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

TWO BUCKETS vs ONE BUCKET: What’s the best car wash method? In this video, we discuss the best ways to wash your car in order to have a scratch-free car wash experience. You will get all the tips and tricks for both methods, regardless if you prefer the one bucket or two bucket wash method.

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[PanTheOrganizer]

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[dekoeneridder]

I am a detailing enthusiast and since 2 years i love the on bucket methode. Take about 9 superplush towels. Use about 4 sides of every towel (so not all 8!) And just cut the car up in 36 sections. Never wring out the towels so they are soaking and each side of the towel will only make a 1 way pass. After the pass i dunk the "used" towel in a empty wash bucket and at the end they 9 of them go straight into the washer. This ensures no scrathes (due to the water), no back movement (minimizing making a scratch) and best of all, the water is as clean as it came from the tap. So never ever in the entire process any soil or dirt will be (re)introduced. Love you channel and please keep doing this forever!:)

[olderface]

"Weekend Warrior" -After doing a two-step correction on my car, I've stuck to doing a one bucket wash method, the catch is with fresh foam/soap supplied from my griots foam cannon and high psi+gsm pressure washer. After doing a thorough rinse, chemical presoak for bugs, tar, etc, if necessary, thick foaming, wheels, and another thorough rinse, one bucket with some soap, grit guard, and a single high-quality wash mitt is used. Each panel is individually foamed along with the wash mitt, flipped halfway through the panel, of course moving downwards, and rinsed after each panel is completed, saving lower areas and rear bumper for last. The mitt is then dunked in the bucket, blasted with the pressure washer, then the process is repeated on each panel. I should note the car is coated with Adams advanced graphene coating and washed twice a week with a heavy spray on graphene topper coating (TW) applied. No noticeable new scratches since the paint correction was done using this method on BMW's black sapphire metallic. A bit crazy but it works!!

[curtr.]

I switched to single bucket about a year ago. From my experience so far, I am getting significantly less wash-induced scratches. A big reason I use this method is because it is easier on my back to work with two buckets instead of three. Conceptually, one bucket makes sense to me because each mitt is 100% clean as opposed to using a rinsed mitt which is about a max of 80% cleaned, and which has the downside of dirtying the soap bucket as well. I have a smaller car (M2) which helps, I foam and pre-rinse, and I only use 8 mitts with each side getting a panel. I use Rag Co. Knobby chenille at $10.50 per 2 mitts. Not too much of an investment, they last while as the work load is spread across mitts.

[Burtannia]

I use the two bucket method. It seems to be the best balance between safety but also not being too extreme. I still believe that the most important factor is actually a good contactless pre-wash; it doesn't matter how clean your mitt / water is if you're just smearing a thick layer of dirt around the paint that could've been removed before the contact phase.

[Roberto-oilm]

I'm a two bucket guy, but my primary method of avoiding scratches is to avoid rubbing my car. I use a pressure washer to rinse, foam cannon, and rinse. Then, thanks to my Adams Graphine coating which I have because of your excellent videos, I drive the car at the legal speed limit to blow off 95% of the the water. I only dry the door jambs and around the real license plate, near the windshield wipers, and those few spots which trap water. In other words, normally the paint isn't touched at all. These modern ceramic/graphine coatings are truly a wonderful product.

The bulk of the car only gets rubbed every three months or so, sometimes less if I don't drive in the rain too much.

[TheCarDetailingChannel]

The best wash method is simply the one that works best for you and your situation. I always tend to adjust my wash method depending on the condition of the vehicle and what step follows the wash. The intro was entertaining 😅. Thanks Pan

[Jason-vnkz]

Weekend enthusiast - I use one bucket 4 wash mitts plus two for lower panels. I rinse, foam, one mitt per area then set aside and use fresh mitt for each area. Add two lower panel mitts after upper panel mitts are out of bucket. Rinse. Separate bucket for wheel/tire. I use this method because it allows me to use less buckets while reducing chances for contamination. Plus, the prefoam allows for a slicker surface for the contact wash. Thanks for the vid!

[thomasandrews]

I’ve used both and for me I think the multiple mitts help me go a little faster and I’m confident that I’m avoiding scratching as much a possible. I bought a bunch of chemical guys lime green mitts that help me to detect any dirt on the mitts.
Thanks again Pan, no special ops personnel was needed after all!

[jcruhrskov]

1 bucket method. Goes faster and less scratches. I dump approx 10-12 wash mitts in my car shampoo-bucket and BAM, then I've got a clean wash mitt everytime I touch the car - I flip every wash mitt, so I take advantage of both sides. Not sure what the "weekend-warrior" exactly means, but I believe I fit into that category(?)

[douglaszylstra]

I most frequently use a rinseless wash (ONR) and use one bucket with about six or seven microfiber towels for the wash, using four sides per towel. The wash media never gets dirty as none of the dirty towels ever return to the clean wash media. When I use regular shampoo, I use the same method with multiple wash mits. I can therefore also forgo the use of a grit guard as no dirt ever gets introduced to the bucket. Regarding inspecting the towels/mits, I do this when I'm folding my towels/mits after washing and then store them in a covered plastic box in my garage. That way I know I'm getting clean towels before I wash my cars again.

[OrangeismyNewGreen]

I’m a beginner and I converted a Millside express wagon cart to a car wash cart with 2 buckets ( I have a gravel driveway ) and I use a separate bucket for the tires. Thanks for the tips Pan 🙋🏼‍♂️🙂👍🏻

[davidgeroge]

Weekend enthusiast, depending on the dirt level of vehicle have used all these methods. On my personal car I always foam/ rinse before contact wash 1 bucket 2 mitts with guard and second
wheel bucket. Saves on time and product. Keep the great content rolling...

[bowieknife]

I'm a weekend enthusiast, and I've been using the two buckets when I first started but now I tend to use just one (soapy water) and rinse the mitt after every panel with a strong stream of water from the hose instead. I find it uses less water. I inspect after every rinse before dunking it back in the soapy solution. And I use two mitts. One for the top half, the other for the bottom half of the car. I'm going to try the ONR method with a sponge after I finish my bottle of Gold Class shampoo. Thanks for your video Pan!

[lisakaye]

Hey Pan, I use the three bucket method (rinse, wash & wheel). I am a car washing enthusiast. Before watching your videos, I did everything wrong when it came to washing a car. I just bought a brand new car and wanted to keep it in tip top shape which is why that brought me to your channel. You have given me quite an education. I have a few dedicated cabinets in my garage loaded with the tools of the trade. I love caring for my car. I wash it more often than I use to wash all my other cars. I think I wash my new car almost once a week. More if and when it needs it. My husband thinks I am obsessed. If I had a dream garage set up like you, I would probably wash it more often because I would enjoy it that much more. I am looking to purchase the EGO blower you have. Could you give me the link?

[billmic]

Great content PAN. I'm an enthusiast that washes my car 2x or more per week on average. Car is garage kept and rarely sees rain. NEVER snow / ice /salt.

One bucket, mit, wheel wooley, tire brush etc. dedicated for wheels and do them first.
Process for Body:
1) pressure rinse entire car with just water.
2) Foam car and let it sit while I clean tire bucket and tools used earlier . Usually takes 5 Min.
3) Pressure wash foam off car.
4) Foam car a second time.
5) Using clean Mit and bucket of water, I get mit wet and start just using the foam as my soap / lubricant. Rinse mit in clean water every panel or so.
6) Rinse with pressure washer to remove all soap
7) Add drying aid while pressure rinsing
8) Dry with leaf blower.

Keep up the good work!

[gryphon]

I thought this was well established already? Two bucket team!!! 🧐 I even use two mitts … one for upper car and one for lower car. I’d say I’m a weekend warrior/ budding enthusiast.

[indetailcarcaresolutions]

As a semi professional detailer I found that unless I hose out the mitt, rinse it then dunk in wash media, the two bucket method left me with two buckets containing both dirt and suds. I use the one bucket method and four mitts if doing one car or five or six microfibre towels if doing multiple cars. I buy towels once a year if necessary and haven’t bought new mitts for a couple of years now. The mitts I use were collected when comparing them to determine the best one so no real over the top expenses. My most expensive mitt was $AUD20. I too wash, dry and check mitts and towels before storing in a dust proof cupboard. Keeps the wash time down.

[woodrax]

I have always used the one bucket method, but I am not a professional. I do it for all the reasons you outlined; I only wash one vehicle per weekend, and like to keep any mitt that touches the vehicles as “fresh” as possible between bucket dunks. Since I am not a professional, all of my mitts, towels, and applicators get washed between each use, and they are inspected for any grime before each use. I also keep my “heavy soil” towels, like wheel and tire or door jam towels separate, so they never touch the external paintwork, and get soaked before going through the washing machine (and in a separate load).

I use 5 mitts, 2 drying towels, a car dryer (Master Blaster), one tire applicator, and one round finger applicator per exterior wash

[chriss]

The gloss on your car is off the charts! I'm a rinseless wash person. I have a crew cab full size truck and rarely have any shade. I wash rinseless in garage. Wheels and pre rinse outside. Thanks for the great content!