Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Six tips for holding a successful waterless car wash fundraiser

For groups looking to raise money, the days of hose and bucket washing are long gone. Water restrictions, stricter EPA regulations and the limitations of having a water hookup nearby have all but ended this traditional fundraising method.

Enter the era of Waterless Car Wash Fundraisers.

Armed with a 22 oz bottle and several microfiber towels your non-profit, charity or school can easily raise money for its cause without infringing upon the environment or relying upon a commercial carwash facility.

Over the past month, Eco Touch has sponsored several of these Waterless Car Wash Fundraisers, with great results. If you are considering holding one of these events, we have put together a top tip list to help get you started.

Tip #1 - Advertise, advertise, advertise

Posters, flyers and press releases are a great way to get the word out. Begin your campaign at least a week in advance by coordinating with local newspapers and media outlets. Offer coupons, discounts or other incentives to help draw people to your event. On the day of the event strategically place team members roadside to bring more customers to the waterless car wash.



Tip #2 - Assemble your team

Both kids and adults will need to participate in order to make your fundraising event a success. We recommend having three teams: sales/marketing (pitching your services to customers), washing/drying (physical labor), and support (cash transactions, food, etc).

Also note than some areas of the car are difficult for smaller children to reach, so have taller team members focus on these areas.



Tip #3 - Optimize your location


Make sure the lot you choose has enough space to support multiple cars and does not interfere with regular traffic. You will need to queue cars, so plan accordingly. Also be sure to check with your local municipality before the event to see if a permit is required.



Tip #4 - Divide and conquer

Split responsibilities of applying formula and drying between team members. This will ensure a quicker and easier cleaning process. Be sure to have one team member who is solely devoted to changing microfiber towels and cleaning them in a separate bucket of wash water.



Tip #5 - Keep it shady

For optimal results with your Waterless Car Wash, work under a shaded location. When car panels are too hot the formula can evaporate quickly. Be wary of Waterless Car Wash products which claim they can be used in direct sunlight. They are most likely contain high concentrations of petroleum-based solvents, alcohols and other nasty chemicals (some of which are listed on California's Prop 65).

Look for water-based products that openly disclose all ingredients.



Tip #6 - Stay energized

All that Waterless Car Washing takes work. Keep your team members energized with a nice spread of food and refreshments.



These are just a few tips to help you get started. For more detailed information visit:

Eco Touch's Waterless Car Wash Fundraiser Program.