A Kitty Litter plastic bucket makes a great wash bucket. Make sure to empty the kitty litter first!

It's rectangular, often has a handle, fits in the boot, has a lid, and you can cram all kinds of stuff in it.

As for the Car Wash area itself, I'm flying in a bunch of supplies donated by Meguiar's for the Car Wash area. ProtectAll has also donated a gallon of their QEW product for anyone that wants to conserve water and try their hand at the rinseless wash method.

Richard

 

Done

 

Dude!!!

I drive some 1200/1400 miles there and back!!! You don't think I go there to wash my MINI do you? We'll drive, they can wash. That's only some 500 some MINIs not on the road as we hit the curves.

 

Thanks, Michael. I meant to move it into the Dragon forum, but a meal interrupted the completed task!

 

I love my Mr Clean, but it leaks, and things that leak do not make good traveling companions.

As for borrowing, or renting, other peoples stuff, many MINI cleaning fanatic won't even use the same cloth or sponge for the entire car. They figure once it takes dirt off of one part of the car, using the same sponge on another part of the car will just scratch that part. Chances are they won't want their precious towels on some other car. After all, who knows where its been?!?

As for me, I'll have to see what fits in the bucket.

 

I have a rectangle plastic container with a lid. I can fit all my stuff in it and it doubles as bucket when empty. I am bringin all my wash stuff this year.

Last year my Mini got soooo dirty I could not stand it!! Then I had to beg borrow and steel, well I did acquire a towel, to get enough stuff to do a quickie wash job. At least she was clean, sorta, again.

 

OctaneGuy.. I desperately need your help with my car.. I'm arriving Friday.. can you help?.. My car is "Jet Black" and I tried waxing it last fall but it was a bit cold that day, so guess what happened? The wax was a bit hard to coming off so now it's got swirl marks like you wouldn't believe.. looks like I polished my car with a brillo pad (no joke!). I've polished it since, but not with an orbital.. I have one, but I'm not confident enough to try it on a black car.. you know?.. I could realllllllly use the help.. PM me if you can..

Thanks,

Derek

 

No problem. PM on its way

Richard

 

This sounds like a perfect candidate for for 'before' and 'after' pictures!

 

I'd be down for that..

 

Oh don't worry, every car will be fully documented before and after!

 

Ill be bringing all my crap, or maybe Ill just roll up to KOOLS CAR WASH. Haha.

 

Personally, I think everyone should bring their own tools. I will have some available for use as well, but as has been mentioned, the mitts I've got are going to touch a lot of cars, so if that bothers you, spend a few bucks and bring your own. I'm working on getting buckets and hoses for the area. We will have car wash soap and some special microfiber drying towels. I'll see if I can get some Absorber towels too.

Just for the record, I won't be doing the washing!
I will be glad to help anyone if I'm not detailing or doing VacuCam demos, and I will have scheduled demos on washing, and there will be strict no nos in place. Here are some of them.

1.) Don't throw the wash mitts on the floor when you are done. If there is a grassy area, that's just as bad--don't throw them on the ground. I will make sure there is a place used mitts can be placed.

2.) Don't use the mitts on your wheels. Its for paint or glass only.

3.) Don't use the mitts on your tires

4.) Don't use the mitts on the plastic trim--arch trims and skirts (unless they are painted)--they pick up a lot of junk, and we don't want trim detailers getting mixed with the mitts.

5.) Don't waste water. Can you imagine how much water will get used by 500 cars???

I will have a rinseless option for those that want to try it. You just put a small amount in a bucket of water, and wash your car with it, drying each section at a time. When you're done, your car is clean, and doesn't need to be rinsed.

Feel free to add some of your own rules--that's just the beginning!

Richard

 

I've found the MR. Clean stuff works realllllll well if you just put it in a bucket and rinse well afterwards. It's the best detergent I've seen for not having "waterspots" afterwards.. of course.. this is coming from a guy who's paint is in dire need of help.. you know what?.. better not listen to me..nevermind..LOL!

 

A lot can be said (positive things) about using deionized water for washing our cars. The Mr. Clean system is a great idea, however to avoid water spots without the system, you can try any of these steps:

1.) Don't let the car dry in the sun after it's been washed.
2.) Follow the washing/drying with a "Quik Detailer"
3.) If you're going to polish out the car with a buffer, you'll be going over the whole car anyways, and water spots won't be an issue.
4.) Use a car soap like NXT Car Wash
5.) Use a rinseless Car Wash solution

But as has been mentioned, Mr. Clean is only one part of the answer. What you touch the car with, what you dry it with, what you touch it with when waxing/polishing are all just as important. Black paint is the ultimate test of how careful and **** you are. Good techniques will ensure that your paint stays looking good longer.

Richard

 

yeah... I'm a totally irresponsible black car owner..LOL!

The environment up here is realllllllly rough on the cars too in the winter.. salt, sand, rocks, little bastards with bb guns (don't even get me started on that one)... It's only an 05 with 16k on it and it looks like it should have 30k..

 

In a 2 gal. bucket, you can fit: a california blade, a small bottle of car wash stuff, an Absorber, an old bath towel, 3 small hand towels, wheel cleaner, wheel brush and a wash mitt. Lotta stuff for a small foot print.