You want to get your car clean, and you're ready to get your hands dirty - here's where we can help you do it right.
The Basics
The traditional 1-bucket handwash system involves a bucket of soapy water, a wash rag, mitt, or sponge, a hose, and a dirty car. This process risks cross-contamination as the dirty washing tool is cleaned out in the bucket and then returned to the vehicle – possibly with embedded dirt or debris that could scratch the paint.
You keep your vehicle clean because you want it look good, so you need a better process.
The Two-Bucket Wash Method
The 2-bucket method was developed to minimize this cross-contamination. When a soapy wash mitt gets used enough on a dirty vehicle that it needs to be cleaned, it is first rinsed of contaminants in a bucket of clean water before being returned to the soapy bucket and the vehicle. The system is improved using dirt traps (AKA grit guards): inserts that sit in the buckets and capture loose dirt and debris at the bottom.
The two-bucket method is immensely popular, and for good reason - it's simple yet effective for the majority of auto enthusiasts. Two-bucket washing does not require expensive tools or products, it doesn't require a great deal of technical skill, and it doesn't require a greater time investment than a regular wash.
That said, there is still room for improvement. While the two-bucket method minimizes cross-contamination, it doesn't eliminate it entirely.
The Simple Solution: an Enhanced One-Bucket Wash
The best way to hand-wash a vehicle, that eliminates cross-contamination entirely, is a modified 1-bucket method. It simply uses multiple microfiber towels (or mitts/sponges if you prefer) in a bucket of soapy water. Instead of taking a cleaning cloth off of the care and rinsing it in the bucket, you just place it in a discard pile and grab a fresh towel. No dirty towel ever goes back into the bucket, meaning the soapy water remains clean right to the end of the wash.
The benefit of the modified 1-bucket method is that you get to choose how particular you want to be with any given wash, as you can choose to work with as many or as few towels as you would like. You don't need a second bucket, or a grit guard. If you're washing your vehicle at a self-service carwash, it's easy to pack the necessary supplies in and out in that single bucket.
Happy washing!