony by simply dumping three 5-gallon buckets of wash water into the spot where I suspected an ant colony existed. Sure enough, after a few buckets of water dumped at the suspected site of the colony, the ants problem resolved. The water crushed the colony and drowned the ants.

[roushstage2]

Re: Dirty car wash water?

I wish I was lucky enough to be able to pull that off! ^^

[Lydia]

Re: Dirty car wash water?

I wish I was lucky enough to be able to pull that off! ^^

The calf high wool socks?




That would be awesome to be able to kill of an ant bed with old wash water...I'll have to try that! I usually just dump the water on the lawn also.

[roushstage2]

Re: Dirty car wash water?

lol, nice to see you Lydia :P

Too many ant colonies up here in the mountains.