do i really need 14 buckets to wash my car? A No-BS Guide to Safe Car Washing

When it comes to washing your car properly, the question always pops up: "Do I really need multiple buckets?"

Spoiler: if you care about keeping your paint scratch free and glossy, the answer is yes, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Let’s break down two different options for washing your pride and joy at home.

Two Real world Ways to Safely Wash Your Car at home

Option A: You Have a Pressure Washer or Foam Gun

If you’re lucky enough to have a pressure washer and foam lance (or snow foam gun connected to a hose), your washing routine can be much simpler and safer.

Here’s the safest method:

1. Two Buckets: Fill both buckets with clean water and wash soap.

2. Wheels First: Use the first bucket and a dedicated wash mitt or brush to clean your wheels only.
   ➔ Once the wheels are done, discard this mitt and dump the dirty bucket water.

3. Pre-Wash: Foam the car completely and let it dwell. This loosens heavy dirt and contaminants.

4. Rinse: Pressure wash the foam off.

5. Contact Wash:

   • Re-foam the car.

   • Now, using your second wash mitt and second clean bucket, wash the paintwork panel by panel.

   • You don't need a product bucket, the fresh foam acts like your "product" step by continually applying lubricated soap to the paint so your basically using your bucket as the “rinse” bucket while still adding more product.

Option B: You Have Just a Hose and Tap

If you don’t have a foam lance, no worries, you’ll just need to be a bit more traditional.

This is where the 3 bucket method comes in:

• Bucket 1: Wheels and tires only.

• Bucket 2: Wash soap for paintwork.

• Bucket 3: Clean water for rinsing your mitt.

But let’s be honest:
Are you really going to fill 3 buckets every single wash? Probably not.
Most people won’t and that's okay.

The real world best practice? Stick to the Golden 2 Bucket Method:

• Bucket 1: Clean rinse water.

• Bucket 2: Soapy wash water.

Important Note:

• Wash your paint before touching the dirty wheels.

• Start at the top of the car and work your way down.

• Rinse your mitt in the clean water bucket every few panels before reloading with fresh soap.

• Only after the entire body is clean should you then wash your wheels, never the other way around!

Bonus Option C: You Don’t Have Anywhere to Wash Your Vehicle at Home

Sometimes you just don’t have a driveway, water access, or the space to wash your car properly.
In that case this is your last resort method.
(And when I say last resort, I mean last resort.)

Here’s how to do it safely at a manual car wash bay:

What You’ll Need:

• A clean bucket

• A microfiber wash mitt

• A microfiber drying towel

The Process:

1. Find a Manual Car Wash Booth:
   ➔ DO NOT go through the automatic drive through wash.

2. Set Up Your Gear:

   • Fill your bucket with clean water only, this will be your "rinse" bucket for your mitt.

3. Pre Wash:

   • Use the car wash’s pressure washer on the pre soak setting.

   • Spray the entire vehicle and let the pre soak dwell for a few minutes to loosen dirt.

   • Rinse it off thoroughly.

4. Contact Wash:

   • Switch the gun to the soap or foam setting and foam the car.

   • Start washing the car manually using your microfiber mitt.

   • After every few panels, rinse your mitt in your rinse bucket.

5. Final Rinse:

   • Switch the gun back to rinse mode.

   • Thoroughly rinse off all the soap.

6. Dry:

   • Use your soft microfiber drying towel to dry the car carefully, avoiding any rubbing with dirty towels or rough materials.

And whatever you do, do not use the bloody filthy brush hanging on the wall.

Drying Time: How to Properly Dry Your Car

Drying is just as important as washing when it comes to avoiding scratches.

Here’s how to dry safely with a microfiber drying towel:

1. Prime the Towel First:

   • Lightly mist a quick detailer spray onto your drying towel before you start.

   • This adds lubrication, helping the towel glide over the paint and massively reducing the chance of fine scratches.

   ➔ If you don’t have a quick detailer, at least dry all the windows first.
   (The glass is less sensitive than paint, so it helps 'soften' the towel fibers before you touch the paintwork.)

2. Pat or Glide, Don't Rub:

   • Gently lay the towel across the surface and either pat dry or lightly pull it across the panel.

   • Avoid aggressive rubbing, you want the towel to soak up water, not grind leftover dust into the paint.

3. Flip the Towel Regularly:

   • Keep flipping to a clean side as you move around the car to prevent dragging dirt or grit.

Final Thoughts:

You don’t need a mountain of buckets or $5,000 worth of gear to safely wash your car, just the right routine.
Whether you have a pressure washer or just a hose, smart techniques protect your paint, keep your car looking its best, and save you big money on paint correction later.

At the end of the day, it’s not about the number of buckets, it’s about using the buckets properly.