Motorcars in Cleveland Heights opens eco-friendly car wash
The Rainforest Car Wash at 1720 Middlehurst Road in Cleveland Heights opens Sept. 1.
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prefers that you use a professional car wash.
According to the EPA, dirty water runoff from driveway washing flows down the street, enters the storm drain, and directly pollutes our lakes and streams. Commercial car washes, on the other hand, are required to route wastewater to treatment plants, where contaminants, such as oil, grease and detergents, are removed. Yet, not all professional car washes are alike.
Car owners now have a greener option with the Sept. 1 opening of the Rainforest Car Wash at the corner of Mayfield and Middlehurst roads in Cleveland Heights. Motorcars, which owns and operates the wash, invested in an expensive water reclamation system that recycles the wash water. Three 500-gallon underground tanks separate the oil and sediment. The water is then filtered and reused for the high-pressure wash cycles, including the undercarriage flush.
Manager Jay Keffer wants to conserve as much water as possible, but he also wants people to know their cars will be cleaned, explaining, “This car wash has the ability to do a fantastic job, but if we don’t choose where we use the recycled water it can affect the cleanliness of the car.” Rainforest will use about 15 gallons of freshwater per car, to ensure that the final rinse will be spot-free.
Rainforest’s computer-controlled technology consumes less electricity than traditional hydraulic power. It turns equipment on only when needed, and easily adjusts the wash to combat seasonal problems, such as summer bugs and winter salt. The system is also fast - customers are in and out quickly.
Motorcars saw an opportunity to enhance its green image, but also wanted to build a better, more convenient car wash for its Honda, Toyota and Scion customers, who have long enjoyed free car washes. The dealership has more than 2,000 participants in its Platinum Rewards program, which grants, among other benefits, unlimited, anytime car washes. Other customers receive a wash with auto service. Altogether, Motorcars reports it has been washing more than 30,000 cars per year.
With growing demand, Motorcars realized it had outgrown its in-service department wash. Known for top-tier customer service—open until 3 a.m. weekdays—the company did not want to over-promise and under-deliver. “We wanted to give our customers a really good wash,” said Keffer, “so we invested heavily. With the capacity of what we ended up with, it was a no-brainer to open it to the public.” The new, stand-alone facility can wash 900 cars per day.
Rainforest offers four wash options at competitive price points: $6, $8, $10 and $12, and accepts cash, credit or debit cards. Platinum Motorcars members can zip in with their radio frequency sticker (think smaller E-ZPass). Car wash hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. The entrance, located next to Motorcars 1st Choice Used Cars lot, is off Middlehurst Road. Vehicles will exit onto Mayfield Road via a heated driveway that melts ice and snow.
If you must wash your car at home, keep in mind that a standard garden hose produces about 10 gallons a minute. This means you use 100 gallons of water in only 10 minutes. To minimize environmental impact, the EPA and other environmental groups advise that you wash on the grass or gravel to allow water to sink into the ground, use biodegradable products, limit hose use, keep soapy water contained in a bucket and pour it down a household sink or toilet.
Marci Bernstein Lu is a nonprofit and philanthropic consultant residing in Cleveland Heights.