Newbie - What is 2 bucket system?

[RonW]

Newbie here!

Please explain the 2 bucket system?

Thanks in advance.......

RonW.

[chrisx]

One bucket with car soap and water and the second with water only. After dipping in the car soap and washing the car, rinse in the second bucket (plain water) to remove any dirt from the sponge/wash mitt. This ensures that when dipping back in the car soap the sponge/wash mitt is pretty clean (also minimises marring on the paintwork).

[Murr1525]

Well, you have 2 buckets, both with Grit Guards in them, or at least the clean water bucket.

One bucket you will fill with water and soap solution, and one with just clean water.

As you wash, get the soap on your sponge, etc , and clean the car. When time to 'reload' your sponge, or when it is dirty, rinse it first in the clean water, to get all the dirt and **** off.

Then, once it is clean, go back to the soapy water.

This will keep al lthe dirt in one bucket, and clean soapy water in the other. And less dirt will be around to drag across your paint and cause swirls.

[Superior Shine]

Problem, you and a buddy want to share a sandwich but there is no where to sit. Answer- you flip two buckets over and sit on them.

[Mike Phillips]

Here's a picture of the two bucket method in action...

First, there are Grit Guards in both buckets, with soap solution in one bucket and clear mitt rinsing water in the other bucket.



First you start out gathering some soap solution into your mitt and then wash a panel on the car. Then before you dip your mitt back into the soap solution bucket to gather more soap solution, you first rinse it off in the clear water bucket to hopefully loosen and remove as much dirt and other particulates from the mitt where they will sink below the Grit Guard.

The idea being to help prevent you from contaminating your soap solution bucket and therefore minimized the potential for re-introducing swirls and scratches into your car's finish during the washing process.



Here's a little tip
In the above picture, my son Rand has swished his mitt around inside the clear rinse water bucket after washing a section of the Corvette and now he's wringing out excess water before attempting to gather more soap solution. It's important to wring your mitt after rinsing or you will not be able to gather soap solution as your mitt will be saturate and full of fresh water.

[wetlook]

I use TWO 2-bucket systems when I wash my car - that's one 2-bucket system for each side. So I have FOUR buckets.

I wash HALF of the roof (and half of both windshields) then run over to the other side to wash the other half. Then I quickly rinse the just-washed panels to discourage spots and stains. Sheeting water only please!

I learned this lesson the hard way. If I wait until after I've washed the rest of the car, I get loads of spots and stains.

Same system for the rest of the car in this order: hood, trunk, upper half of the doors, upper part of the quarter panels, lower half of the doors, lower half of the quarter panels. You can imagine me buzzing around the car all the time - hence the need for four buckets.

I go over every panel twice to make sure I didn't miss a spot.

I wash the wheels and wheel wells last with a FRESH 2-bucket system and a different wash mitt (wheels only) and sponge (wheel wells only).

After everything's been washed and rinsed, I do one final rinse with gently flowing water to sheet everything off and leaving me with very little water to pat dry.

After dipping my wash mitts into the water bucket, I gently wring out excess water before dipping into the soap bucket. with Mike's tip.

When you clean your water bucket, you'll notice so much dirt and grime in it.



Now that I think about it... I may need two hoses...

[Accumulator]

Originally posted by wetlook
I use TWO 2-bucket systems when I wash my car - that's one 2-bucket system for each side. So I have FOUR buckets. Now that I think about it... I may need two hoses...

I too have redundant systems, one for each side of the car. And IMO the extra hose is well worth the expense. It's *very* convenient

[Love My Ride]

I wash the wheels and wheel wells last with a FRESH 2-bucket system and a different wash mitt (wheels only) and sponge (wheel wells only).

This is where i do it differently, i wash the wheels first! After the entire car is dried and waxed, i wipe the wheels with a damp cloth and then NXT the tyres with the Extreme shine (love that smell!!).




Now that I think about it... I may need two hoses... [/QUOTE]

Ditto on the second hose.

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by Accumulator
I too have redundant systems, one for each side of the car. And IMO the extra hose is well worth the expense. It's *very* convenient

It's aggravating to have to pick up a loaded 5 gallon bucket and carry it to the other side of the car! I think I'm going to get some extra buckets and make it easy on my self.

A person doesn't have to have 2 spigots either in order to have 2 hoses. Just buy a 2 way splitter, along with a second hose & such, and now you have a hose for each side of the car.

[r111]

Where can I buy a grit guard?

Thanks

Stu

https://www.rinehartsracing.com

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by r111
Where can I buy a grit guard?

Thanks

Stu

www.rinehartsracing.com

Hi r111.......Welcome to MOL!

Meguiars sells the Grit Guard Insert

And their is also a company called Grit Guard that sells it too.....
gritguard.com

[Mark2]

This is how i do it.
1. Hose of as much dirt as possible before you start washing. A PW really helps if the car is very dirty.

2. I then use three buckets, one for wheels, tires, and wheelwells.
The other two for the rest of the car.
Starting with the wheels.

3. I then start with one side and one bucket, starting from the roof (half the roof). I don't use a rinse bucket, but my hose to clean the mitt (one mitt per side) out after about half a panel. I tried using a rinsebucket but the water in it gets filled with soap too soon and i can't see if all the dirt is removed. and the pressure from my hose cleans it out better than just dipping it IMO. I also rinse the panels I just washed to avoid waterspots.

4. The same thing on the other half of the car.

5. Rinse the whole car

This works for me. I maybe use a little more soap this way(3x4gal buckets), but rather that than marring the paint

[Jbirk]

I use 3 buckets. 2 car wash and 1 water.

I have 3 mitts.


I use 2 mitts for washing at the same time. I use one bucket and clean only one side at a time. When I am half done, I use the other bucket to finish up.

I change the water in my rinse bucket halfway too.

as for the wheels, I use my third mitt and either of the 2 buckets with slightly dirty car wash soap. i.e. the bucket cleaned half a car,so it is not too dirty okay for wheels IMO.

Finally, i rinse well and then take off the nozel and rince by letting the water sheet off.

I dry by using a leaf blower that ***** air thorugh a big hose (sort of a leaf vaccuum too).

I have a big K & N Air Filter on on the end that ***** in the air and it has never been used to **** up leaves. It is blows at 210 MPH with the air filter off and a little less with it on. I can hear the engine really working hard having to pull all the air through a filter, but at least I know I am not sand blasthing my car.

Finally I use a water magnet to pick up any last bits of water. It takes only one water magnet to dry the entire car with this method and only about 1 minute with the water magnet after blowing off all the water.

[Accumulator]

Originally posted by Rusty Bumper
... I think I'm going to get some extra buckets and make it easy on my self...

Yeah, it can be surprising how much easier things go when you indulge yourself a little

If you don't already have them, I'd put casters on the buckets too.

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by Accumulator
If you don't already have them, I'd put casters on the buckets too.

I saw a caster bucket holder thing (Dolly) for $35.00 a-piece. I think it's good for 300lbs. of weight.





Is this what you are referring too, or is it a homemade device?