Need clarification on 2 bucket method

I

imported_Yosemite Dan

New member
I've been searching this site to find out exactly what the 2 bucket washing method is with no luck. My educated guess is that you got 2 buckets(1 for washing, 1 for rinsing). You wash a panel with the first bucket and rinse the dirt in the second and start to the next panel.



The only problem I got is you don't seem to be getting much of the dirt out by simply dipping your soiled mitt in a separate bucket. Tried it and my chenille mitt still had grit on it and there's no way I'm putting that back on my car.



This is what I've done for years. I use 1 bucket for soap, wash a panel and set my hose to a strong stream and sandblast the crap out of my mitt until it's squeaky clean and proceed to the next panel. I could use a second bucket but then it would seem pointless. My wash bucket is always clean at the end. The mitt only lasts a couple of months but hey who cares.



So does this 2 bucket method involve continually rinsing your mitt in dirty water and transferring the dirt back to your clean bucket? Just need some clarification exactly what this 2 bucket method encompasses as I think I must be missing a step.
 
You've basically got it, though I (and, I suspect, many others) use a combination of your mitt-rinsing and the two-bucket method.



With cotton mitts, I usually put the hose nozzle inside the mitt and blast it clean from the inside (doesn't work well with sheepskin ones). With BHBs, I rinse them with the hose before they get to the rinse bucket if I think they're especially dirty.



Yeah, the (basic) two-bucket method isn't perfect, but it's *much* better than a one-bucket wash. And it *does* work well with BHBs (which rinse clean better than mitts). The dirt usually settles to the bottom of the rinse buckets, and I change my rinse water at least once (that's with two rinse buckets, one for each side of the car- both get changed at least once).



Though it might seem pointless, try combining your mitt-rinsing with the two-bucket method and see if the rinse bucket ends up with any dirt in it. Might surprise you, might not.
 
"Though it might seem pointless, try combining your mitt-rinsing with the two-bucket method and see if the rinse bucket ends up with any dirt in it. Might surprise you, might not."



Actually I have tried that and the second rinse bucket was clean but I figure if blasting it doesn't get grime off there's no way dipping it in a bucket will so I wasn't suprised. I've always had minimal marring on my cars.



My method may be a little messy with spraying water everywhere but I think it's easier and faster too. I just don't feel comfortable putting my mitt in any dirty water. That's why I use my method because I can't see any disadvantages to it and it's actually less trouble to do. JMHO.
 
What i do is use a separate bucket for rinsing and really wring out the mitt after every half panel. I use clean rinse water for each side of the car. Their is always dirty water in the rinse water but the soap bucket is always very clean. Im thinking that adding a grit guard to the rinse bucket might make things even better?
 
By wringing out the mitt are you really getting out the grit. That's the main problem I have with the 2 bucket routine. I feel that the grit will cause alot more damage than a darkened mitt. So even using 3 buckets may not be sufficient. I guess I'm being super anal but I wouldn't be here if I wasn't.
 
I use 2 mitts and switch between the two. I allow the mittto bloom in the rinse water and agitate it before dipping it back into the wash bucket.



You say you get a lot of dirt on your mitt, are you rinsing the car off before washing? Most of the dirt comes off.
 
DAN you have it right rinse(sandblast the crap as you say out your mit(with the hose) every time you do a panel and this way no crap gets caught in your mit,If you have time to do this then that the way to go
 
ok so i just washed my car with a brand new cotton mit. now the thing is almost black. i rinsed it between every panel. what the hell is my problem?
 
blackmagicwrx said:
ok so i just washed my car with a brand new cotton mit. now the thing is almost black. i rinsed it between every panel. what the hell is my problem?
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Assuming you were using the standard 2 bucket method, give the sandblasting method a try, you might have better luck.
 
All day long, everyday, I use a MF towel and 2 buckets, washing from the top down. Rinse water? Dirty. Shampoo bucket? Clean.



I don't need no stinkin' washmitt. I've got 200 MF towels!



Jim
 
Also, if you use the 2nd bucket to rinse the mitt, don't wring it out into the bucket. You'll just put dirty water back into the clean water. I always wring the mitt out BEFORE rinsing. Then I let it bloom in the rinse bucket and wring it out on the ground. Lastly, I give it a good shake to make sure no grit remains. The wash bucket is perfectly clean and the rinse bucket is only slightly dirty.
 
yea i blasted pretty good. maybe the car was just that dirty. i got tree sex byproduct all over it this weekend. :(



ill have to take a pic of the mit, amybe its not a dirty as i should worry about.



Yosemite Dan said:
Assuming you were using the standard 2 bucket method, give the sandblasting method a try, you might have better luck.
Click to expand...
 
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