Car cleaning options review and compare

How can you save water while washing your car? CHOICE investigates.
 
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03.Results

Choice verdict

Washing your car on a lawn with a bucket and sponge uses the least water and is the most cost-effective method, however not everyone has this option. Even though self-serve car washes are more expensive over 20 washes, they use only 33L of water and five-star rated operations are environmentally friendly.

CHOICE looks forward to seeing the results of the Australian Car Wash Association’s recycling study. We want to see a balance in the way water is reclaimed and the energy used in doing so, given the large energy input in most recycling technologies.

 

 

Results table

 
Type of car clean Water (L) Water cost ($) Sponges ($) Detergent ($) Cost of service ($) First wash cost ($) For 20 washes cost ($)
Hose & sponge 150 0.24 3 8 0 11 16
Hose with spray attachment 120 0.19 3 8 0 11 15
Bucket and sponge 100 0.16 3 8 0 11 14
Low pressure 23 0.04 3 8 110 121 121
Self-serve 33 na 0 0 3 3 53
Auto-wash Not known na 0 0 10 10 204
Hand wash 33 na 0 0 24 24 480
Waterless car wash 0 3 0 5.50 (A) 8.19 113
Mobile waterless car wash 0 0 37 37 733
 

(A) The median cost of using this type of wash.

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