Proper Foam Cannon Technique w/ 2 Bucket Wash, looking for pointers

[thewiz8807]

Well my beauty is less than two weeks away and I want to prepare beforehand for all the love and joy I'll be putting into her (no pun intended fellas and ladies) once I have her in the drive way.

I'm pretty anal about keeping my car clean and I used to HAND WASH my older 2003 Altima every two weeks as well as clean the cloth interior.

I'm not so young and vigorous anymore and I'd like to maximize my efforts by working smarter, not harder.

I do plan on having the front of the car wrapped in 3M Clear Bra so I'm not sure how that will affect my car washing methods if there are important changes please let me know here as I'm making this thread in search of pointers.

Been looking online @ Foam Cannon videos and tutorials, going off of what I've seen in youtube videos and comments I've gathered this much


Materials:

Chemical Guys Foam Cannon and Detergent
2 buckets (1 for dirty water, 1 for foam water)
MicroFiber Cloth for drying
Wool Mitt for washing
Electric or Gas Pressure Washer

Technique:

Go over car with low PSI water pre-rinse to remove any dirt

Apply Foam thoroughly

Clean Foam covered rims while foam on body drips to bottom

Use Wool Mitt w/ 2 buckets method and clean car top to bottom

Rinse with water low PSI

Dry with Microfiber cloth



This is what I've gathered so far, if I'm missing anything please let me know! Thanks in advance

-wiz

Sponsored

 

[njarmstrong]

Hey, this is what I would recommend. First, for your clear bra - go the full hood and fenders, don't stop half way. Before you put it on make sure the paint underneath is PERFECT.

As for your steps:

1.) Rinse with water - entire car, roof downwards ending with the wheels.
2.) If you are using wheel cleaner for iron apply now, let dwell. If not, step 3.
3.) Foam up one wheel/wheel well. Wash completely and rinse. Move to the next wheels one at a time.
4.) Foam up entire car [avoiding wheels] - depending on dirt level do one of two things: a.) Let dwell and pull additional dirt away, rinse and apply foam again, b.) Begin washing.
5.) In your wash designated bucket take MF cloth or mitt (I use 6 cloths per wash), Fold into 8's, lightly move cloth over. At the end of that pass use a new section. Once all sections have been used once put into rinse bucket - these are done for the day. If you are using a mitt ensure you have a grit guard in your rinse bucket. Completely remove any dirt from the mitt. For this reason I don't like mitts, chance of something getting stuck and marring the paint.
6.) Open doors, gas cap, hood, trunk, wash all edges and close up.
7.) Rince car with pressure washer or hose, won't really matter.
8.) Using a light stream sheet the water off starting at the roof, this will leave your car nearly dry.
9.) If using a towel for drying have a dedicated towel for the paint, and one for the wheels. Use a drying aid like a quick detailer to allow for some lubrication of the towel. Or, use compressed air. No chance of marring caused by drying this way.

 

[mvp90805]

3 buckets one for the wheels too you don't wanna mix the wheel stuff with the paint
And 2 wash mits one for the top part of car and one for bottom since the bottom part is the most dirty and has all rocks and sort ect

Always start with the wheels so you won't get the car paint wet and leave water marks

Rinse the wheels ,use wheel cleaner (chemical guys Diablo,Adams deep wheel cleaner)
And all perpous cleaner for the tires

Once you done all 4 wheels

Get all the car wash stuff ready to go

Rinse the car and foam it wih the foam cannon
Then start the 2 bucket wash one mitt for the top and one for the bottom so you won't risk scratching the top of the paint

Once you done with that spray water take off all soap and

Get some detail spray (Adams detail spray, chemical guys after wash, v7 ect)
Before you dry to make it easier to dry and it won't leave water marks on the car and gives it some shine

And have about 3 big microfiber waffle drying towels ready to go( the more the less chance of scratching and better drying) and less watermarks

After that you can go in and seal it ,glaze,wax ext for perfect shine and protection


Remember the more towels the better and also using the right stuff is better , better to spend than some cheap pep boys stuff,

 

[njarmstrong]

Yes, 3 buckets. That said with my GT wheels I now use a 4th rinse bucket for the wheels to help reduce marring of the wheel finish, very scratchy.

 

[dabears2322]

Do not mean to thread jack, but are there make shift foam cannons that work without a pressure washer?

 

[Nitro]

I've been using my foam cannon before anything else touches the car.

1. Foam car while dry
2. Let it settle for a little while
3. Rinse with pressure washer
4. Regular 2 bucket method with 2 grit guards in the rinse bucket

 

[thewiz8807]

I've been using my foam cannon before anything else touches the car.

1. Foam car while dry
2. Let it settle for a little while
3. Rinse with pressure washer
4. Regular 2 bucket method with 2 grit guards in the rinse bucket

no swirls and/or scratches?

 

[mvp90805]

no swirls and/or scratches?

also depends how you wash your microfiber towels and how many you use

you cant use one for the whole car the more the better

and same for the mits 2 or more the better

Sponsored