A CAR-CLEANING business is saving enough water to fill a swimming pool after switching to steam instead.

Bespoke Valet and Detailing, based at the David Lloyd health club, near the Tees Barrage, in Stockton, believes it is one of the first professional car cleaning firms in the country to use the system.

Steven Pigott, who runs Bespoke, said: “The average hand car wash uses between 60 and 160 litres of water – our steam system uses only two litres for a standard-sized car, saving enough water in a year to fill a swimming pool.

“This way, customers not only get the deepest clean their car has ever had, they drive away with a clear conscience that they’ve also been kinder to the environment.”

The steam system was developed in the Far East and has only been available there and in the US and Australia until now.

Mr Pigott said a busy car wash could get through 2.5 million litres of water a year, and the waste water contained polluting chemicals.

The steam system does not require detergents, instead using pressurised steam to lift dirt from the car, with no risk of scratching.