Two buckets

Bing

Bing

The Legend
 Exiled Scot in Maidstone
I've asked this before elsewhere, but buried in a thread on another topic and in a slightly tongue-in-cheek manner... So I didn't get an answer. However it's winding me right up because I feel like I am missing out on some sort of secret masonic car cleaning ritual - can somebody please explain what this mysterious "2 bucket method" for washing your car is ? :?

In addition, the accepted sequence of events seems to be - wash (wheels first or last ?), clay, wash, polish, wax, admire - is this right, and roughly how long does it take the average joe to get through all this ? Just washing and polishing seems to take me aaaages !

I am genuinely excited about receiving enlightenment :thumbsup:
 
My two bucket method was one with soapy water and one with warm tap water. Don't know if that's 'the' two bucket method though! Now I have a hosepipe again though only 1 is required.
And I do top down. So wheels last. Filthy water otherwise.
 
i always thought the second bucket was to rinse crap off your spunge, so you do not introduce dirt into your first bucket

wheels definately i would do last
 
- Both buckets have grit guards
- Bucket 1 has washing product (shampoo).
- Bucket 2 has water only.


The trick with two buckets is that you never move from car to bucket 1, but only via bucket 2 to rinse the mitt first so it is clean before dipping it in the shampoo again and apply to the car. That way, you do not transfer any dirt in the shampoo bucket and therefore transfer it back to the car.

Always start at the top of the car as the dirt will run down so you are not moving dirt on previously clean areas.

Have different mitts for the wheels and sills of the car, and do that last as it will seriously pollute the rinsing bucket.

Wash the mitt regularly to ensure it does not trap any dirt.
 
Same as CJ. Always rinse mit or sponge in the bucket with tap water to stop swirls. I always do skirts last, then wheels.


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I do a slight variation of PVR's method - I do wheels first, with separate wash mitt and then thoroughly rinse both buckets and add fresh water and shampoo before doing the bodywork.
 
Interesting, never heard of this before.

For me my dad taught me:

Bucket 1 - Warm Water (sometimes I use the karcher here)
Bucket 2 - Soap / Soap & wax combo
Bucket 3 - Warm Water (sometimes I use the karcher here)
Wheels in the same way as above
Leather the whole car to dry

Done!

(Rinsing the bucket as you change each time is essential and using separate sponges helps!)

Never use a sponge or leather dropped on any surface.

Never let anyone else wash any of our cars except me and my dad.
 
Thanks guys - need another bucket then... And sills last is an obvious good idea :thumbsup:

original guvnor said:
I do a slight variation of PVR's method - I do wheels first, with separate wash mitt and then thoroughly rinse both buckets and add fresh water and shampoo before doing the bodywork.
Click to expand...

I do the wheels first using wheel cleaner, a wheel brush and an old sponge - then fresh water for washing the car.

Always rinse with the hose first, then clean top surfaces and windows, hose them off, rear surfaces and wings then hose, sides and front bumper then hose - especially important in the summer down here when it's hot so you don't get soapy water drying on the car. Then chamois it dry, separate 'old' one to dry the wheels.

What about using a clay bar - does it take ages / is it a right PITA / how often does it need done ?
 
I call this the 'Inkey$ Method' and do the following:

1/ Hose down entire car.
2/ Wash with bucket, washmit and cap of Zymol - top to skirts
3/ Wash skirts
4/ Wash wheels with sponge/secondary mitt - sometimes use wheel cleaner
5/ Hose down entire car
6/ Dry car with microfibre cloth (MUCH better than a chammy) starting at top and glass.
7/ Dry again with second dry microfibre
8/ Interior, door shuts etc - also Autosol on the rear pipes (incl interiors)
9/ Drive car up the road with handbrake on to dry drum shoes and stop sticking

...should also do...

10/ Clay body
11/ Polish car
12/ Wax car

...but the top 9 takes me an hour or so by which time I'm a bot bored and want to drive it.
 
Clay - does not take that long. Ask Gannet - he did sell his car after I clayed half of it though :poke:
 
pvr said:
Clay - does not take that long. Ask Gannet - he did sell his car after I clayed half of it though :poke:
Click to expand...
Do you do it in small sections PVR? And if so where do you start/finish?
 
No, do the whole car in one hit from top to bottom. Lots of lubricant and keep turning the clay.

Once done, you have to do the polishing afterwards and then waxing.
 
I have a foam lance so I

Spray with foam , leave 5 mins
Quick rinse off ( take most grit etc off)
Respray with foam
Mitt with autosmart duet one bucket
Rinse down

Done that for the last 3 years on my
Mini and paintwork in very good finish

Usually do that once week and just foam and hot water rinse Inbetween to maintain

I just use auto smart products. Good value and cleaning properties




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I would wash after the clay, claying is very satisfying. I have been known to touch my car out of the window while driving feeling how smooth it is!!
 
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/index.php?_a=viewDoc&docId=5

For everything you'll ever need to know about washing your car ;-)
 
inkey$ said:
pvr said:
Clay - does not take that long. Ask Gannet - he did sell his car after I clayed half of it though :poke:
Click to expand...
Do you do it in small sections PVR? And if so where do you start/finish?
Click to expand...

According to friend of mine you should do this with polish and wax too - and overlap the bit you've just done to blend it in. She reckoned 4hrs to do the whole exterior properly from dirty to waxed.

What brand of microfibre do you use inkey$ ? I've never managed to figure out which are best, so just stuck with chamois.

I am loving this thread, though having to hide it from the other half...
 
I would recommend having a read on a detailing forum before trying new processes like claying, if you get it wrong you will inflict swirls & RDS's. I learnt alot from reading how to's from the pro's.
 
No no no to chamois....a drying cloth is the way to go. Chamois keeps so much grit, single biggest cause of swirls after a dirty wash mit....
 
Bing said:
inkey$ said:
pvr said:
Clay - does not take that long. Ask Gannet - he did sell his car after I clayed half of it though :poke:
Click to expand...
Do you do it in small sections PVR? And if so where do you start/finish?
Click to expand...

According to friend of mine you should do this with polish and wax too - and overlap the bit you've just done to blend it in. She reckoned 4hrs to do the whole exterior properly from dirty to waxed.

What brand of microfibre do you use inkey$ ? I've never managed to figure out which are best, so just stuck with chamois.

I am loving this thread, though having to hide it from the other half...
Click to expand...

4 hours?!? Thats valuable driving time! Microfibre wise I've got a mix. From Sonus (good quality) to a batch of cheapies I spotted in supermarket (6 for £2). Probably get chastised for using them but the cheapies actually arent bad and leave no bits of fluff etc.
 
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