How To: Wash Your Car Using The Two Bucket Method.

**Todd@RUPES** · 10-11-2011, 11:58 AM

Overview: The Steps of Washing Your Car with the Two Bucket Method.

Phase 1 of the Autopia-CarCare 5-step Paint Care Cycle: The Car Wash

The first step in creating and maintaining your car`s paint is to wash and dry it with precise technique. All paint systems, but particularly modern clear coat paint systems, are scratch sensitive. This means anytime dirt or grit is rubbed against the paint, even softly, it creates microscopic scratches. With enough accumulation these scratches form visible swirl marks that act to diffuse the reflected light and the paint appears dull. Larger more visible scratches form swirl marks, which are visible micro scratches that ruin the appearance of the paint in bright light. Properly washing your car greatly reduces the chances of creating micro-scratches, keeps your paint free of acidic fall-out, and removes any dirt that blankets an otherwise perfect shine. Properly washing your car using high quality materials with good technique will not only help prevent or eliminate micro-scratches, but will not strip (or may even reinforce) your existing wax coating.

There are three main types of washing methods: Traditional Washing, Rinseless Washing, and Waterless Washing. Each type has advantages and draw backs. This article will focus on the basics of the two bucket method, believed to be the safest and most effective way to wash your vehicle when using flowing water.

Products Needed:

Two large (5 gallon) wash buckets.
Wash media- A plush microfiber cloth, foam wash sponge, natural sponge, or wash mitt.
High-Quality Automotive Soap.
High-Quality Drying Towels.

Additional Products Recommended:

Grit-Guards.
Bug and Tar Remover.
Air Dryer.
Detail Spray.

Products Being Used:

Getting Started

It is often best to organize you detailing supplies for the task at hand prior to getting started. This ensures that you will have an efficient work flow that allows you to move from one task to the next with minimal interruption. This is important if you are washing your car in direct sunlight or on a warm day.

First, start by dropping a Grit-Guard into the bottom of each Blackfire Wash Bucket.

The two bucket method uses one bucket with a wash/soap solution and a second bucket with a water/rinse solution. Fill the rinse bucket with approximately 4 1/2 gallons of water and the wash bucket with approximately 4 gallons of water. Add soap to the wash bucket then add the additional 1/2 gallon of water with pressure to mix the soap and create a thick lather of suds. Use the manufacturer recommended ration of soap to water.

Organize the remainder of your supplies for easy access.

Wheels First:

The wheels and tires of your vehicle can require as much time, and often more time, to clean and detail. Once you vehicle is wet the clock is ticking to prevent water spots. Also any grime or dirt splash from the wheels can soil your otherwise clean car.

Note: There will be a link to an indepth wheel cleaning article here once it is published.

Here is the Hyundai Sonata prior to washing. The wheels are dull and lack reflection do to a coating a brake grime. When washing your vehicle it is best to wash the wheels, wheel compartments, and tires first.

Wheel cleaner dwelling on the surface. It is often best section (wheel, tire, wheel compartment) completely before moving on to the next one.

Don`t forget about the tires and wheel compartments.

Rinse thoroughly, revealing sparkling clean wheels. We are now ready to begin washing with the two-bucket method.

Pre-Soak: (Optional)

Pre-Soaking your vehicle prior to rinsing it off can help encapsulate and remove any sharp particulate (grit) from the paint. By skipping the pre-soak step, you run the slight risk of pushing grit into the paint during the pre-rinse.
An Autopia Foamer by Tornador with DP Xtreme Foam Formula Auto Soap creates a thick blanket of solution that will clean to the paint and help loosen any soiling.

Pre-Rinse:

Prior to washing your vehicle it is best to use a high volume of water to rinse of and remove as much grime and dirt as possible. Start at the top of the vehicle and rinse downward.

Pre-Treat:

Treat and stubborn bugs, tar, and road prime with an appropriate cleaning solution such as Optimum Power Clean.

The Two Bucket Method:

Wash your vehicle from the top, working downward, a section at time. Load your wash sponge, mitt, or towel (wash media) with a large volume of solution and use light pressure. Start with the roof and top.

After washing a section, rinse thoroughly to flush away any encapsulated dirt.

Before moving on to the next section dunk your wash media in the Rinse Bucket and squeeze to flush out any dirt. Then wring it out above the Rinse Bucket. This keeps your wash solution clean and prevents it from becoming laden with dirt that could cause swirl marks.

Now load your wash media with an ample amount of solution from the Wash Bucket.

Flood the panel with a large volume of solution to by lightly squeezing your wash media. This provides the lubricity necessary to safely remove grit with out creating swirl marks.

Wash the panel in gentle straight lines.

Clean your media in the Rinse Bucket before dunking it into the Wash Bucket.

Clean one to two panels (a section) then rinse thoroughly.

Repeat this process until every panel has been washed and rinsed. Periodically rinse the entire car and keep it wet to prevent water spotting.

If your door shuts (jambs) and trunk/hood shuts (jambs) are excessively dirty you may consider washing them with your soap solution. Take care when rinsing, using gentle pressure, to avoid splattering any water into the interior.

Your vehicle is now clean and ready to be dried. Car soap provides lubricity that helps reduce your chances of scratching the paint, even when removing dirt. When drying the car you no longer have such a benefit. It is often best to avoid touching the car as much as possible to reduce the likelihood of creating swirl marks and marring.

Start by `flooding` the paint. Remove the nozzle from your house and allow a light stream to flood over the car. Water is viscous and will pull water with it as it sheets down the side. This is particularly effective if your paint has a fresh coat of wax on it.

Flooding can remove as much as 90% of the standing water.

Blow Drying:(Optional)

Using high-speed air to help remove water from the body panels, nooks, and creases will not only reduce the amount of touching down to your vehicle (reducing the risk of creating marring) but will prevent water drops from running out of body lines and running your perfectly clean car.

The Master Blaster has plenty of power to remove water from the tightest places.

Towel Drying: (Detail Spray Optional)

The last step in your Two Bucket Wash is to remove any standing water from the vehicles surface. Using a high quality microfiber drying towel such as a Cobra Guzzler is the first step in preventing scratches. A trick that detailers have been using for a long time is to lightly mist a high quality detail spray on the panel (one mist per panel) prior to towel drying. This not only adds much needed lubrication to the surface (to prevent marring) but also cleans any fresh water marks that might have started to form. Many detail sprays, such as Pinnacle Crystal Mist have a high quality wax or sealant in their formula which replenishes protection and gives your vehicle that just waxed look.

As testament to the rapidly changing weather conditions that every Floridan is accustomed too, a quick storm blew in changing the lighting. However the clean Sonata looks great in any condition and the Pinnacle Crystal Mist certainty added a deep glow on the paint.

**Old Pirate** · 10-11-2011, 02:09 PM

Great write up Todd and this one is a must for everyone to read up on.

**Bunky** · 10-11-2011, 05:29 PM

Nice write up - just the facts..

**rwisejr** · 10-11-2011, 07:19 PM

Nice write up Todd !!!

**polisher** · 10-15-2011, 07:18 AM

that is one nice write up..thanks

**Bunky** · 10-15-2011, 08:02 AM

Todd, when you say "pre-treat" with something like OPC, do you spray, clean with some media (brush, mitt, towel, etc) or do you just let it soak, then rinse, or let just wash over it during the normal wash process?

**Todd@RUPES** · 10-17-2011, 05:21 AM

Originally Posted by Bunky

Todd, when you say "pre-treat" with something like OPC, do you spray, clean with some media (brush, mitt, towel, etc) or do you just let it soak, then rinse, or let just wash over it during the normal wash process?

I usually just mist on a light coat and let it sit. Always read the directions first, however, as some products like CarPro Tar-X and Stoner`s Terminator can stain the paint if left to sit/dry on the pant.

**AutopiaTech** · 10-17-2011, 07:57 AM

Great work Todd. When I was introduced to the two-bucket method and quality wash media it changed the way I look at washing and drying. There is always a proper way of doing things, and when it comes to safe, swirl free washing the two bucket method is a necessary step.