A few weeks ago, we had a huge thunderstorm roll through. The next day, when I went to pick my kids up from daycare, my glasses fogged up IMMEDIATELY when I got into my truck. Uh oh. It’s done this before, almost since new (I’ve had the truck for about a year and a half), but I never saw any evidence of a water leak. This time, there was – when I got to my kids’ daycare, I checked, and sure enough there were water lines on the rear of the headliner.
I called my local RAM dealer and scheduled an appointment, do a check-over and oil change / tire rotation while it was there. Why take it in multiple times if I don’t have to? They gave me a loaner for the week, so why not? Their “water leak” guy found the culprit – the 3rd brake light. (During their standard check-over, they found that the battery was weak, so they replaced it under warranty – thanks!)
I know they don’t have a touchless car wash there, so I asked them not to wash my truck, anticipating doing it myself when I got it back. With the water tests and sitting outside, the truck accumulated plenty of water spots, bird droppings, and it hadn’t been washed in a while, so I whipped out the GoPro and recorded the entire process to show how quickly and easily you can wash and spray wax your own vehicle.
Here’s the video (Products used and step-by-step instructions are below the video):
Here are the products I used (Amazon links included):
- 2 5-gallon buckets (I like translucent ones with gallon markings on them)
- 2 “Grit Guards”
- Hose nozzle with “shower” and “jet” settings
- 2 Wash Mitts
- Chemical Guys Foamy car wash (I use this with mitts and occasionally with a pressure washer / foam cannon setup)
- Microfiber cloths
- Water blade
- Griot’s Garage Spray-On Wax
Here are the steps to the “Two Bucket” method:
- Add a “grit guard” to each clean, 5-gallon bucket.
- Soap Bucket: Add 2-3oz of your favorite car wash (not dish soap!) liquid and fill the bucket with 3-3.5 gallons of warm water. While filling, after 1-1.5 gallons, add your 2 wash mitts to the bucket. This cuts down on the soap bubbles and impregnates the mitts with some soap to start with.
- Rinse Bucket: Fill with 3 gallons of water (I use the hose outside).
- Take both your buckets and your car wash stuff outside.
- Rinse off the vehicle, using the “shower” setting on your hose nozzle. Work top-to-bottom.
- Starting at the top and working your way down, soap up the vehicle. Use one mitt for the paint, glass, and trim. Use a second mitt for wheels, exhaust, running boards, and lower valances. Do 1-3 panels (depending on size) and then rinse off your wash mitt in your Rinse Bucket. Squeeze the mitt and release several times to work the dirt and soap out of the mitt before dunking it in the Soap Bucket again to refresh it with soap. Wash the wheels, exhaust, running boards, and lower valances last.
- Rinse the vehicle off, again working top-to-bottom.
- Remove the bulk of the water off your vehicle with a microfiber cloth, chamois, water blade, or your favorite drying method. This is important to help prevent water spots, and gives you a chance to see any spots you missed and hit them again with the wash mitt or your microfiber cloth.
- Finish drying the vehicle with a fresh microfiber cloth and your favorite spray wax (I like Griot’s Garage Spray-On Wax for this – you can dry and apply the wax at the same time).
- Enjoy your now-clean vehicle!
Helpful Tips:
- If sunny, work 1-3 panels at a time and then rinse to prevent water spots and the soap drying on your vehicle. If overcast, you can usually get away with soaping up the whole vehicle before rinsing, like I did in the video.
- If it’s really hot out, super sunny, or extra dry, work 1-2 panels before rinsing, or wait until later in the day when your vehicle is in the shade before starting.
- You really want to prevent the soap and water from drying on the vehicle, as this can lead to water spots which are hard to remove.
Enjoy!
-John