Time Dilemma

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chadcj7

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I currently have a time dilemma when it comes to washing my F150. I feel for a wheels first and then 2 bucket wash method and with drying properly and then a final pray wax it takes almost 2 hours. I don't want to cut corners but I have been reading more and more about the foam cannons and foam guns. I do not have a pressure washer at this time but may in the future. Mostly talking about the foam guns.

I know there is a lot of different methods around the foam guns. Foam then 2 bucket method, foam then rinse bucket, foam then spray foam in mid and then 1 rinse bucket.....etc. I want to understand that if i use the foam gun on my truck and then use wash mid with just a rinse bucket if I will save time and still decrease my chance of swirls/marks/etc?

I don't mind doing the 2 bucket method but I have 2 kids now with one due pretty much any day. I want to try and keep my truck clean as much as I can without taking a half of a day to do this.

Also is there another method that I may be overlooking that can help me become more efficient in washing my large truck?

Thanks
 
Thanks for the link and suggestion. I will read through that

Also you said that you have been using foam gun for some time. How are you using it and does it effectively clean as good as a dual bucket method?
 
Of course it cleans as effectively as a two-bucket method (2BM), you're still washing the car the same way.

I use one bucket (rinse bucket with grit guard). I rinse the car off with water, foam a section at a time, wash as usual. I mean maybe it's marginally faster than using two buckets.

The real draw of the foam gun is that you get the value of some sort of "pre-soak" as the foam gets to dwell on the surface for some amount of time (depends on how long you let it dwell) to start to loosen/dissolve things before you mechanically contact the paint. However, I'm not convinced there is any real tangible benefit (as there is with pressure washing).

FWIW I still use conventional methods for wheels and tires even when I do a rinseless wash, partly beacause I have tons of conventional wash, but also because it just seems easier that way. Perhaps I just haven't been forced to develop a good rinseless technique for wheels.
 
withe types of wheels I have i would continue to do the conventional way as well. To many spokes to get in between. Also want to make sure the barrels are nice and clean as well
 
chadcj7 said:
I currently have a time dilemma when it comes to washing my F150. I feel for a wheels first and then 2 bucket wash method and with drying properly and then a final pray wax it takes almost 2 hours. I don't want to cut corners but I have been reading more and more about the foam cannons and foam guns. I do not have a pressure washer at this time but may in the future. Mostly talking about the foam guns.

I know there is a lot of different methods around the foam guns. Foam then 2 bucket method, foam then rinse bucket, foam then spray foam in mid and then 1 rinse bucket.....etc. I want to understand that if i use the foam gun on my truck and then use wash mid with just a rinse bucket if I will save time and still decrease my chance of swirls/marks/etc?

I don't mind doing the 2 bucket method but I have 2 kids now with one due pretty much any day. I want to try and keep my truck clean as much as I can without taking a half of a day to do this.

Also is there another method that I may be overlooking that can help me become more efficient in washing my large truck?

Thanks
Click to expand...

A foam gun isn't going to save you any time.. I'm not sure how many mitts you're using during your bucket wash, but if you're only using 1 try buying 5-6 more and put them all in your bucket come wash time. That way you don't have to constantly lean over and dunk your arm into the rinse bucket.. Instead you can just toss a used mitt into your second bucket and grab a fresh 1 and continue washing. You should be able to get through half the truck or more before stopping.

And if you want to make it even faster and safer, instead of dunking the mitts when it comes time... Just quikly rinse them off with your hose nozzle and toss them back into your wash bucket.

After you rinse the soap off your truck, make sure to do a final sheeting rinse if you're not already doing so.. After that the drying process should take no more than 6min. Hope this helps.
 
Another tip: Get yourself an ordinary squeegee and use it immediately after you've rinsed all
The soap off your truck. Doing this is quik and will leave your windows about 90% and greatly reduces the time you'll need to spend on them later with glass cleaner and towel...

What's your process for cleaning your wheels & tires? Products?
 
A rinseless wash should save you some time. Although it takes me about 2 hours to do my Charger (I'm slow), paint, wheels/tires and glass.
 
Currently i use Eagle One PVD wheel and tire cleaner as it is safe on my PVD Wheels. After spraying that on the tires and wheels and letting it dwell for about 2 minutes I use a combination of hard bristle brush for tires and wheel woolies on the barrels and wheels. These sit in a soapy bucket with 2 grit guards

I do one wheel at a time. After washing them I then move on to the rest of the truck. The wheels have a decent amount of spoke and are not the easiest to clean. hen I am done washing the car and drying I then dry the wheels with Meg's UQW
 
chadcj7 said:
Currently i use Eagle One PVD wheel and tire cleaner as it is safe on my PVD Wheels. After spraying that on the tires and wheels and letting it dwell for about 2 minutes I use a combination of hard bristle brush for tires and wheel woolies on the barrels and wheels. These sit in a soapy bucket with 2 grit guards

I do one wheel at a time. After washing them I then move on to the rest of the truck. The wheels have a decent amount of spoke and are not the easiest to clean. hen I am done washing the car and drying I then dry the wheels with Meg's UQW
Click to expand...

You should look into a Master Blaster Sidekick. It's great for drying wheels & tires, and all the nooks & crannies. You'd love that thing.
 
You can probably cut your time by doing a wheel wax or wheel coating; one wheel per week if you want to do a little at a time. Maintenance would be a breeze there.

Rinseless is the way to go as others have stated.
 
chadcj7 said:
I currently have a time dilemma when it comes to washing my F150. I feel for a wheels first and then 2 bucket wash method and with drying properly and then a final pray wax it takes almost 2 hours. I don't want to cut corners but I have been reading more and more about the foam cannons and foam guns. I do not have a pressure washer at this time but may in the future. Mostly talking about the foam guns.

I know there is a lot of different methods around the foam guns. Foam then 2 bucket method, foam then rinse bucket, foam then spray foam in mid and then 1 rinse bucket.....etc. I want to understand that if i use the foam gun on my truck and then use wash mid with just a rinse bucket if I will save time and still decrease my chance of swirls/marks/etc?

I don't mind doing the 2 bucket method but I have 2 kids now with one due pretty much any day. I want to try and keep my truck clean as much as I can without taking a half of a day to do this.

Also is there another method that I may be overlooking that can help me become more efficient in washing my large truck?
Click to expand...


Pics of said truck especially wheels. I've found doing the wheels first and getting them out of the way is key for my spirits as I hate doing wheels. I've coated mine which really helps reduce the dust/gunk on them. I also switched to a longer nap MF glove/mit that I can wash the wheel face with. I use a speed brush on the inner sections but if I'm in a hurry I won't do those.

Next I would also suggest a rinseless system. At the very least use a good rinseless mixed up as a detail spray or drying aid. Good ones like Wolfgang Uber fit the bill and will save you from needing a spray wax or detailer at the end.

Just a couple points that have saved me some time.
 
I always to the wheels first to make sure I get any extra overspray that may happen.

I am trying to upload a pic of my truck but I am having a hard time from my iPad. I think the file is to large. i will upload one later .
 
If time is an issue, rinseless washes like ONR is the answer - maybe not the first time, but once you get used to it you can wash your car way faster. Not only do you save time, you don't have to worry about waterspots either. If you are not familiar with the method, YouTube has tons of tutorials.
 
After reading through this and doing some research on things it sounds like rinseless wash may be the answer not only for speed but also for during the months when it is colder.

Does anyone have a microfiber towel they recommend for this along with wash mit?
 
chadcj7 said:
After reading through this and doing some research on things it sounds like rinseless wash may be the answer not only for speed but also for during the months when it is colder.

Does anyone have a microfiber towel they recommend for this along with wash mit?
Click to expand...

Costco Kirklands and Meguiars Water Magnets to dry.
 
chadcj7 said:
After reading through this and doing some research on things it sounds like rinseless wash may be the answer not only for speed but also for during the months when it is colder.

Does anyone have a microfiber towel they recommend for this along with wash mit?
Click to expand...

I would only use Costco towels for wheels/glass/interiors - later I'll post links to the towels that I use.
 
tdekany said:
I would only use Costco towels for wheels/glass/interiors - later I'll post links to the towels that I use.
Click to expand...

I like them. The short nap and size makes them very easy to work with + they don't lint. I also like how they can be treated like little workhorses if need be without cringing about it being a precious microfiber towel. If it's gotta clean up some heavy duty grime, no problem because the price doesn't make me feel bad if I gotta chuck 1 of them.
I wouldn't use them on glass, I only use 30/70 waffle weave for glass. Interiors? Only to wipedown the dashboard.. Not for any real cleaning. I don't use them on wheels, I use my old stock of Supreme Shines for that sort of stuff.
 
chadcj7 said:
After reading through this and doing some research on things it sounds like rinseless wash may be the answer not only for speed but also for during the months when it is colder.

Does anyone have a microfiber towel they recommend for this along with wash mit?
Click to expand...

The Korean 480gsm Eagle Edgeless. They hold a ton of water and are super soft and slick when used with Rinseless Products. See the pic in my avatar. I use them for Rinseless Washes and for removal waxes. They come in various colors for us OCD Peeps that like to keep everything separate.
 
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