Lets Discuss The 2 Bucket Method

[Setec Astronomy]

If you didn't have access to a pressure washer or foamer, then yeah, probably best to use the two-bucket method. But I'd say most people here will be using a foam cannon, garden hose foam gun or pump action foamer. In which case, these tools apply soap directly to the whole vehicle, maximizing lubrication and eliminating the need for a soap (wash) bucket. You then rinse you wash media between sections with a single rinse bucket.

But I would argue that this IS the two-bucket method, if the two-bucket method is separating the soap application from the rinsing, i.e. not dirtying your soap with the dirt from the car. Whether that is by using a separate wash bucket or by "applying soap directly" using a "foam cannon, garden hose foam gun or pump action foamer". The rest is semantics.

 

[BLM]

One drawback to the foam/ single bucket or the foam/rinse/foam with single bucket is when doing contact wash one has to wait till entire vehicle is washed before they can rinse or at least they should. That would be a problem in summer months as the foam and wash soap could and sometimes would dry on the surface. A lot of people don't have a garage or even a shaded spot where they can wash their vehicle.

With the two bucket method one can still presoak and then rinse after the desired dwell time. Then each section can be rinsed immediately after the contact wash.

In summer sometimes one has to rinse certain sections more than once just to prevent surface from drying if water spots are an issue. Adding soap to that surely makes things more difficult.

Anyway there is more than one way to skin a cat. Whatever system works for the individual is the right one for them.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

One drawback to the foam/ single bucket or the foam/rinse/foam with single bucket is when doing contact wash one has to wait till entire vehicle is washed before they can rinse or at least they should. That would be a problem in summer months as the foam and wash soap could and sometimes would dry on the surface. A lot of people don't have a garage or even a shaded spot where they can wash their vehicle.

What are you talking about? Anytime you are doing a conventional wash with water that is capable of spotting, you want to keep the car wet at all times (until it's time to dry). So if I'm using a foam gun and a rinse bucket, I will hose some/all of the car off with water, then foam the section I'm going to wash, do the contact wash, and move on to foaming the next section, etc.

You need to go back to the sections that were pre-wetted or already washed and make sure they stay wet, until you are done with the whole car and can start the drying process. I use two hoses (Y-connector at the faucet), so I have one hose for the foam gun, and one with a nozzle for spray/rinse.

The whole deal of keeping everything wet is why I prefer to do rinseless now, I don't have to worry about the other side of the car getting dried soap/water on it while I'm washing another part.

You realize we sound like a bunch of crazy people talking about this stuff.

 

[BLM]

What are you talking about? Anytime you are doing a conventional wash with water that is capable of spotting, you want to keep the car wet at all times (until it's time to dry). So if I'm using a foam gun and a rinse bucket, I will hose some/all of the car off with water, then foam the section I'm going to wash, do the contact wash, and move on to foaming the next section, etc.

I am not a user of the foam/ rinse/ foam / single bucket method. However any videos I've seen the person doing the contact wash foamed the entire vehicle and proceeded to contact wash the entire vehicle. Only rinsing after entire vehicle was contact washed. Foam each section as one goes seems to me to be a very inefficient process. Way more so than moving buckets around the vehicle via the two bucket method. That's what I'm talking about. Have never seen it done as you say above.

The whole deal of keeping everything wet is why I prefer to do rinseless now, I don't have to worry about the other side of the car getting dried soap/water on it while I'm washing another part.

Agree 100%

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I dunno, I don't know where I got the time to do half the stuff I used to do.

 

[Optimus Grime]

You realize we sound like a bunch of crazy people talking about this stuff.

This is why I show all of my customers how to do a thorough rinseless wash. I think that for 95% of the population that actually gives a damn about maintaining their vehicles, RW is the way to go due to its simplicity.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

This is why I show all of my customers how to do a thorough rinseless wash. I think that for 95% of the population that actually gives a damn about maintaining their vehicles, RW is the way to go due to its simplicity.

This made me laugh, I think 10 years ago people would have been saying "rinseless wash is too complicated, just get out the hose it's much simpler".

 

[Optimus Grime]

This made me laugh, I think 10 years ago people would have been saying "rinseless wash is too complicated, just get out the hose it's much simpler".

When I first heard about rinseless washing it was from my mentor who had been doing this for over 15 years. He was a seasoned vet telling me that every detailer needed a RW in their arsenal. He’s telling me that I can wash my car without a hose and soap and in my mind I’m telling myself this guy is full of BS. Fast forward about three months and temps begin to drop so I decide to break out my bottle of ONR and give it a try. After the first wash I was a believer. I washed my car three times in one week because it was so damn easy.

 

[Desertnate]

This made me laugh, I think 10 years ago people would have been saying "rinseless wash is too complicated, just get out the hose it's much simpler".

I freely admit to being in this camp. I think I'd be more open to trying it if it didn't require a bucket full of wash media to cycle through to keep the paint safe. I don't really have room for piles of additional towels. And speaking of the bucket...I have to fill it with the hose anyway. At that point I might as well drag it around the house to the driveway anyway. I tried waterless a few times, but was never happy with the results.

 

[chefwong]

This is why I show all of my customers how to do a thorough rinseless wash. I think that for 95% of the population that actually gives a damn about maintaining their vehicles, RW is the way to go due to its simplicity.

I'm a Dinosaur. 2 Decades Later, I still prefer lots and lots of water.

I do use WW for the jambs, and such .
Even in this time of the year, where RW might make more sense time wise.......I'm boiling water and putting in the buckets to give it a good 'ole fashion mitt wash.

 

[BLM]

Ive been washing my own vehicles for decades. Ive got four vehicles and none have ever been to a commercial car wash. However i only started doing rinseless washes maybe 2-3 years ago. Rinseless is by far my preferred method. At present I believe I have one half gallon of car shampoo but five different rinseless washes.

However occasionally I still do a traditional wash with shampoo. Typically prior to doing some subsequent maintenance such as claying, polishing, etc, and even then it might be overkill. I am surprised at how many call the 2 bucket wash a waste of time. I can see someone who does several washes a day, such as a pro detailer being concerned about a few minutes here and there. But for someone who does only their own vehicles who cares if the wash takes five more minutes?

The time it takes to refoam or rinse their mitt via a hose after each section or even keep returning to the wash bucket for a clean microfiber would be neglegable compared to doing a two bucket. I'm quite sure most consider whatever wash method they use to be the preferred method. None of those mentioned are the wrong method however those that only go through the tunnel wash or only wash two or three times a year wouldnt understand doing any of this. They consider washing ones own vehicle a waste of time via any method.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I freely admit to being in this camp. I think I'd be more open to trying it if it didn't require a bucket full of wash media to cycle through to keep the paint safe. I don't really have room for piles of additional towels.

You don't have to do it that way. You can use a single wash media. I've stated this before, but going back 20 years rinseless was only something I would do as a last resort winter wash, and not something I'd contemplate when it was warm enough to use the hose. But as time has gone on, it has become my preferred wash method, you can do a section at a time and not worry about water/soap drying on the car, etc.

 

[Desertnate]

I may look into it more and check out some videos on techniques/tools. For my little car, it might be a viable option for the simple maintenance wash.

For larger SUV's that are frequently filthy is it a viable option? I have to admit that standing on step ladder and using a pole-mounted mitt to wash and using the hose to rinse the entire roof is a pretty fast and easy way to attack the problem.

 

[BLM]

For larger SUV's that are frequently filthy is it a viable option?

Absolutely. I wash my Tacoma with a cap 95% of the time with rinseless. I use a two ft ladder to reach the roof.
Ive seen videos of folks washing some pretty dirty vehicles with rinseless wash. When my vehicles are what I consider pretty dirty I usually foam them with some touchless cleaner and rinse that off with a hose. Then proceed with a regular rinseless.
In my opinion rinseless is easier and quicker than shampoo washing.

 

[Bunky]

You decide the technique by the condition of the paint. I suspect many use products that are overkill like wheel cleaners (some $$) when soap and water will often clean them well with a little agitation.

 

[Optimus Grime]

You decide the technique by the condition of the paint. I suspect many use products that are overkill like wheel cleaners (some $$) when soap and water will often clean them well with a little agitation.

Agreed. The last few vehicles I've washed required nothing more than my rinseless water.

 

[Bunky]

Sometimes these dicussions get about comparing degrees of safety. If one bucket is ok, then two buckets is better, so why not 3 buckets. This has been the same with foam usual two or more foam passes. I have been known to prepare two buckets and only use it half the time even with rinseless. I do not find it a major time add but maybe I am not "rinsing" the same as others. It is closer to a dunk than some detail rinsing process.

I recall years ago I saw a method where the detailer had the foam cannon in the right hand and a mitt in his left then sprayed and wiped at the same time.

 

[Coatingsarecrack]

Sometimes these dicussions get about comparing degrees of safety. If one bucket is ok, then two buckets is better, so why not 3 buckets. This has been the same with foam usual two or more foam passes. I have been known to prepare two buckets and only use it half the time even with rinseless. I do not find it a major time add but maybe I am not "rinsing" the same as others. It is closer to a dunk than some detail rinsing process.

I recall years ago I saw a method where the detailer had the foam cannon in the right hand and a mitt in his left then sprayed and wiped at the same time.

I believe Setec and another guy from Autopia do it that way with a Gilmour. I do it in summer with multiple mitts. Mo lube no better.

I first saw it from Larry from Ammo

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[Setec Astronomy]

I believe Setec and another guy from Autopia do it that way with a Gilmour.

No, I use a foam gun for conventional wash, but I don't do it that way, you're thinking of Bill D.

The guy on Autopia puts the foam gun INSIDE the mitt: https://www.autopia.org/threads/accumulators-non-marring-wash-technique.72365/

That thread is old and didn't survive some of the forum upgrades very well.

 

[Coatingsarecrack]

No, I use a foam gun for conventional wash, but I don't do it that way, you're thinking of Bill D.

The guy on Autopia puts the foam gun INSIDE the mitt: https://www.autopia.org/threads/accumulators-non-marring-wash-technique.72365/

That thread is old and didn't survive some of the forum upgrades very well.

Sorry there was another I talk to who credited bill D but didn’t put it in foam gun like bill. Did it more like the video. His name reminded me of yours but can’t remember.


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