The Two Bucket Washing Method - Part 1 of 2
06-10-2017, 10:19 PM
#1
The Two Bucket Washing Method - Part 1 of 2
How To Wash Your Truck - Detailing 101
I was asked if I would do a few articles on detailing and products. Here is the first installment (How to Wash Your Truck).
I did this one a while back. The principles of washing auto paint have remained the same. If you like it let me know and I'll post more on each of the topics. So let's begin...
___________________
You've spent good money on your truck, now the question arises, “How do I take care of it?” Proper washing is one of the most overlooked and misunderstood areas and sadly improper washing damages and dulls your vehicle's finish.
If you look at the vehicles in the parking lot around you in direct sunlight you will notice many of the vehicles have a scratched surface. These microscopic scratches seem to radiate outward in a “spider-web” effect from a central light source like the reflection of the sun. Many of the swirl marks are the result of improper washing and drying techniques. They are caused when grit is abraded against the paint's surface.
Much has been written on how to properly maintain a vehicles appearance and while most of these tips certainly aren't new, perhaps they may help you think about things in a different light.
Vehicle enthusiasts range from those who religiously wash or quick detail their vehicles daily, to those who love caring for their vehicle but only get the chance to wash them weekly or bi-weekly. Both categories of enthusiasts cringe at the very thought of taking their car or truck to a car wash, AKA "tunnel-o-swirls". Here are some ideas and tips that will help you maintain your vehicles appearance and teach you ways to avoid, or at least minimize creating swirl marks.
Car Wash Shampoo
Car wash shampoos have come a long way since their introduction and they are still evolving. There was a time when we all just grabbed dish washing soap but those days are long gone. Dish washing soap is designed to eat away grease and food! The same attributes that break down the grease on dishes will strip your car wax and dry out your plastic moldings and rubber seals!
Some of the factors that establish a great car wash shampoo are foaming ability, lubricity, pH balance, concentration, gentleness and even gloss enhancers. High quality car wash shampoos will clean a car’s surface, enhance the gloss and leave the car wax or paint sealant intact to protect your paint. Generic car wash shampoos lack many of the attributes of the higher quality car wash shampoos. You will also find that the cost of the bottle of car wash shampoo does not necessarily mean it is less expensive. The high end car wash shampoos tend to cost more per ounce but they are also more concentrated so if you do the math, you may find that you are actually getting a better deal with a premium car wash shampoo.
If you are not sure which shampoo will work best for you it is often advisable to stick with the same brand that your car wax or sealant is. If your paint is protected with Zaino Z-2 then use Z-7 Show Car Wash. If your paint is protected with Blackfire Wet Diamond then the BFWD Conditioning Shampoo is a good choice. I like IronX Snow soap for a mild decon wash and Carpro Reset for maintenance washes.
Car Wash Mitts
Wash mitts can be microfiber style (both short nap and the longer fuzzy monster looking type), sponges, synthetic and genuine sheepskin. The Merino Wool Wash Mitt (middle) is a great choice: They are soft, hold lots of water and car wash shampoo and they rinse cleanly. Natural Sea Sponges are some of the softest material known to man and hold a large volume of water and soap solution. You want to avoid shop rags, old t-shirts, and beach towels as the nap, or thickness of these items is so small that you can easily exert too much force onto the wash surface and inadvertently push surface dirt around instilling “washing swirls.” Also, these wash “rags” do not release trapped dirt as easily. The thicker mitts offer room for dirt to hide that is away from your car until your mitt is rinsed.
Car Wash Buckets
I recommend two (or even three if you want a separate bucket for the wheels) white 5 gallon buckets for swirl free washing, one of the greatest ideas to come along is the two bucket method of car washing. As the name implies you use two separate buckets to wash your car. One bucket holds the soapy car wash solution and the other holds clean, clear rinse water so you can rinse your mitt after each pass over your car. This keeps those dirt particles you just picked up on the surface from going back into the clean car wash solution and being picked up again by the wash mitt.
This brings us to the next topic….Grit Guard® Inserts. If you aren't using them…you should be!!! The Grit Guard® Inserts are a round plastic insert grate that sits on the bottom of your bucket suspended from the bottom by four lateral fins. Dirt from your wash mitt drops to the bottom of the bucket and is kept at the bottom of the bucket, ensuring that your wash mitt doesn't pick up the dirt you just washed off of the car. When you finish washing your car and lift the Grit Guard® Insert up and you will see how well it works. The Grit Guard® Insert should be used in both the wash and rinse buckets for optimum protection against instilling swirl marks.
Hose Nozzles
Yes, even your hose nozzle is an important part of your car wash procedure. There is nothing like trying to wash your car with an inadequate or leaky hose nozzle. I like a High Flow Fireman's Nozzle. It offers a wide range of spray patterns as well as the very important open flow. The open flow option is especially important when rinsing your car to get the water to sheet off instead of beading up which will cut down on drying time and the possibility of water spots.
___________________
Merlin
I was asked if I would do a few articles on detailing and products. Here is the first installment (How to Wash Your Truck).
Here are the basic topics.
I did this one a while back. The principles of washing auto paint have remained the same. If you like it let me know and I'll post more on each of the topics. So let's begin...
___________________
You've spent good money on your truck, now the question arises, “How do I take care of it?” Proper washing is one of the most overlooked and misunderstood areas and sadly improper washing damages and dulls your vehicle's finish.
If you look at the vehicles in the parking lot around you in direct sunlight you will notice many of the vehicles have a scratched surface. These microscopic scratches seem to radiate outward in a “spider-web” effect from a central light source like the reflection of the sun. Many of the swirl marks are the result of improper washing and drying techniques. They are caused when grit is abraded against the paint's surface.
Much has been written on how to properly maintain a vehicles appearance and while most of these tips certainly aren't new, perhaps they may help you think about things in a different light.
Vehicle enthusiasts range from those who religiously wash or quick detail their vehicles daily, to those who love caring for their vehicle but only get the chance to wash them weekly or bi-weekly. Both categories of enthusiasts cringe at the very thought of taking their car or truck to a car wash, AKA "tunnel-o-swirls". Here are some ideas and tips that will help you maintain your vehicles appearance and teach you ways to avoid, or at least minimize creating swirl marks.
Car Wash Shampoo
Car wash shampoos have come a long way since their introduction and they are still evolving. There was a time when we all just grabbed dish washing soap but those days are long gone. Dish washing soap is designed to eat away grease and food! The same attributes that break down the grease on dishes will strip your car wax and dry out your plastic moldings and rubber seals!
Some of the factors that establish a great car wash shampoo are foaming ability, lubricity, pH balance, concentration, gentleness and even gloss enhancers. High quality car wash shampoos will clean a car’s surface, enhance the gloss and leave the car wax or paint sealant intact to protect your paint. Generic car wash shampoos lack many of the attributes of the higher quality car wash shampoos. You will also find that the cost of the bottle of car wash shampoo does not necessarily mean it is less expensive. The high end car wash shampoos tend to cost more per ounce but they are also more concentrated so if you do the math, you may find that you are actually getting a better deal with a premium car wash shampoo.
If you are not sure which shampoo will work best for you it is often advisable to stick with the same brand that your car wax or sealant is. If your paint is protected with Zaino Z-2 then use Z-7 Show Car Wash. If your paint is protected with Blackfire Wet Diamond then the BFWD Conditioning Shampoo is a good choice. I like IronX Snow soap for a mild decon wash and Carpro Reset for maintenance washes.
Car Wash Mitts
Wash mitts can be microfiber style (both short nap and the longer fuzzy monster looking type), sponges, synthetic and genuine sheepskin. The Merino Wool Wash Mitt (middle) is a great choice: They are soft, hold lots of water and car wash shampoo and they rinse cleanly. Natural Sea Sponges are some of the softest material known to man and hold a large volume of water and soap solution. You want to avoid shop rags, old t-shirts, and beach towels as the nap, or thickness of these items is so small that you can easily exert too much force onto the wash surface and inadvertently push surface dirt around instilling “washing swirls.” Also, these wash “rags” do not release trapped dirt as easily. The thicker mitts offer room for dirt to hide that is away from your car until your mitt is rinsed.
Car Wash Buckets
I recommend two (or even three if you want a separate bucket for the wheels) white 5 gallon buckets for swirl free washing, one of the greatest ideas to come along is the two bucket method of car washing. As the name implies you use two separate buckets to wash your car. One bucket holds the soapy car wash solution and the other holds clean, clear rinse water so you can rinse your mitt after each pass over your car. This keeps those dirt particles you just picked up on the surface from going back into the clean car wash solution and being picked up again by the wash mitt.
This brings us to the next topic….Grit Guard® Inserts. If you aren't using them…you should be!!! The Grit Guard® Inserts are a round plastic insert grate that sits on the bottom of your bucket suspended from the bottom by four lateral fins. Dirt from your wash mitt drops to the bottom of the bucket and is kept at the bottom of the bucket, ensuring that your wash mitt doesn't pick up the dirt you just washed off of the car. When you finish washing your car and lift the Grit Guard® Insert up and you will see how well it works. The Grit Guard® Insert should be used in both the wash and rinse buckets for optimum protection against instilling swirl marks.
Hose Nozzles
Yes, even your hose nozzle is an important part of your car wash procedure. There is nothing like trying to wash your car with an inadequate or leaky hose nozzle. I like a High Flow Fireman's Nozzle. It offers a wide range of spray patterns as well as the very important open flow. The open flow option is especially important when rinsing your car to get the water to sheet off instead of beading up which will cut down on drying time and the possibility of water spots.
___________________
Merlin
Last edited by Merlin; 06-10-2017 at 10:37 PM.
