

It’s common knowledge that day-to-day driving of anything apart from an electric car isn’t the most sustainable way of getting around, and all cars, electric or not, have a fairly hefty carbon footprint simply from being manufactured. However, for a lot of people, owning a car is a necessity. To help make car ownership as green as possible, we’ve put together our top tips for eco car care and maintenance.
5 minutes to read
There are a few simple ways to make sure owning your car is as planet-friendly as possible. Whether it’s driving in a particular way, taking care to choose the most eco-friendly car cleaning methods, or being mindful of the values of any contractors you employ, here are some steps you can take to make eco car care the norm.
Note: Please test any homemade solutions in an inconspicuous area before using anywhere more visible.
Washing your car at home can use more water than a professional car wash if you’re not prepared in advance. But washing at home can be green, too, with a few quick switches and a bit of planning.
The main thing to be mindful of when washing your car at home is water consumption. Your average garden hose uses 170 litres for every 10 minutes it is running. So to keep your water consumption down when washing your car, try the following:
If waterless isn’t an option for you, make sure you choose non-toxic cleaning products that are as natural as possible. You could even make your own car wash concentrate by mixing:
Store the mixture in a large bottle then add 200 ml to a bucket full of water when washing time comes around.
If you prefer not to wash your own car, and usually pay someone else to do it for you, it can help to do some research into the eco-credentials of your chosen contractor. This can be easier in some countries than others. For example, UK automatic car washes are required to direct their wastewater to water treatment facilities to protect the environment. When researching, look out for generic “eco-friendly” claims without data to support them. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the products that are used, and what happens to wastewater.
Eco car cleaning: what about inside the car?
The good news is, there are lots of eco car cleaning options for the inside of your car.
For example, you can keep your car’s interior looking and smelling clean and fresh with these easy homemade products:
Add 200 ml warm water, 2 tbsp baby oil, 1 tbsp white vinegar and 1 tsp dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle and use with a clean cloth to get dashboards, centre consoles and door handles/trims sparkling clean.
For a really easy upholstery cleaner and deodoriser, mix 200 ml vinegar, a few drops of dishwashing liquid, 4 litres of hot water together. Dab it onto the stain or spillage, then scrub the area with a soft brush and dab with a damp, clean cloth.
The first and easiest thing you can do is to keep up your car’s routine maintenance and servicing. Here are a few ways to keep your car running efficiently, therefore keeping carbon emissions as low as possible:
The way you drive can also affect the impact your vehicle has on the environment. Here are some ideas to make your driving eco-friendly:
Do you have a zero waste or eco-friendly way of driving, maintaining or cleaning your car that isn’t included in this article? Let us know in the comments and we will share your suggestions on Ailuna’s social media channels.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful as well as vital support.
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
This website uses 3rd parties, such as Helpshift, to provide support and Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. Keeping these cookie enabled helps us to Ailuna and our website.
Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!