Washing Your Car Goes Green

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - There's a new way to wash your car that's not only environmentally friendly, it's cost effective and convenient.

And the products are made right here in Memphis, I-clean, I-wash and I-shine.

Washing your car at home uses at least 60 gallons of water and even more in a traditional car wash.

But H2O Conserv products use only two gallons or none at all. And everything is easy on the environment, and good for your car. The environmentally friendly products are on the forefront of car washing technology.

We are putting it to the test on a very dirty Fox13 news car.

"We're going to wash this dirty car," says Mitch Campbell of H2O Conserv. "Were going to use only two gallons of water and we didn't rinse it off before hand."

That's right; there is no need for a hose. Campbell says there's no rinsing before or after applying the soy based soap.

With the I-clean product, you simply spray it on, and then wipe it off with the micro fiber towel.

"Its kind of an instant detailer for lack of better term," says Campbell. "You've got to get somewhere, cars got some dirt on it, spray it, wipe it off, you're done. Good to go."

For a dirtier car, use the I-wash and I-shine products together. It takes just three capfuls of the I-wash in two gallons of water. Wash a section, spray a little I-shine liquid wax, then wipe off.

"Water conservation is an issue all across the country," says Campbell. "There's states out west where it's even against the law to wash your own car because of a water shortage."

The products will hit the shelves in national retail chains and will appear on QVC. The products are designed to satisfy several types of consumers: those into the environment, people who live where its prohibited to use water to wash their car, and apartment dwellers who may not have access to a hose.

After 20 years in the professional detailing business, H2O Conserv Chemist David Ghodoussi decided it was time to make biodegradable soap for the consumer.

"We don't want to put chemicals into the storm drain, we don't want to offer chemicals that can cause allergies so we started using natural safe products," says Ghodoussi.

The products work; the organic soap actually cleaned the news car.

"Ease of use, don't need any water, environmentally friendly, and very cost effective," says Campbell.

The products cost about $12 to $14 each and should last for a year.

The company is also teaming up with a local charity to provide the products for car wash fundraisers.