Need Vs. Want (Newbie Question)

I didn't really use proper methods either for years. I started about 10 years ago trying to change my habits and learn like you are now. I started watching videos online to start with, and ended up on this forum more recently.

What I learned first, is to stop any bad habits from marking up the paint, and then keeping the paint looking good once it's fixed. It's the little things over time that turn your finish into something that needs work to make it look good again.

It is a lot of fun to learn how to make your ride looking awesome again. There is a lot of good information that can be found on this forum, your on the right track to learning what you need to know!

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Companies like Meguiar's offer great starting points.

Their car wash formulations are all safe for waxed cars.
They offer a simple line of microfiber towels and drying specific towels.
Nice wheel cleaner.
Nice tire shine.
Clay Bar kit.
Basic cleaner wax...
Mitts, brushes, etc.

Just about everything one would need to do the basics.
 
For a normal person just washing a normal car in the drive way don't over think it. Don't get too overboard or it won't be fun and you won't do it. Here is what I would do.

Get three buckets, one for rinse one for wash one for wheels/tires. On the wash bucket mark the outside with lines of gallon intervals so you know how much soap to add. Don't worry about the grit guards, most here use them, i do in all my buckets but if you don't, your car isn't going to notice.
Real carwash soap, get what is on sale, a jug will last a year or two of washing your own car in the driveway.
Get a wash mit not a sponge
For wheels and tires a wheel cleaner works on both, just a couple squirts on the wheel and tire. You already have a tire and wheel brush so you are good, just know either one isn't for the body.

If you don't have a polisher and have no interest in one just get some quality sealant even Meguiars Ultimate Wax (really a sealant) works great, is easy to use, and produces great results.
Get the corresponding spray wax, after you wash while the car is still wet sqirt a spray or two per panel then dry like normal. With that a couple times a month you should get great longevity on your protection. If you wax in spring and fall you will be great.
That would be what I would do for the outside.
Inside Stoners aerosol glass cleaner works well and is inexpensive.
Find a all in one cleaner protectant like Meguiars quick interior detailer. I use it, but am going to try something different next, the smell isn't the greatest. If you keep up on the interior that should be enough for cleaning.
If you have leather again a cleaner protectant is where I would go. They work, and without too much work.

Yes there are other ways to go, personally I do it a bit different, but spending hours cleaning my car is fun, it gets me out of the house and is my break. If spending 3+ hours every other week isn't in your cards what I suggested will work.
If you want to purchase special towels for drying, special ones for wheels, special ones for tires, special ones... you get the idea again great we can help, but for new people that is overwhelming and expensive. For the average person who just wants a clean car to go to work people used old bath towels for years and never thought different.
Remember you want to keep this fun, it's easy to get so much stuff for every little thing it isn't fun anymore and you won't use any of it.

Another idea is pay a detailer once a year to get your car perfect then just maintain it best you can.
 
lovenhim said:
Alright. Next question. Two bucket method or foam gun? I do not own a preasure washer so no foam cannon. This guy here in a video is very anti two bucket. It is all about choice I guess.

YouTube
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The problem with foaming the car, you still do a regular two bucket wash. I would skip that.
 
acuRAS82 said:
In the Need vs Want, 2 bucket is a Need, Foam gun is a Want
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Neither 2 bucket or foam gun/cannon is a need. A much safer way to wash than the 2bm is using one bucket with your soap solution and using multiple wash mitts this way a dirty wash mitt never ever goes back into your clean wash bucket. I don't care how many grit guards and how long you rinse your mitt it will still have dirt in it.

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I can certainly be on board with that. There is a professional detailer with a Youtube channel from Dallas , TX that feels the same way. He does not care for the two bucket method and feels that if you are going to use a bucket to wash the car....it is safer to use several wash mitts......like one would use several buffing pads during a cleaning process. I guess it all boils down to what a person feels is best. Me, I prefer the simple methods and I like the "less is more" approach. I would feel differently if I were doing this for speed, money, or a living. :)

bfielder32087 said:
Neither 2 bucket or foam gun/cannon is a need. A much safer way to wash than the 2bm is using one bucket with your soap solution and using multiple wash mitts this way a dirty wash mitt never ever goes back into your clean wash bucket. I don't care how many grit guards and how long you rinse your mitt it will still have dirt in it.

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Click to expand...
 
I can certainly be on board with that. There is a professional detailer with a Youtube channel from Dallas , TX that feels the same way. He does not care for the two bucket method and feels that if you are going to use a bucket to wash the car....it is safer to use several wash mitts......like one would use several buffing pads during a cleaning process. I guess it all boils down to what a person feels is best. Me, I prefer the simple methods and I like the "less is more" approach. I would feel differently if I were doing this for speed, money, or a living. :)

bfielder32087 said:
Neither 2 bucket or foam gun/cannon is a need. A much safer way to wash than the 2bm is using one bucket with your soap solution and using multiple wash mitts this way a dirty wash mitt never ever goes back into your clean wash bucket. I don't care how many grit guards and how long you rinse your mitt it will still have dirt in it.

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Click to expand...
 
lovenhim said:
I can certainly be on board with that. There is a professional detailer with a Youtube channel from Dallas , TX that feels the same way. He does not care for the two bucket method and feels that if you are going to use a bucket to wash the car....it is safer to use several wash mitts......like one would use several buffing pads during a cleaning process. I guess it all boils down to what a person feels is best. Me, I prefer the simple methods and I like the "less is more" approach. I would feel differently if I were doing this for speed, money, or a living. :)
Click to expand...

You are correct. There are several ways to do a good job. It's all up to what you feel works for you, personally.

By the way, all of your posts/questions have been phenomenal. They have created great discussion. Very good to have you here on the forum. :props:
 
Thank you very much for the kind words. :) I like to learn. I want to know how and why. I do tend to over think things sometimes but that helps me to learn. Being born legally blind, I have to find ways to adapt and make things work for me in an efficient way. Here is an example.....One reason why a car wash foam gun interests me is because it removes the wash bucket or buckets from the walking area. In other words I do not have to walk around them, wonder if the hose will knock it over, etc. With a water hose attached foam gun I can have soap in one hand and clean wash mitt in the other. Less chance of missing the bucket trying to put the wash mitt back in it. When you spend six years in college getting an edjamakation....you learn a lot about research and how to find information. I like discussion and friendly debate. If it is done correctly....you can learn from it. I personally like the tried & true, the simple, and the "if it aint broke don't fix it" method. Yes car wash technology has changed, but in reality is a certain car care product that costs five times an older car care product worth the money? Are the results five times better or are you gaining 1-2% better quality? The goal for our little hatchback is to make it last while looking good. I would rather have the longer lasting paint protection of a synthetic wax compared to the better shine of a pure carnauba wax. To me that makes a $10 bottle of Mothers synthetic a better value than a $10 bottle of Mother Carnuba wax. I can get a five gallon bucket from Wallys World for cheap and not pay a big price for some company name on the same bucket. LOL

PaulMys said:
You are correct. There are several ways to do a good job. It's all up to what you feel works for you, personally.

By the way, all of your posts/questions have been phenomenal. They have created great discussion. Very good to have you here on the forum. :props:
Click to expand...
 
I think the 2BM is a waste of time, along with using regular soap. The easiest way with the best results is using rinseless wash outta 1 bucket with many towels.

People say your car can be too dirty for that. If so, just adjust the process - pressure rinse the car first just like you would for a regular wash then do a rinseless. It’s still faster because you are not cleaning a mitt or rinsing soap off a car. Or, trying to avoid water spots by keeping the car wet.

1 bucket is less to set up and fill & you don’t need a grit guard. Actually, I keep a 5 gallon bucket filled with rinseless solution & about 20 towels sealed with a gamma lid - so no mixing for me usually at all. No bucket to rinse or empty either. Takes about 4 good towels per wash.

Use DI water in yr wash solution and just let the car drip dry. Then just wipe it down when your done. You can do this in direct sun. All these things will save you a significant amount of time with better results IME. Also, depending on the RW - you can be adding some protection. Rinseless wash solution is as versatile as regular soap - you just have to adjust the process based on conditions. But, it’s always faster.

And a foam cannon does little if anything - besides make you feel good and is fun. On the other hand, a pressure washer is essential - it will remove significantly more dirt than any hose and use less water.
 
I lean both ways to washing my vehicles. I will do a waterless wash no matter what if I can get away with it. But, I live in Michigan, and I can't always do that in the winter. But I do utilize a touchless car wash then, and a waterless wash after IF it is actually clean enough. I find the salt on these roads here like to stick to the bottom of the vehicle even after going through the wash. So if salt is still on the paint, I just call it good enough, and wait till it goes through another wash.

When I do actually do the 2 bucket wash, it's in the warm months, and mainly when it's too dirty for a waterless wash. I also have a PW, and a foam cannon. So I feel I am wasting time with the buckets if I have the PW & foam cannon out, but I do it anyway LOL!

I like the less is better approach. Even if I am still spending a lot of time washing/detailing, I am always looking for a way to do it more efficently. Don't get me wrong here, I love the satisfaction of doing it, and the outcome of it. But I'm getting older (aren't we all), and I have a wife and kids. So the easier and quicker something is, that doesn't do any harm to the paint in the process, is the way I would like to do it.



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My wife, daughter, and myself live with family on a small hobby farm. My parents, aunt, and uncle are retired. We live here to help out with the farm work and chores. I got to load and unload a pickup bed full of hay today, yippie. :) Water here is not an issue as they are on a well. I am the dedicated vehicles washing person. If there 2008 Dodge 4x4 is dirty....I am the one that gets to wash it. The truck needs help. It needs swirl and scratch removal via a DA polisher. Once my DA arrives in the mail I will have to use the truck for practice. LOL There are some great folks on this forum who are helping me along with getting my first DA polisher setup and running.
 
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