Holiday trips can be therapeutic, but they can often involve road grime, tar, grime bugs and ultimately more accumulation of general debris that comes with driving and having your vehicle exposed to the outside environment. I always travel prepared to safely maintain my car. I have compiled a list of products for you to do the same.
The 3.5 Gallon Wash Bucket with the Gamma Seal Lid
The 3.5-gallon bucket (below) versus the typically used 5-gallon bucket (above), has its place for these situations. The smaller option can be more practical for travel. More on why there is a mallet in the picture later.
What I have found is that for rinseless washes, a 3.5-gallon bucket is more than large enough. In general, when circumstances allow, I would prefer to have a hose along with a full arsenal of wash materials. But for traveling, having a practical rinseless wash setup is ideal. That setup would include a bucket securely sealed by investing in a gamma seal lid. I have packed 2 5-gallon buckets, a host of detailing supplies, and more before for longer trips. But realistically you should be able to fit a single 3-gallon bucket anywhere. Even most exotic vehicles have a compartment where a 3.5-gallon bucket will have JUST ENOUGH room to fit snugly. That is also a subtle message that you do not have an excuse to swirl and scratch up your car at car shows with inappropriate cleaning methods (i.e. quick detailer and dirty rag wipe downs).
Many people (including myself) have struggled attaching the gamma seal lid to the wash bucket. I found that the forceful pounding of a mallet helps secure the seal. I found this mallet on Amazon.com.
Speaking of detailing supplies, Detailed Image also carries bags like the Gtechniq Branded Kit Bag and the Detailed Image Drawstring Bag for carrying a few detailing supplies.
I currently use at least 8+ Eagle Edgeless 500 GSM microfiber towels for rinseless washes when I am not in my home setting. A better option for you may be the Grit Guard paired with The Rag Company Ultra Black Sponge.
If you are using a product like The Rag Company Ultra Black Sponge, you can pair it with a grit guard to perform rinseless washes in a pinch.
Source: YouTube
Other products that I carry with me on the road include, Gyeon Bug And Grime. This is especially useful for long highway trips.
Using JenKO as a post wash detailer is a great product if a random sprinkler (attack) sprays your car with very hard water (high volume mineral deposits).
There have been times when I have parked at someone’s residential address and unknown to me the sprinklers, which typically are the worst source of hard water, started watering the grass and my car. Sometimes it is not realistic to wash your car within 12 to 24 to 36 hours, for the worst source of waterspots. IGL JenKO is formulated to be, among many other things, to be an ideal solution in gently breaking down topical water spots.