Wash Right

Wash Right: Keep wash water out of the street and storm drains  

What’s the Problem?

There’s no problem with washing your car, but it does matter how and where you choose to wash it. The average homeowner uses more than 100 gallons of water to wash a car. Dirty car wash water contains soap, grease, brake dust, oil, and dirt. Car washing in driveways sends all that dirty wash water into the nearest storm drain. From there, it’s a short trip to the nearest creek and Lake Washington.

 What Can We Do?

Wash your car at a commercial car wash: Commercial car washes recycle water and connect to the sewer system to clean dirty water.

Commercial Car Wash

At home: Keep water out of the street and storm drains. 

Wash on a Lawn or Gravel Area

Wash your car on a lawn or gravel area, where the dirty wash water will soak into the soil. Use chlorine and phosphate-free, biodegradable soap to wash your car. Even these soaps are harmful to aquatic life and water quality, so please use minimal soap.

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Divert Water to a Landscaped Area

Can’t wash on the lawn but still want to wash at home? Use rolled up towels or sand bags to divert your wash water to your lawn or landscaping.

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Report Spills and Flooding

Call our 24/7 pollution and flooding hotline

425-587-3900

Contact Us

For non-emergency drainage or stormwater concerns, visit Our Kirkland

Address 

Public Works - City Hall

123 5th Ave

Kirkland, WA 98033

425-587-3800

Planning a Car Wash Fundraiser?

Try a green fundraising option: Raise money and be kind to the environment when choosing eco-friendly fundraisers(PDF, 222KB).

More Information

How to Wash Right at Home(PDF, 316KB)

Pollution Prevention Code

Allowing car wash water or pressure wash water (heated or with soaps/chemicals) to enter the street and storm drain is against the law (KMC 15.52.90) and could be subject to clean-up cost recovery charges and fines.

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