REALLY basic question - how much fluid in your wash bucket?

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TMetzinger

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I'm posing this because I'm a detail oriented engineer and I'd like to get things down to a repeatable process...

I use a two-bucket method - I've got two 5 Gal buckets, both with grit guards, and I fill up the rinse bucket with probably 4 gallons of water. Then I mix up the wash bucket, and this is where it gets unclear. Ratio of wash to water is 1 Oz per Gal. But, am I trying to take a gallon of water and make a bucket of suds? Take two gallons of water and make some soapy water with suds on top? Three? Keep in mind that the top of the grit guard is probably at the 1/2 gallon fluid level.

Reason for all this overthinking is to figure out how much soap I need per wash and then I can figure out how often I need to order a new batch of wash shampoo.

Best wishes,
Tim
 
I usually wing with about 4 oz to a 5 gallon filled almost to the top with water,if it doesn't stay sudsy enough add more soap.

You can a pretty close measurement with a 6 oz Styrofoam coffee cup
 
Read the manufacturers direction. All soaps are not created equal. Example, Car Pro's Reset is 1 oz. per 4 gallons of water.
 
It's actually pretty easy to figure out... Pour in 1 Gal of water (from a 1 gal container). On the outside of the bucket with a perm marker, place a mark... do this until you get to 5. Home Depot buckets are close to about 5 1/2 gal... There is a plastic ring around the top of the bucket, about 2" from the top... This is about the 5 gal mark.

Do this for all your buckets, Wash, Rinse and Wheels... (I use a 3BM - 1 bucket dedicated for wheels).

Then you'll be able to mix the soap... I'm over generous on soap... I use Megs Hyper Wash and CarPro Reset. I typically will use about 2 oz's of HW, and 1 oz of Reset all mixed in the same bucket. But this gives me a good idea of how much I'll use over "x" amount of washes.

Hope this helps!
 
Maybe skip the Grit Guard in your wash bucket? In theory, the mitt going back in should be clean. If you still want to use it, then figure out how much water it takes to make it to level with the Grit Guard, and adjust your wash ratio accordingly.

Most people don't go with exact figures. I tend to myself, but I'm a bit crazy. I do the same with cooking and my wife laughs at me.

Add your car wash at the end. Water first, THEN add the wash. Mix with a stick, brush, arm, whatever. If you want suds, blast it with the hose to get some. That shouldn't add too much water to the mix. Of course, if you want to get anal about it, you can always blast water into an empty bucket to get a rough idea as to how much water you will be adding. Then, mix your wash accordingly.

In the end, don't overthink it. An extra ounce of wash, or another 20oz of water isn't going to ruin the wash. I don't think it will.
 
I wash 1 car easy with 2gal of water. I pour in 1-2oz soap (depending on soap directions). Then I bring the bucket out side and spray with jet stream setting into the bucket to make the suds.

I’ve never had any issues with what seems a lack of lubriciation, and I don’t run out of soup. This works for a midsize sedan or a compact SUV. I don’t scrub hard with my MF mitt, just a light pass over each all the paint, doing a few sections at a time.

I’m surprised others fill their soap buckets so high (4-5 gal).
 
3-4 gallons of whatever I happen to be using. (Meg's HW for a full wash, or WG Uber for a rinseless)

MANY towels/mitts dunked into the solution. A soiled one never goes back into the wash medium.

My grit guards have pretty much went the way of the Dodo bird since I have been using this method.
 
I just eyeball my soap, probably on the high side, never had any problems.
 
acuRAS82 said:
I’m surprised others fill their soap buckets so high (4-5 gal).
Click to expand...

Ahh, I’m guessing you guys use 3-5 gallons per wash due to using many mitts/MF towels. I haven’t graduated to that yet, although I have enough supplies to. I guess I just get hesitant about having to put 15 mitts or 40 towels in the washer just due to cleaning two cars on the weekend.
 
I bought a little 2 oz measuring from the food department at my local grocery store. I’m sure you can find one on amazon. I usually fill my 5 gallon bucket 3/4 way full with water, then I add my soap and then I hit the water with a Blast from the pressure washer and boom you have suds! But as said before most professional soaps will have a recommended dilution ratio. The reason for this being that too much soap leaves residue on the surface which could interfere with whatever LSP you have.


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I ditched the 5 gallon buckets. I noticed I never used all that wash mix. Ended up with 2.5 gallon buckets from home depot. Love the smaller size
So much easier to take on a mobile job (when needed) and less water wasted. Works for me. I keep clean mitts in a bin, and pull as needed
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I use 2 gallons of ONR in a 5 gallon bucket. Since using ONR have started doing wheels last, so when I get to the wheels I just fill the bucket up with water to rinse my brushes. I use Wheel Brightner most of the time unless I think it's bare metal or paint is damaged. For tires and wheel wells I use degreaser.
 
most soaps are so concentrated these days, using more than 3 ounces isn't really necessary. most usually don't fill the 5 gallon buckets all the way up with water anyway. you can always experiment and see what works for you...
 
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