A Car Wash Method that breaks a Decade Old ‘Standard Procedure’
Warning: This method may likely be met with resistance by many, outright denial by some, and an inquisitive mind by others.
Breaking with “tradition” is frequently frowned on or considered taboo. Furthermore, when something is considered a gold standard, often some people will potentially insist that any alternate concept or assertion is: quackery, a farce, or just clickbait.
That being said, at Signature Detailing New Jersey our articles are generally aimed at advancing the discussion of optimal car care in auto detailing.
Therefore, this article will explore the idea of a variant of the traditional car wash method that is:
- Simplest
- Fastest
- Safest
- Most Thorough for Vehicle Surfaces
Spoiler Alert: We believe we’ve found it!
Read on to discover if you agree.
The 1 Bucket Towel Wash Method: The Set Up for Minimalists
While this car wash method still uses soap and water, it requires less components to set up, less time to execute, and labor and energy to complete.
The heart of this car wash method is a simple streamlined set up:
- (1) Bucket
- Car wash shampoo (CarPro Reset)
- Water (DI or RO is best practice)
- (3-6) Plush Long pile MF Towels (Eagle Edgeless 600)
- (1) Drying Towel (The Gauntlet 20×30”)
The 1 Bucket Towel Wash Method Explained
The concept and steps of the 1 Bucket Towel Wash Method are extremely simple to set up, execute, and complete.
After pressure washing the vehicle surface and then laying down a quick later of car wash shampoo, perform the following steps:
- Fill the bucket 1/2 full of soap and water
- Drop clean plush long-pile MF towels into the bucket
- Pull a towel from the bucket and wash, utilizing all 8 sides of each towel.
- The timing of when to turn the towel is ultimately dependent on the contamination level of the panel. For light or moderately soiled panels, turn the towel after an area about the size of a door or half a hood.
- Rinse the vehicle and dry with the Drying Towel.
When towels are fused on all 8 sides, wring them out and place them in a dirty bin to be cleaned later.
The 1 Bucket Towel Wash Method Improves Speed, Efficiency, and Surface Care
Essentially, in all areas of vehicle washing, the 1 Bucket Towel Wash surpasses the no bucket, 2 bucket, 3 bucket, or 27 bucket wash methods.
This includes the amount of equipment, speed of the procedure, efficiency of labor, and as gentle of a wash to vehicle surfaces as possible.
The 1 Bucket Towel Wash Method is Built for Speed
The 1 Bucket Towel Wash is designed for speed because there is no need for extra components to set up and tear down.
- No Multiple Buckets
- No Grit Guards
- No Multiple Mitts
- No Rinsing of Mitts
The 1 Bucket Towel Wash Method is Built for Efficiency
The 1 Bucket Towel Wash is hyper efficient because the operator never stops the wash process. Once they start, they are in wash mode. If they need a new clean wash surface, they simply flip the towel to a new side 7 times before needing a new towel.
When finished with their towel, they wring it out (5 seconds), grab a new towel from the clean soap bucket and continue washing.
The 1 Bucket Towel Wash Method is for Surface Safety
The 1 Bucket Towel Wash is uber safe to all vehicle surfaces because:
- The Method NEVER reintroduces contamination to other panels or new surfaces (towel turned)
- Contamination from ‘cleaning’ the wash towel is never introduced to the clean towel bucket
- MF Towels have the potential be much softer than most wash mitts
Closing Thoughts on the 1 Bucket Towel Wash Method
Next time you wash your vehicle give this method a try.
We have found that in every way, it’s an improved method of vehicle washing that is: faster in set up and execution, is more efficient, and is the safest method to care for vehicle surfaces.
These benefits are more magnified in a professional environment where 5-20, or more, vehicles may be washed in a single day. As a professional, think about the impact of potentially saving 5-10 minutes on every vehicle, while also delivering the highest quality possible.
No matter who you are, or how many vehicles you regularly wash, this method can benefit your circumstances.