Which wash method is the "best"?

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Detailed Josh

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I know this is probably going to bring up a preference thing, but trying to decide which route I want to truly go. I already sorted committed to the Garry Dean method by buying Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine and a ton of microfiber towels. It still seems odd to me, and trying to think long term from a business stance what makes more sense?

So those of you who've been in the business for a while what makes the most sense financially, time wise, and quality (not instilling swirls vs one method could, etc)?
 
Maintenance wash GDWM for me- in depth 2bucket and (if available) foam gun.
 
Mach1USMC said:
Maintenance wash GDWM for me- in depth 2bucket and (if available) foam gun.
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:iagree: with this right here. I use gdwm and love it. Best way not to add swirls to the paint seeing as how dirty was media never goes back in the bucket.
 
I don't think there is any "best" way - if I had a house and a hose, I'd use a foam gun, if I was a detailer with a truck, I'd use a pressure foam gun, if I was in an apt condo, I'd use a GDWM rinseless method.

And then how dirty is it?....I never understand these "best wax", "best wash", "best XXX" questions, as there is never a "best" anything....
 
Rinseless for maintenance washes

2BM for first wash/clay/seal
 
glen e said:
I don't think there is any "best" way - if I had a house and a hose, I'd use a foam gun, if I was a detailer with a truck, I'd use a pressure foam gun, if I was in an apt condo, I'd use a GDWM rinseless method.

And then how dirty is it?....I never understand these "best wax", "best wash", "best XXX" questions, as there is never a "best" anything....
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Well I'm mainly focusing on this for those with business's standpoint with those 3 key points I mentioned.
 
If you don't want to to the gdwm, then this is what I usually do.

Pressure washer with a foam gun as a pre-wash. Let the suds sit

Then do the 2bm with onr in one and water in the other. Maybe use two mitts one for each side if you want to be extra careful. I use a micro-chenille mitt.

Most swirls can come from drying so I would suggest a blower of some sort. Then spot dry with a mf towel.

The gdwm can use a lot of towels and I really never do it because of that. But 1oz of dg 901 in a foam cannon and onr with the 2bm creates a real slick surface for the mitt too glide across and cleans really well.
 
glen e said:
I don't think there is any "best" way - if I had a house and a hose, I'd use a foam gun, if I was a detailer with a truck, I'd use a pressure foam gun, if I was in an apt condo, I'd use a GDWM rinseless method.

And then how dirty is it?....I never understand these "best wax", "best wash", "best XXX" questions, as there is never a "best" anything....
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N
o offense, but I hate it when peple say this. There is a best way for anything. It may not be the best way that lasts forever because new things are discovered every day but there is a current best way. Just find out what they are looking for in what they are asking. There has to be something you can usually go off of without even having to ask especially in a situation like this. Even without reading about him wanting efficiency the first thing i thought of was the gdwn which I agree is the best way. It's the best because it is very safe and you don't re-use the towels or put the dirt back on. There has to be some level of assumption or a level of understanding when a question comes up like this.

If someone wants the best wax I would point them toward something that is the most efficient and best bang for your buck like collinite and tell them the pros and cons.
 
Couldn't have said it better Brad, that is what I was basically getting at with starting this thread.

I'm down with doing the GDWM as I said I've already committed to buying some ONR and a decent amount of microfibers. I like the thought of treating all cars with high care, regardless of high end paint correction or even if it ends up being a daily driver I production detail that will probably swirl the heck out of it by washing it some poor way the next weekend, but still I want to set a standard.

I'm just wondering if in real world terms if the GDWM still works "best" as I said with those points.

Nothing like a little friendly debate on the topic so keep it up guys. :buffing::xyxthumbs:
 
Well i never used a foam gun ,iam not planning to buy , i stoped using the 2buckets methot. i only use one and my nissan with the butter soft paint has very minimal swirling..Why ??
I use only one bucket with the zymol sponge or the dodo juice sponge , i split the panel in half or to 3 and every time i wash the panel i rinse the sponge with the pressure washer .. i believe is the same with the 2 buckets methot.. also when iam drying the car i rinse again panel per panel with water and then minimal water left .. after i took the excess water with mf towels ..

everyone has different aproach
 
The best method in my opinion is to never introduce soiled wash media back into the wash bucket ...whatever method you prefer.

After my quest for the last few years to find out the answer for myself...I use a combination GD / Larry Kasillas technique. Fresh media per panel coupled with a stream of soapy water just ahead of the MF towel after an initial presoak and rinse.

Eliminates the two bucket grit guard entirely and is much safer.
 
If what works for you is best then it is the best method for you.
 
Is the Larry Kasillas the spraying ahead with wash media?

If someone goes with the one bucket ONR Garry Dean method what do you guys recommend for a mobile detailer (taking space into consideration since I don't have a van and lots of equipment) when encountering heavy soiled areas like the wheel wells, wheels, and lower portions that usually would require hosing off, but if you don't have a hose..then what? I recall seeing a video of a guy using a pesticide sprayer filled with cleaning solution/water, but still not sure if that would be enough to rinse wheels and other soiled areas.
 
I have no idea what it's supposed to be called, but if I have the time, I will always do a modified version of how Accumulator over at Autopia (.org) does his wash. Pressure wash loose grit and relatively large particles, then use a foam gun (not a foam cannon) to direct a stream of foamy water at the point my wash media contacts the paint. The constant stream of wash mixture carries away the rest of the film and dirt that the wash media dislodges, and by changing media every panel or so (currently using towels, though I'm considering buying a dozen or so Meguiar's wash mitts), I save time not having to use a rinse bucket (in fact, I only need a bucket to hold my wash media). It is still a more labor- and time-intensive method of washing though, so I'm not able to do it every time.
 
Hey guys a few more questions. I did some detailing this past weekend. I used the GDWM with ONR for the first time. Kind of an odd switch up from the conventional method, but seems promising as far as having a set standard of not introducing swirls regardless of doing an AIO or multi-step finish. Just concerned about the really dirty cars scenario for when I turn this into a legit business. I did my fiances car this weekend, and honestly it was probably too dirty to do a rinseless, and definitely could have used an actual pre-soak/rinse to get all the dirty/mud off the lower sections of the car. I didn't even do the wheel wells as they were caked with dirt. I plan on doing an actual AIO step another weekend and was just wanting to try this wash method.

Anyways if I'm not wanting to get an actual water tank and hose setup for when I do go mobile detailing what do I do in a situation if I encountered a car like that as a customers car? I like the GDWM with ONR a lot, but with heavily soiled areas like the wheel wells, fuel tank, hood hinge areas, trunk hinge areas, etc. not sure how to approach that without a mobile setup. Same with areas that require usually a lot of rinsing like wheel cleaners too?
 
Detailed Josh said:
Hey guys a few more questions. I did some detailing this past weekend. I used the GDWM with ONR for the first time. Kind of an odd switch up from the conventional method, but seems promising as far as having a set standard of not introducing swirls regardless of doing an AIO or multi-step finish. Just concerned about the really dirty cars scenario for when I turn this into a legit business. I did my fiances car this weekend, and honestly it was probably too dirty to do a rinseless, and definitely could have used an actual pre-soak/rinse to get all the dirty/mud off the lower sections of the car. I didn't even do the wheel wells as they were caked with dirt. I plan on doing an actual AIO step another weekend and was just wanting to try this wash method.

Anyways if I'm not wanting to get an actual water tank and hose setup for when I do go mobile detailing what do I do in a situation if I encountered a car like that as a customers car? I like the GDWM with ONR a lot, but with heavily soiled areas like the wheel wells, fuel tank, hood hinge areas, trunk hinge areas, etc. not sure how to approach that without a mobile setup. Same with areas that require usually a lot of rinsing like wheel cleaners too?
Click to expand...

Still looking for a solution for those typically heavily soiled areas.
 
You first need to define what your setup is ... Mobile, garage...etc

The best way to wash depends on what your goals are...speed, convenience, water source...

Need more info.
 
silverfox said:
The best way to wash depends on what your goals are...speed, convenience, water source...

Need more info.
Click to expand...

^ This right here, and might I add your paranoid level.

Why break out 2 buckets, 4 grit guards, pressure washer, foam cannon, and hose for 2.5 hours wash if other maintenance methods can be done in 30 minutes or less; but if time, convenience, and water is not an issue than choose any method you like.
 
silverfox said:
You first need to define what your setup is ... Mobile, garage...etc

The best way to wash depends on what your goals are...speed, convenience, water source...

Need more info.
Click to expand...

I guess setup to go "mobile" to someones vehicle location, and I will primarily rely on ONR so I'm not wanting a water tank setup/etc.

I also can't count on always having a hose hookup available. So what do I do if no water source? Or do you guys just demand they have it or they bring your vehicle to your location if not? So that you can pre-soak/rinse heavily soiled areas and still use ONR I guess is the solution to my problem you're talking about?

Plus part of me is just curious what detailers who live in areas with water restriction laws as ONR touts as a perk do in the situation of the heavily soiled areas I'm talking about?
 
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