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“We try to take something on your to-do list and make it positive, easy and pleasant.”
“No water—No waste—No problem,” reads the label of Bevard’s Green Auto Clean Waterless Car Wash Formula.
"A healthy environment is always a clean one, but a clean environment is not always healthy.”
Clean and Green
Taking an Environmentally Responsible Approach to Removing Dirt
BY RENEE BRINCKS • PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLI ULDALL
The Greener Cleaners’ Adam Thorngate-Gottlund wants to conquer what he calls “the curse of 1970s environmentalism.” “During the 1970s, people walked around saying, ‘Let’s all live in yurts and eat vegan and use bicycles to power our homes.’They wanted people to live really uncomfortable lives and feel great about it,” he says. “It doesn’t need to be that way.”
Several new companies now capitalize on safer, more sustainable ways to tidy up cars, homes and offices. By conserving energy, saving water and reducing pollution, these local entrepreneurs are creating a better kind of clean.
ON THE GO
“Getting your car washed isn’t always a pleasant experience,” says An Environmental Detail’s Matt D'Attilio. “We try to take something on your to-do list and make it positive, easy and pleasant.” The company also makes car cleaning eco-friendly, using just 32 ounces of water for the average vehicle. Hand washes are done under a 10-foot by 20-foot tent with special misting equipment, environmentally sensitive solutions and microfiber towels designed to lift dir t. And, stations are set up where people are already headed—such as golf courses and shopping centers—so that they can accomplish other tasks while their car is washed.
Locally, An Environmental Detail serves members and guests of Pasadera Country Club, Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley Ranch and Quail Lodge. The Shell stations on Rio Road in Carmel and at Carmel Valley’s Mid-Valley Shopping Center offer appointments for the public, and the company takes equipment on location for corporate clients.
“I’ve spent a good portion of my time trying to come up with something that is positive for all parties involved—that means the customer, the company and the environment,” says D’Attilio.
To schedule an appointment with An Environmental Detail, visit www.anenvironmentaldetail.com or call 866/222-6992. Services range from $22-$99, depending on vehicle size and services requested.
IN THE DRIVEWAY
When the city of Monterey asked Ron Bevard if he could carry out waterless washing operations for its truck fleet, he started with a petroleum-based product that did the job. He preferred, however, a more environmentally responsible option—so he hired a chemist and created his own. “No water—No waste—No problem,” reads the label of Bevard’s Green Auto Clean Waterless Car Wash Formula, a blend of coconut oil, plant-based ingredients and natural lubricants released this summer.
Consumers can wash 7-10 vehicles with a 32-ounce bottle and a microfiber towel; Green Auto Clean also offers full-service, on-site waterless washing at clients’ homes and businesses. In addition to saving water, the products and services have less impact on the region’s marine habitat by eliminating runoff. According to Bevard, several local cities clean their fire engines with the spray and he currently is working on distribution deals with major retailers.
“Showing people that it really does work and seeing others get excited has been the most rewarding part of this whole project,” he says. Green Auto Clean retails for about $15 and is available at www.greenautoclean.com. To schedule mobile car wash services, which cost $35-$225 depending on vehicle size and project scope, call 831/601-1831.
FOR THE HOME
Adam Thorngate-Gottlund wants people to redefine “clean.” “The idea is to shift from cleaning for appearance to cleaning for health,” he says. “A healthy environment is always a clean one, but a clean environment is not always healthy.” Thorngate-Gottlund launched The Greener Cleaners with partners Jack Wray and Dede Duncan in January. The company provides housekeeping, janitorial and facilities maintenance services for homes, offices, restaurants and schools across the Monterey Peninsula.
The Greener Cleaners crew minimizes environmental impact and cuts down on packaging and shipping with non-toxic, concentrated soaps and solutions. They scrub carpets with special buffers rather than traditional cleaning machines, reducing water use and eliminating chemicals. Products used to strip, seal and shine floors are Green Seal Certified. While individuals sometimes question how such gentle products can produce results, Thorngate-Gottlund sees a shift in the public’s perception of green cleaning.
“I’m totally convinced that in ten years we will look at bleach and ammonia and the rest of our cleaning products in the same way that we currently look at lead paint and asbestos.The transition is happening.”
Information on The Greener Cleaners’ residential, commercial and industrial ser vices is at www.the-greener-cleaners.com or 831/641-9494