Maniac-Auto Tutorials: Washing
DETAILING STEP N°2: WASHING, THE 2-BUCKET TECHNIQUE
The 2-bucket technique?
Washing is the second step of a complete detailing. It comes after the pre-wash with a Foam Lance or Foam Gun. It can also be the first step if the vehicle is not too dirty.
The technique that must be adopted in order to wash your vehicle properly is the "2-bucket technique". As its name implies, it requires two buckets: the first dedicated to our shampoo solution and the other to rinsing our wash mitt. Always rinse your mitt in the rinse water after each panel washed, rubbing it well on the grid at the bottom. Then plunge the mitt back into the shampoo water.
The grid known as the "grit guard" is essential to rid your mitt of impurities and to keep the residue at the bottom of the bucket.
Run your wash mitt in straight lines without applying pressure. Indeed, the lubricating film created by the shampoo will tend to slide the dirt into the inside of your mitt. Avoid circular movements which encourage micro-scratches.
Finally, it is essential to wash your vehicle from top to bottom, finishing with the sills and bumpers.
Warning: Always wash your vehicle in the shade to prevent the shampoo from drying too quickly on the surface and thus avoid dried water spots on the surface of the clear coat.
What do you need?
-> Find all the accessories needed for the 2-bucket technique.
More than in any other step of a restoration, the choice of your equipment is very important.
- 2 buckets
- 2 grit guards
- 2 wash mitts
- 1 shampoo
- 2 drying microfibers (or 1 for a small car)
It is important to clean panel by panel and not all at once. This allows you to create as few defects as possible by placing your mitt in the rinse bucket as often as possible. In this way, the wash bucket with the shampoo will always remain clean, while your rinse bucket will gradually become loaded with dirt and contamination.
Which wash mitt(s) to use?
There are a great many wash mitts on the market: natural, synthetic, "chenille"-type, with or without a thumb pocket, synthetic sponge, or even microfiber...
The most important thing is to use 2 wash mitts.
- 1 for the sills and wheels (the dirtiest areas)
- 1 for the rest of the bodywork.
It can get confusing. The most important thing is to use equipment that suits you and that you are comfortable with.
Synthetic chenille-type mitt
- Example: Elite Deluxe Super Premium Chenille Wash Mitt, Chemical Guys
Synthetic microfiber/cotton mitt
- Example: Thick Microfiber Washmitt, Chemical Guys
Microfiber sponge
- Example: Basics Wash Pad, Dodo Juice
Natural mitt (sheep's wool, lambswool) => excellent quality.
- Example: Cquartz Wool Wash Mitt, Carpro
How to dry your car after washing?
As explained above, once washed and rinsed, the vehicle must be dried without delay (even more so if washing is done in the sun). This prevents water from penetrating the clear coat (beware of very hard water) and the appearance of so-called "waterspots".
There are several ways to dry your car. The most common is to use a drying microfiber. Ideally, you should have 2, especially for larger vehicles. The second one makes it very easy to do the finishing touches.
Examples of drying microfibers
Miracle Dryer, Chemical Guys
Soft Touch, Dodo Juice
Fatty Angry, Chemical Guys
Woolly Mammoth, Chemical Guys
Cachemyr II, Alchimy 7
Tips: How to avoid water spots?
Spray a little quick detailer on the microfiber or directly on the bodywork for a perfect wipe.