To the list of marketing oxymorons — the sunless tan, cheeseless pizza, soap-free detergent — add this: the no-water carwash.
Lisa and Jeff Peri have been peddling Green Earth Waterless Car Wash for only five months but already have gotten some traction, gaining a major local hospital and one of California’s biggest Lexus dealers as customers for their product, which they describe as environmentally gentle.
The Peris’ Inglewood company, which currently goes by the name of its fragrance-free cleaner, also markets a few related products and sometimes will send its employees to wash cars. The entrepreneurs are looking to attract buyers who are sensitive to chemicals in cleaners or concerned about drought, given that washing a car at home uses 80 to 140 gallons of water and running it through a commercial carwash uses 20 to 45 gallons of water.
“We feel like we are doing something life-changing for other people,” said Lisa Peri, 36.
great article! thanks so much! here in texas, oasis car washes recycle their water and clean it before dispensing to the drain.
My dad’s been doing this for years, he takes the washing machine’s rinse water and uses that to wash his car (some thing about disconnecting the hose from the drain and filling a trash can with the water).
I’m too lazy to wash my two vehicles, so I take them to the local carwash……and it does keep me from wasting a LOT of water!