Vehicles can release many harmful pollutants, such as oil and other automotive fluids. These substances can wash off cars and enter local waterways during rain or washing. This is not good for local streams and rivers. However, there are simple ways to prevent vehicle pollutants from harming the environment. By following these tips, we can all help keep local waterways clean and safe for wildlife and people. 

Car Maintenance Tips

Fix Fluid Leaks

• Repair any fluid leaks in your vehicle as soon as you notice them.  
• Do not work on your car in places where oil and other fluids can wash into gutters or storm drains. 
• Use drip pans or tarps to catch any leaking fluids. 
• Clean up spills with absorbent materials like sawdust or kitty litter. Sweep the area thoroughly and throw the used materials in the garbage. 

Maintain Tire Pressure

• Keep your tires properly inflated. This helps reduce harmful pollutants that can come from tire wear. 

Dispose of Fluids Properly

• Never pour motor oil or other automotive fluids down the storm drain. 
• You can recycle used motor oil curbside in a red bin:
  • Pour the oil into a sturdy container. 
  • Cap the container tightly. 
  • Place the container in the red curbside bin. 
• Antifreeze can also be recycled:
  • Use a clear plastic jug with a screw-top lid. 
  • Keep it separate from motor oil. 
  • Place the sealed container in the red bin. 
• Solvents and gasoline cannot be collected curbside. These should be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at the Salem/Keizer Transfer Station located at 3250 Deer Park Dr. SE in Salem. 

Where to Wash Your Car

Washing your car in your driveway or on the street can send soap and grime into storm drains, which flow directly into local waterways. This can harm fish and wildlife. It is not just dirt that washes off; oil and heavy metals can also wash off into storm drains. 

Tips for Washing Your Car

• You can reduce the need for frequent washes by dry dusting your vehicle. This keeps it looking clean without adding wash water runoff to storm drains. You can find dusters for vehicles at stores or online. 
• When it is time to wash your car, go to a commercial car wash. Commercial car washes use high-pressure washing that cleans effectively with less water. They also reuse water and ship wastewater to a treatment facility. 
• If you wash your car at home, do it on an unpaved surface like gravel or direct the water to a landscaped area, such as your lawn. Use just enough biodegradable soap to clean your car without harming the grass. 

Planning an Environmentally Friendly Car Wash

If you are a school or other fundraising group planning a car wash fundraiser, here are some ideas on how to help keep pollutants from your car wash out of local streams: 

Plan Your Event

• Ask local car washes if they have fundraising programs. They may offer ticket sales for the car wash, rental of a wash bay, or a percentage of the event's proceeds. 
• Learn where stormwater flows at your chosen location. 
• If possible, select a site where wash water can soak into grass or gravel. 

At Your Event

• Use a spray nozzle with an automatic shut-off to save water. 
• Choose vegetable-based or citrus-based soaps that are:
  • Non-toxic
  • Chlorine-free
  • Phosphate-free
  • Biodegradable 
• Place oil-absorbent pads next to the curb to catch oil and other chemicals. You can buy these pads at any automotive parts store. 
• Wring out sponges and wash rags into buckets to reuse soapy water. 
• Empty buckets into a landscaped area, not on a hard surface or directly into the storm drain. 

The City of Salem's Clean Streams Initiative offers car washing kits that help protect the storm drain and divert wash water to a landscaped area. Contact us to borrow one for your fundraising event. Email stormwateroutreach@cityofsalem.net or call 503-588-6311.