Fastest way to Wash a vehicle?

Lazzman

Lazzman

New member
I have been a traditional bucket wash guy but as I get busier I find it is taking way to long. I currently use my natural sea sponge and the two bucket method with grit guards.

I tried the boars hair brush on a adjustable pole and it was quite a bit faster, but it lightly scratched the clear coat and put swirl marks in it as well, so that's method is out.

I have been thinking of going the gas pressure washer route and was wondering if this method needed any additional agitation to remove dirt? This would include using the foam canon first then pressure washing with soapy water.


Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
 
Your at the wrong place for this advice. Check YouTube. Lots of fast washers there.

Lazzman said:
I have been a traditional bucket wash guy but as I get busier I find it is taking way to long. I currently use my natural sea sponge and the two bucket method with grit guards.

I tried the boars head brush on a adjustable pole and it was quite a bit faster, but it lightly scratched the clear coat and put swirl marks in it as well, so that's method is out.

I have been thinking of going the gas pressure washer route and was wondering if this method needed any additional agitation to remove dirt? This would include using the foam canon first then pressure washing with soapy water.


Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
 
Even with pressure washing and foaming, I'm sorry to say you will still have to use the two bucket method to get the car clean. By using a pro coating on your car the dirt may not stick as bad, but to get it truly clean-- rub a dub!
 
I used to think touchless was the way to go (pressure washer), but the fact is, you need to agitate to get a car TRULY clean. I dont mean be abrasive.

anyway, the quickest way I've found is a No Rinse soap and the gary dean wash method, aka 1 bucket, working top to bottom, using a new microfiber as the one you are using gets dirty rather than rinsing it. dry as you go. This is the only way I was now. However, if a car is soiled, I will foam it and pressure wash it first to get rid of bigger debris.
 
Foam car and forget the soap bucket. Just use a rinse bucket. If you need more soap, use the foam gun or cannon. Use a soap that you can let dry on the paint that way you only need to rinse once.
 
I been meaning to try the Gary Dean method. When I use the 2BM (w/ grit guards), I feel like I am still spreading dirt around.
 
On most vehicles that came in the door, they needed a pre spray of either a really good APC and/or a really good degreaser, then a pressure wash to get a lot of stuck stuff out of between tail light lenses and the body, around all the emblems, etc., for sure under the hood, engine compartment, the underside of the hood and insulation, grille, everything under there..
Then a 1 bucket wash with a really good mitt that releases the dirty water, a really good slippery soap, and hold on - no grit guards - ! ! !
Never have really needed them because I never let the mitt hit the bottom of the bucket..

The fastest way to wash a car that is anywhere near dirty with lots of german brake dust, etc., is 2 - really good people that know how to work together and knock it out -
Or - 1 really good person that is very experienced, motivated and has a world class work ethic...
Dan F
 
What do you call fast?

I started off taking 4 hours and now i'm down to 1 hour to 1.5 hours to wash, dry, and dress exterior & wheels.
 
Lazzman said:
...
I tried the boars head brush on a adjustable pole and it was quite a bit faster, but it lightly scratched the clear coat and put swirl marks in it as well, so that's method is out.
Click to expand...

Maybe you shoulda tried the boars HAIR brush cause the head was too harsh!!! lol .... Others swear by the boars hair brush and it is very soft - can't imagine any sponge would be better. As to pressure washers, I like electric over gas around the house but each to his own.
Have you tried no rinse washing? I'm a fan of ONR and use it quite a bit. Granted there are times I need to get out the big guns and pressure wash the neighborhood, but more often a no rinse or a quick detail like wash works great in far less time (including a spray wax topper).
 
Step 1. Start with the right LSP...a coating. It does wonders for washing thereafter. This step is key.


Step 2. High pressure rinse (presoak 5 minutes with a rinseless or waterless wash).


Step 3. Rinseless or waterless wash.
 
Stokdgs said:
On most vehicles that came in the door, they needed a pre spray of either a really good APC and/or a really good degreaser, then a pressure wash to get a lot of stuck stuff out of between tail light lenses and the body, around all the emblems, etc., for sure under the hood, engine compartment, the underside of the hood and insulation, grille, everything under there..
Then a 1 bucket wash with a really good mitt that releases the dirty water, a really good slippery soap, and hold on - no grit guards - ! ! !
Never have really needed them because I never let the mitt hit the bottom of the bucket..

The fastest way to wash a car that is anywhere near dirty with lots of german brake dust, etc., is 2 - really good people that know how to work together and knock it out -
Or - 1 really good person that is very experienced, motivated and has a world class work ethic...
Dan F
Click to expand...
I like to use the grit guards to rub my mitt across just in case I picked up any dirt on the mitt. This way I can feel a little more confident that I am not going to put swirls or scratches into the paint. Grit guards in the soap and rinse buckets. Rather be safe than sorry.
 
Thanks for all of the advice, I guess the question I really should have asked was, can I just pressure wash the vehicle with no agitation or bucket wash?
It usually takes me about 45 minutes per car with drying.

I love the boars hair brush, but I do not understand how it does not leave swirl marks in the clear coat, for other detailers that are using it. Do you need to use it with a lot of soap, so it glides more? Have not had success with it.
 
Lazzman said:
Thanks for all of the advice, I guess the question I really should have asked was, can I just pressure wash the vehicle with no agitation or bucket wash?
It usually takes me about 45 minutes per car with drying.

I love the boars hair brush, but I do not understand how it does not leave swirl marks in the clear coat, for other detailers that are using it. Do you need to use it with a lot of soap, so it glides more? Have not had success with it.
Click to expand...


of course car soap (good stuff), and don't let the brush rest on the car, it has to have a touch of lift to it so the hairs touch the car, not flattened out with pressure or weight
 
rimccarty2000 ---

I look at the wash mitt every time I put it in the 5-gal bucket and every time I pull it out of the bucket..

If I see something that does not Match the color or texture of the Mitt, I look closer, and remove it..

I will watch carefully what I am washing and use just enough pressure and straight motions to remove what is on that panel..

Perhaps I use a type of Mitt that doesn't hold onto dirty stuff as much as others..

In any event, I have not scratched anything in this manner for decades..

I am safe, and never sorry.. :)
Dan F
 
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