Single Bucket Wash Method

[Lorne34]

Purchased a set of Bucket Dollies with Casters from Obsessed Garage. Really well built and love the adjustment screws for different sized buckets. I now have 3 buckets. One for Wheels, one for full foam wash and one for ONR maintenance washes.
Here is a video that talks about a single bucket wash method.
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[Oakley]

i use one bucket BUT i rinse the car with the power washer and i never use the wheel stuff for paint.

 

[Lorne34]

i use one bucket BUT i rinse the car with the power washer and i never use the wheel stuff for paint.

yeah you really need that separate wash bucket and tools for the wheels to avoid cross contamination

 

[Oakley]

yeah you really need that separate wash bucket and tools for the wheels to avoid cross contamination

I just use dish soap for my wheels. a little dab of dawn on the mitt, spray down, wash, rinse. no bucket at all. but my wheels aren't hard to clean or some fancy finish.

 

[GrabberBargeCaptain]

I've never bothered with the foam guns or whatnot. I just dump a bunch of towels in my soap bucket and take a towel, fold it 4x and use each surface and never use the towel again for the wash.. then go to the next towel. There's no need for the rinse bucket since you're done with the used towels. If my car was covered in mud i guess I'd see the need for the foam cannon?

If my car aint too dirty i use the rinseless stuff with their sponge, also works fine.

This Pan guy is a blowhard BTW, gets paid crazy $$$ by companies to shill their products. So much BS in the car detailing industry.

 

[Lorne34]

I've never bothered with the foam guns or whatnot. I just dump a bunch of towels in my soap bucket and take a towel, fold it 4x and use each surface and never use the towel again for the wash.. then go to the next towel. There's no need for the rinse bucket since you're done with the used towels. If my car was covered in mud i guess I'd see the need for the foam cannon?

If my car aint too dirty i use the rinseless stuff with their sponge, also works fine.

This Pan guy is a blowhard BTW, gets paid crazy $$$ by companies to shill their products. So much BS in the car detailing industry.

wow.... tough crowd....
I'm certainly not endorsing Pan the Organizer, although I do find him to be a lot more informative than some of the useless you tubers who do nothing but buy cars, mod them, beat them up, and then buy something new when the content dries up (Stang Mode, etc..).
No, you don't have to use a pressure washer, foam cannon, etc etc.
But it does make the wash process easier and with less risk of scratching up your paint, especially if the car is extra dirty.
I don't do a full wash every time, but when it gets dirty the PW comes in handy. I have it around the house for other things as well, so not really something I purchased specifically for car detailing alone.
ONR rinseless for maintenance washes in between a full wash with soap is a great method to use, as you mentioned.

 

[DFB5.0]

Purchased a set of Bucket Dollies with Casters from Obsessed Garage. Really well built and love the adjustment screws for different sized buckets. I now have 3 buckets. One for Wheels, one for full foam wash and one for ONR maintenance washes.
Here is a video that talks about a single bucket wash method.
.

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I do something similar. One bucket dedicated to wheels, one bucket for washing/rinse-less washing. In that I mean applying the soap via foam cannon for thorough coverage and maximum lubrication, then using just the one bucket to rinse the wash mitt between sections.

I do have to laugh at the headline that accompanies Pan's video, as if the "one-bucket-method" is a new idea, I've been doing it like that for many years now. He has the "Pan the Advertiser" tagline for a reason.

 

[kilobravo]

Purchased a set of Bucket Dollies with Casters from Obsessed Garage.

Lorne: I've had the dollies for many years and have just been using the standard five-gallon buckets from your typical "home improvement store."

But, what I learned is...

Do NOT tighten the plastic adjustment knobs too tight or they will put a hole in your new bucket. Wound up throwing my OG buckets away after TWO began to leak. Just tighten them barely enough to keep the bucket in the dolly.

I actually think the OG buckets are thinner than those from the home improvement stores but, I haven't mic'd them to know for sure. IAE, I've put holes in both types of buckets before I learned the error of my ways.

yeah you really need that separate wash bucket and tools for the wheels to avoid cross contamination

I agree, Lorne, and after many years of two-bucket washes. I even use two for the wheels, one with wheel cleaning solution and one with rinse water for the wheel tools. Of course, I also rinse the tools with the PW after each wheel.

When the wheels are done, I dump and rinse the buckets and then refill them with fresh water and pH neutral soap (CG Snow Foam,) for the body. I also use a 25-degree nozzle for wheels and a 40-degree nozzle for the painted surfaces.

But, I always use an electric PW and foam cannon for both the wheels and paint using the appropriate detergent for each. Car washing is just SO much more efficient and easier with a quality electric machine.

No, you don't have to use a pressure washer, foam cannon, etc etc.
But it does make the wash process easier and with less risk of scratching up your paint, especially if the car is extra dirty.

Completely agree again, Lorne for the reason you mentioned. I even rinse after the foam's dwell time without any agitation, and then hand wash the car. I do this because I KNOW the foam releases much of the dust and dirt and by rinsing the vehicle after foaming without any agitation, I automatically reduce the possibility of scratching the paint.

But here's the thing.

I believe that some folks either don't see the spider marring or, think the clear coat is shiny enough and it's the latter group who are not as OCD as some others, many of whom profess that a PW is not required.

Me, I can't NOT see the spiders so I go out of my way to eliminate the possibility of creating them and it is my belief that foaming and then rinsing a car before touching it is the best way to avoid them.

YMMV

 

[shogun32]

I even use two for the wheels, one with wheel cleaning solution and one with rinse water for the wheel tools.

Wait you're supposed to wash wheels? I thought that's why everyone and their dog chooses black wheels.

 

[DFB5.0]

Wait you're supposed to wash wheels? I thought that's why everyone and their dog chooses black wheels.

Not really.......................

 

[Brisvegas]

Not really.......................

I got to be honest i am actually shocked you let your wheels get that dirty

i use a one bucket system sort of . I first give car a light pressure wash all over to remove dust and bird sh!t etc . Then click on foamer and give it a good suds up , Wait 5-10 minutes then using the bucket from my last wash with the leftover wash in it ( snap a lid on it ) to wash the wheels first . I then rinse out bucket then add fresh wash and water to wash the car . this bucket snap lid on and use leftover for wheel wash on next wash . Usual pressure wash suds of , dry using jet blower , compressor air to blow air from wheels , hood vents , doorhandles , mirrors , then once over with a microfibre cloth . Simple effective and no uneccesary expense . My paint looks great with no marring at all

 

[DFB5.0]

I got to be honest i am actually shocked you let your wheels get that dirty

Yeah, I photoshopped that image to make the wheel look dirty, you know, so that it looked like I had an excuse to wash them................................................

 

[kilobravo]

I got to be honest i am actually shocked you let your wheels get that dirty

I had the exact same thought as soon as I saw the image.

i use a one bucket system sort of .

Bris: I'd say you have it wired and I do almost exactly the same procedure.

Yeah, I photoshopped that image

I'm in PS for hours nearly ever day and I know it would be nearly impossible to fake that photo digitally, D.

Even so, it was damn funny!

 

[WD Pro]

I even rinse after the foam's dwell time without any agitation, and then hand wash the car. I do this because I KNOW the foam releases much of the dust and dirt and by rinsing the vehicle after foaming without any agitation, I automatically reduce the possibility of scratching the paint.

But here's the thing.

I believe that some folks either don't see the spider marring or, think the clear coat is shiny enough and it's the latter group who are not as OCD as some others, many of whom profess that a PW is not required.

Me, I can't NOT see the spiders so I go out of my way to eliminate the possibility of creating them and it is my belief that foaming and then rinsing a car before touching it is the best way to avoid them.

YMMV

I agree with the above 100%.

110% for the bit I put in bold ...

WD

 

[Evolvd]

I like Pan’s videos, and who cares if he gets paid to advertise, he works his ass off. If anyone thinks shooting and editing two-three videos a week is easy work I suggest you try it, build your brand, get tens of thousands of followers, and then report back to us how easy it was.

Successful people don’t waste time criticizing those who are unwilling to put in work.

Oh and just to make this post relevant, I ALWAYS use a foam cannon as my first step in the wash process. At this point I really only need to hand wash if the car has been driven in rain or after long road trips.

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