The basic premise of the two bucket wash method consists of your standard 15-litre bucket filled with water and your car wash shampoo (Meguiar’s soft wash shampoo) but then adds a second bucket filled with just plain water.
A grit guard is placed in the bottom of each bucket to form a Grit Guard Wash, and a microfiber wash mitt is generally used in place of a traditional foam sponge.
How Does It Work?
Much like you would wash your car with a single bucket and sponge, you begin by dunking the wash mitt into the first bucket filled with your shampoo solution and then proceed to wash the first panel of the car. In general, it’s best to start with the roof and then work your way around and down the vehicle washing one panel at a time.
The real difference with the two bucket method is that after you wash a panel of the car, you then rinse your wash mitt in the second bucket filled with plain water, running the mitt along the surface of the grit guard to release the dirt you’ve accumulated on the wash mitt. Then after squeezing out the remaining water from the mitt, once again dunk it back into your first bucket filled with your car wash detergent solution, and proceed to washing the next panel of the car.
So in essence, the real difference between the two bucket method and the older single bucket method is that after you wash each panel of the car, you then rinse and squeeze your mitt out, before proceeding to the next panel.
Why Use the Two Bucket Wash Method?
Every car enthusiast knows the heartache of pulling your vehicle into the sun and seeing the paint covered in swirls and scratches. The two bucket car wash method is all about providing a safer car washing experience, that largely reduces the swirl marks caused by improper or outdated car wash methods.
It’s important to understand that the vast majority of swirls or spider web pattern scratches are inflicted on car paint due to dirt being pushed around on the surface of the paint during the washing stage of a vehicle.
So when you reduce or eliminate that dirt from your car wash process by using this two bucket method, you avoid those swirls marks and keep your paint looking and behaving it’s best.
If your car is washed regularly, the vast majority of dirt will be looser settling dust. So always be sure to give the vehicle a good thorough rinse down with your hose or pressure washer to remove as much dirt as possible before you begin the hand wash stage.
Dirt, pressure, and circular motions equal swirls. So never press down with force on the paint with your wash mitt, just allow the mitt to glide along the paint with no added pressure, using straight back and forth motions.
Adopting these easy to follow steps and employing the two bucket wash method into your car wash routine will go a long way into maintaining, protecting and preserving the appearance and condition of your car paint
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