TWO BUCKETS vs ONE BUCKET: What’s the best car wash method?

Chris M

Well-Known Member
First Name
Chris
Joined
Jun 11, 2020
Threads
11
Messages
2,646
Reaction score
10,904
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ranger XLT Sport 4X4
Occupation
Security Supervisor
Jim I like to use the angled grit guards in my buckets. You can rub the wash mat against them and it will lose up any dirt that might have been trapped in them. It's a 2 piece grit guard and they snap onto the base guard and you can just leave them in the bucket when done. I'll just rest my wash mat on this while I'm rinsing the truck so it's not laying on the base guard.

This is just the angled one you still need the flat one that sits on the bottom.


https://www.amazon.com/Grit-Guard-Washboard-Bucket-Insert/dp/B01E06O12M?th=1

Angled Grit Guard.jpg
Seriously?
Holy cow, man.
I can't even.
Sponsored

 

SICKQK

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mark
Joined
Mar 18, 2020
Threads
15
Messages
123
Reaction score
382
Location
NY State
Website
www.saddlebrookcontrols.com
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ford Ranger XLT Crew Cab FX4
Occupation
Automation Applications Engineer

Chris M

Well-Known Member
First Name
Chris
Joined
Jun 11, 2020
Threads
11
Messages
2,646
Reaction score
10,904
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ranger XLT Sport 4X4
Occupation
Security Supervisor
Home Depot has these
Your friend has shared a link to a Home Depot product they think you would be interested in seeing:

Rubbermaid Commercial Products 19 Qt. Red Plastic Double Bucket
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rubberm...lastic-Double-Bucket-FG-2628-21-RED/100138008
SKU# 100138008
I just bought one for washing the exterior of my homes windows.
I use one of Home Depot's Homer buckets to do the windows. At the time, I think it was only $5.
Been awhile, though.
 

quangdog

Well-Known Member
First Name
Kimball
Joined
Mar 31, 2020
Threads
33
Messages
684
Reaction score
2,199
Location
Meridian, Idaho
Website
www.youtube.com
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ranger Lariat FX4
I use 2 buckets: one for soap, one for rinse. Cheap foam cannon from Amazon, a brush on a pole to clean the tonneau / bed, and a smaller wheel brush for the wheels. I have a hook-up in my garage to my house water, so I wash with softened water which leaves no water spots.

When my truck was brand new, it was delivered FULL of swirl marks in the paint. I buffed them out, added paint protection film to all the surfaces that face forward, then ceramic coated the entire thing. Nearly 2 years later and the truck still looks great! I've picked up a few minor scratches from some offroad trips etc, and it's going to be time to touch up a few areas with the buffer this fall, and re-apply the ceramic coating.

Before I bought this truck, I was mostly a "eh, once every few weeks I'll drive it through a car wash" sort of guy... but for whatever reason with this truck I've become a 2 bucket, hand wash only.

Anyhow, as is my tradition, I made a video covering the whole process when the truck was new:

 
OP
OP
AzScorpion

AzScorpion

Moderator
First Name
Dave
Joined
Jul 25, 2019
Threads
280
Messages
21,289
Reaction score
101,276
Location
Arizona
Vehicle(s)
2023 Ford Ranger Tremor
Occupation
CEO of DeeZee


quangdog

Well-Known Member
First Name
Kimball
Joined
Mar 31, 2020
Threads
33
Messages
684
Reaction score
2,199
Location
Meridian, Idaho
Website
www.youtube.com
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ranger Lariat FX4
OP
OP
AzScorpion

AzScorpion

Moderator
First Name
Dave
Joined
Jul 25, 2019
Threads
280
Messages
21,289
Reaction score
101,276
Location
Arizona
Vehicle(s)
2023 Ford Ranger Tremor
Occupation
CEO of DeeZee
Curses upon you, I'm about outta cash!
Yeah but how many times have you washed your truck and that darn hose always gets stuck in one of the tires? You'll thank me later for these. ?
 

quangdog

Well-Known Member
First Name
Kimball
Joined
Mar 31, 2020
Threads
33
Messages
684
Reaction score
2,199
Location
Meridian, Idaho
Website
www.youtube.com
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ranger Lariat FX4
Yeah but how many times have you washed your truck and that darn hose always gets stuck in one of the tires? You'll thank me later for these. ?
Only Every. Single. Damn. Time!
 

quangdog

Well-Known Member
First Name
Kimball
Joined
Mar 31, 2020
Threads
33
Messages
684
Reaction score
2,199
Location
Meridian, Idaho
Website
www.youtube.com
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ranger Lariat FX4

puckdodger

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jim
Joined
Jan 16, 2021
Threads
30
Messages
902
Reaction score
3,477
Location
Oshawa
Vehicle(s)
2020 Black Lariat 2020 SOLD Black Cadillac XT5
I told you I have some serious issues. lol ?

Psst, Wait until Jim @puckdodger finds out he needs these too. :eek: :curse:

https://www.detailedimage.com/Detail-Guardz-M93/Tire-Guard-P1444/

Tire Jam Eliminator.jpg
Yeah but how many times have you washed your truck and that darn hose always gets stuck in one of the tires? You'll thank me later for these. ?
Only Every. Single. Damn. Time!
come on you guys, you need to learn how to wrangle a hose. I can confidently say I do not need this.

nice try @AzScorpion.
 
OP
OP
AzScorpion

AzScorpion

Moderator
First Name
Dave
Joined
Jul 25, 2019
Threads
280
Messages
21,289
Reaction score
101,276
Location
Arizona
Vehicle(s)
2023 Ford Ranger Tremor
Occupation
CEO of DeeZee
come on you guys, you need to learn how to wrangle a hose. I can confidently say I do not need this.

nice try @AzScorpion.
Oh but you will. You just started using your power washer and it's only a matter of time before the hose gets stuck under the tires. :clock:
 

Cmar

Well-Known Member
First Name
Cam
Joined
Feb 10, 2020
Threads
13
Messages
1,099
Reaction score
2,832
Location
Australia
Vehicle(s)
Ford Ranger PX
I have used two buckets and a microfibre mitt for a long time one for soap, the other full of clean water, dip mitt into soapy water, wash untill you run out of suds,, rinse out in clean water, dunk back into the soap bucket and wash again, you'd be surprised how much dirt accumulates in the bottom of the rinse bucket. Stuff you would otherwise be rubbing back into your paint.
 

Cabose-1

Well-Known Member
First Name
Eli
Joined
Jan 19, 2021
Threads
6
Messages
1,407
Reaction score
5,014
Location
Texas
Vehicle(s)
2022 Ranger XLT FX2
Occupation
Student
New bucket, new sponge, every time. No bucket or cleaning mitt, sponge, cloth, shammie, etc..... or water bucket touches my truck more than once. My tailgate strut assist needs to stay pretty!
Sponsored

 
 



Top