Tips for Washing Your Own Car

I don’t know what the weather is like where you live, but it’s been very nice here in Las Vegas. Some days it gets windy, really windy and that’s no fun, but for the most part it’s pleasant and sunny. With warmer weather, it’s a great time to get outside and spring clean your vehicle.
After my road trip to SLC in February, the van was filthy. There were bug guts, salt, and dirt all over it. I knew I needed to get the salt off so I got outside and gave it a good washing and I wanted to share with you why I wash my own car and how it do it. 
-Save Money: Car washes range anywhere from $4 to $20 or more depending on the level of detail you want them to put in. Even if you chose the $4 carwash every time and washed your car 2x a month, you could save almost $100 a year by doing it yourself. Just think how much more if you regularly choose anything more expensive.
I spent about $0.25, give or take. I already had a sponge and bucket (they were from the dollar store so not expensive) and I used my trusty Basic H2. You only need about 1/2 tsp (about $0.06) in a bucket and it makes plenty of suds. Wash small sections of the car at a time and rinse, no need to wipe dry. But do use the window cleaner on windshield and windows. That only uses 1-2 DROPS (less than a penny) of Basic H2 concentrate to make. Then I just rounded up to $0.25 to take into account the water used, although you shouldn’t need that much water. I just wanted a round number. lol

-Eco Friendly: Washing your own car can be eco-friendly as long as you control the amount of water you use. From what I understand, many carwashes are water efficient, which is great and you can be too doing it at home. Getting a spray nozzle for your hose, turning the water off while you wash your car, and using an effective cleaner can all help you save water. Another tips is to wash your car over grass, if possible. Do double duty, wash your car and water your lawn.
-Organic Cleaners: I don’t know much about the soap they use at commercial car washes, but I do know that Basic H2 is organic, pH balanced, and biodegradable, meaning it will not harm the environment or contaminate any water it empties into. I feel good about that.
-Work Out: You will get some exercise and activity washing your vehicle. I got up on top of the van to get the top clean, my neighbors probably thought I was crazy. But I was up there washing and drying the top off and feeling the workout. haha. Plus the up and down of washing the side of the van was kinda like doing a bunch of squats, right?  If it’s nice outside, then get out and get some vitamin d and fresh air. Don’t stay stuck inside all day.
-Get The Kids Involved: If you have children, get them to help. I handed each of my boys a sponge and they had a blast cleaning what they could reach of the van. Children love helping (until a certain age) so encourage that enthusiasm by getting them involved.


Overall, it didn’t take me long at all to wash my van. It felt great to get outside, accomplish something, and save my family money.
I’ll show you how I use my organic cleaners to detail the inside of the van…car seats and all, so stay tuned!
 What plans do you have for your weekend?

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