Car Washing and Maintenance

Washing your car on the street or in your driveway results in large amounts of dirt, road grime, oils, metals, and soaps flowing down the street and into storm drains. Even biodegradable soaps harm fish and other aquatic life. The term “biodegradable” is not regulated and does not ensure environmental safety. In addition, each year our vehicles create tire dust pollution and leak over 16 million gallons of motor oil and other petroleum products into the Puget Sound watershed, more than the Exxon Valdez oil spill. These pollutants wash into storm drains, which flow directly to the nearest creek, lake, or Bellingham Bay, killing fish and harming the people and pets that recreate in these areas. Learn what you can do to reduce the amount of pollutants entering our local waterways:

Using a commercial car wash will keep harmful chemicals, like oils, metals, and soaps, from entering our streams, lakes and the Bay. Commercial car washes recycle the water used and send it to the wastewater plant for treatment.

When washing your car at home, wash it on your lawn or a pervious surface, where water will soak into the ground and pollutants will be filtered out. Use phosphorous-free soap to decrease the amount of nutrients entering our waterways. Excess nutrients harm water quality and aquatic life.

Make your fundraising car wash watershed-friendly!

  • Consider selling commercial car wash coupons from local car wash companies. This allows you to sell tickets any time of year, expand fundraising beyond one event, and doesn’t leave you dependent on the weather.
  • Contact our Pollution Prevention Specialists at bppa@cob.org or 360-778-7740 to request an assessment of your own car wash site. You can borrow a car wash kit that will pump dirty wash water to a nearby sewer drain.

Don’t drip and drive. Fix car leaks!​ Improve the reliability and safety of your car by fixing leaks immediately. In the short term, place drip pans or cardboard under your car to prevent oil from reaching our streams or wetlands. Stormwater runoff containing just one pint of oil can make a slick larger than a football field. Store and dispose of materials safely.

Protecting the health of our waterways starts with simple actions, like ensuring your tires are properly inflated. Underinflated tires wear faster, releasing more tire particles. These particles contain 6PPD, a chemical that transforms into 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-q) when exposed to air. This 6PPD-q is highly toxic and washes from roads into our streams, proving lethal to salmon. By keeping your tires properly inflated, you help reduce this harmful pollution. 

Beyond environmental protection, proper tire inflation offers significant benefits for you. It vastly improves vehicle handling and safety, helping you avoid dangerous blowouts on the road. You’ll also save money; correctly inflated tires can increase your gas mileage by up to 3% and extend the lifespan of your tires. 

Checking your tire pressure is a quick and easy habit to adopt. For the most accurate reading, check your tires when your car is “cold,” meaning it hasn’t been driven long or far. You can find your vehicle’s recommended tire pressure on a sticker inside the driver’s side door or in your owner’s manual. Make this essential check a regular part of your routine — it’s a small effort that yields big returns for our environment and your safety. 

Learn more on the Puget Sound Starts Here website. 

Never pour vehicle waste, including oil and antifreeze, into storm or sewer drains, septic systems or onto the ground. If you change your own oil, you can recycle your used oil with your SSC curbside recycling. Get a reusable container, such as a clean milk jug or soda bottle, and drain the oil carefully into the container, avoiding splatter and spills. Seal the container securely and mark it “oil.” Set it out with your curbside recycling or take it to your nearest used oil collection site.

Reduce the time and money you spend on car maintenance by leaving your car at home more often. Carpool with a friend, take the bus, walk or bike to work at least once a week.

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