We need to use water very carefully outdoors when washing cars, boats and other vehicles, and for cleaning outdoor areas.

Under High Level restrictions, you can use a bucket, filled directly from a tap, at any time. On the weekends, you can use a hose fitted with a trigger or twist nozzle, or a high pressure cleaning unit at the times below:

Odd numbered premises Saturday 4pm-4.30pm
Even or unnumbered premises Sunday 4pm-4.30pm

You can also use town water to flush an inboard or outboard motor or the brakes on a vehicle. Alternatively, vehicles can be taken to a car wash (fixed permanent commercial location) or the services of a mobile car cleaner (commercial operator) can be employed.

Tips for cleaning your car:

• Never leave the hose running or unattended
• Use products which have been accredited with the Smart Approved Water Mark*
• Use a high pressure cleaning unit where appropriate
• Wash your car on the grass
• Use detergents and soaps sparingly. A sponge and a little ‘elbow grease’ may be sufficient
• Use biodegradable detergents. These will break down much more easily on your lawn. The safest products for the environment are vegetable-based or citrus-based soaps
• Don’t use dish soap or laundry detergent as it may strip the car of its lustre and harm the car’s finish
• Don’t hose down your car on driveways where runoff will be wasted
• Tip left over water on the lawn rather than into the gutter
• Wash your car in a shady, cool area. Soaps can dry fast requiring more water to rinse away
• Consider washing you car less frequently
• Take your car to a commercial car wash
  • the average outdoor hose uses 20 litres of water a minute and a car wash will use less water than you will using a hose
  • home car washing usually uses over 100 litres per wash while a commercial car wash averages about 70
  • a commercial car wash recycles water.

* Smart Approved Water Mark is Australia’s outdoor water saving labelling program for products and services that help to reduce water use around the house.

Tips for outdoor cleaning and for cleaning windows:

• Use a broom, brush or rake to sweep and clean outdoor paths and paving areas.
• Use captured ‘warm up water’ or tank water to clean windows. Vinegar and water (saved after indoor use) or window cleaning products can be used to clean windows.
• General cleaning of items such as wheelie bins and barbeques can be done with a hand held bucket filled directly from a tap or high pressure cleaning unit to prevent or address a health or safety risk.
• External surfaces of a house and paved areas may be cleaned using a bucket filled directly from a tap or a high pressure water cleaning unit for the purpose of:
  • preparation for painting
  • once in any 12 month period for pre-sale activities
  • to comply with a tenancy agreement or lease at its expiry or termination
  • once in any 12 month period to maintain the external surfaces of a building
  • once in any 36 month period to maintain the external roof surface of a building
  • washing part of the roof area for repainting or repairing the roof.