Do dirt guards really work???
#1
Do dirt guards really work???
Check this out. Wondering if the Dirt Guards really keep the grit off your paint while washing?
This is a special filter I use for straining particles in the wash water. They come in varying filtration levels. I was filling my buckets with water and kept seeing little particles floating. I hadn't bothered washing my DG filter in awhile and realized that this was the source of the contamination!
![](http://www.showcardetailing.com/linkedpix/vetteclay/DSC06381.jpg)
![](http://www.showcardetailing.com/linkedpix/vetteclay/DSC06383.jpg)
![](http://www.showcardetailing.com/linkedpix/vetteclay/DSC06384.jpg)
Hopefully these will convince you of the importance of capturing the contaminants and holding them away from your mitt. I use the two bucket wash method with Dirt Guards in both buckets.
To wash the filter, I placed it into a sink full of warm water and lifted it out and pushed it back into the water repeatedly to force the particles out. Those that didn't come out were fine since they won't likely come later.
Dirt Guards are inexpensive insurance against instilling swirls in your paint during the wash process.
Richard
This is a special filter I use for straining particles in the wash water. They come in varying filtration levels. I was filling my buckets with water and kept seeing little particles floating. I hadn't bothered washing my DG filter in awhile and realized that this was the source of the contamination!
![](http://www.showcardetailing.com/linkedpix/vetteclay/DSC06381.jpg)
![](http://www.showcardetailing.com/linkedpix/vetteclay/DSC06383.jpg)
![](http://www.showcardetailing.com/linkedpix/vetteclay/DSC06384.jpg)
Hopefully these will convince you of the importance of capturing the contaminants and holding them away from your mitt. I use the two bucket wash method with Dirt Guards in both buckets.
To wash the filter, I placed it into a sink full of warm water and lifted it out and pushed it back into the water repeatedly to force the particles out. Those that didn't come out were fine since they won't likely come later.
Dirt Guards are inexpensive insurance against instilling swirls in your paint during the wash process.
Richard
#2
I have been using Dirt Guards for some time now, and they work great
. I have been using the 2 bucket wash for many years now, and the thought of not rinsing my mitt gives me the *******![Impatient](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/impatient.gif)
![Eek](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/eek2.gif)
Everyone needs one of these;
Here is my 2 bucket wash cart, with built-in wash mitt holder, locking wheels, rot-proof construction/materials, low center of gravity helps in high speed turns, red corner bumpers for high visibility, imperial/metric measure buckets.
![](http://i41.tinypic.com/nee4ok.jpg)
Mark
![Thumbs Up](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/thumb-up.gif)
![Impatient](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/impatient.gif)
![Eek](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/eek2.gif)
Everyone needs one of these;
Here is my 2 bucket wash cart, with built-in wash mitt holder, locking wheels, rot-proof construction/materials, low center of gravity helps in high speed turns, red corner bumpers for high visibility, imperial/metric measure buckets.
![](http://i41.tinypic.com/nee4ok.jpg)
Mark
![Popcorn](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/popcorn.gif)
#5
Ohhhhhh, haha. Read the post again.
"This is a special filter I use for straining particles in the wash water. They come in varying filtration levels. I was filling my buckets with water and kept seeing little particles floating. I hadn't bothered washing my DG filter in awhile and realized that this was the source of the contamination!"
What you're looking at is "the special filter". It's used for straining particulates from liquids. They fit inside the bucket..they just drop in..and you can filter the liquid. I just used them here to illustrate the junk that was in the DG that started coming out into my bucket. Since I couldn't trap the contaminants, I figured using this "strainer" would let you see the junk clearly...unlike the way I wrote this confusing post, lol.
"This is a special filter I use for straining particles in the wash water. They come in varying filtration levels. I was filling my buckets with water and kept seeing little particles floating. I hadn't bothered washing my DG filter in awhile and realized that this was the source of the contamination!"
What you're looking at is "the special filter". It's used for straining particulates from liquids. They fit inside the bucket..they just drop in..and you can filter the liquid. I just used them here to illustrate the junk that was in the DG that started coming out into my bucket. Since I couldn't trap the contaminants, I figured using this "strainer" would let you see the junk clearly...unlike the way I wrote this confusing post, lol.
#7
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#8
I started with Grit Guards and thought they were great. Then OG sold me the Dirt Guards and I realized how much better they really were. The Grit Guards are good for chunks and the bigger sized grits, but the Dirt Guards even drop out the fine silt sediment. No comparison - Dirt Guards are way better.
#9
Richard,
Can you please post the diameter of the DrainGuard. I have a square Rubbermaid bucket and I'm wondering if it'll fit properly in the bottom.
Also for those of you using 2 buckets to wash with, what's the benefit? I always use one bucket for all the painted parts, then when I do the wheels (last) I switch to a rag and use what's left of the soapy water.
Can you please post the diameter of the DrainGuard. I have a square Rubbermaid bucket and I'm wondering if it'll fit properly in the bottom.
Also for those of you using 2 buckets to wash with, what's the benefit? I always use one bucket for all the painted parts, then when I do the wheels (last) I switch to a rag and use what's left of the soapy water.
#10
The two bucket wash method uses one bucket for the soapy water that you wash the car with, and a second bucket for plain water you use to rinse the mitt after each panel or section or single wipe of the car, depending on how **** you are. Using the separate bucket for rinsing the mitt means that most of the grit ends up in the rinse bucket, and your soap bucket stays much cleaner - reducing the amount of grit you transfer back to the car in the process. Result should be fewer swirls - and those of us who bother believe that it makes a difference.
Like you, I do my wheels last - and don't bother rinsing my wheel brushes, etc. separately when doing my wheels.
Like you, I do my wheels last - and don't bother rinsing my wheel brushes, etc. separately when doing my wheels.
#11
The two bucket wash method uses one bucket for the soapy water that you wash the car with, and a second bucket for plain water you use to rinse the mitt after each panel or section or single wipe of the car, depending on how **** you are. Using the separate bucket for rinsing the mitt means that most of the grit ends up in the rinse bucket, and your soap bucket stays much cleaner - reducing the amount of grit you transfer back to the car in the process. Result should be fewer swirls - and those of us who bother believe that it makes a difference.
![Grin](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/grin.gif)
#13
Dirtguards from tab to tab is 10.5 inches. If they fit, putting a round screen over a square hole really doesn't solve the problem.![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
3 buckets is ideal..two for paint and 1 for wheels.
Although for bigger cars, 2 soap buckets,1 rinse and 1 for wheels can be desirable!![EEK!](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif)
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
Richard,
Can you please post the diameter of the DrainGuard. I have a square Rubbermaid bucket and I'm wondering if it'll fit properly in the bottom.
Also for those of you using 2 buckets to wash with, what's the benefit? I always use one bucket for all the painted parts, then when I do the wheels (last) I switch to a rag and use what's left of the soapy water.
Can you please post the diameter of the DrainGuard. I have a square Rubbermaid bucket and I'm wondering if it'll fit properly in the bottom.
Also for those of you using 2 buckets to wash with, what's the benefit? I always use one bucket for all the painted parts, then when I do the wheels (last) I switch to a rag and use what's left of the soapy water.
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
![EEK!](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif)
#14
#17
#18
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
For my old 318 I had soap, bucket, and mitt. Now it's multiple mitts, Epic, BG, Hydro, different drying towels, buffing towels, applicator pads, multple buckets for washing. It's all good, but just where to put it?
![Sly](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/sly.gif)
#19
Take a mitt and soak it in a bucket of water. The hairs will lift away from the skin. So will the dirt. While a hose will rinse the mitt, it's a lot better to soak and scrub a dirty mitt in a tub of water than forcing the contaminants in with a hose. It all comes down to reducing/minimizing the potential for scratching your paint, and a bucket is a simple way of doing this. You also use less water which seems to be on a lot of peoples minds these days.
Inside your new buckets! ![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
Get a lid and it's dust free. ![Wink](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
![Wink](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
It's not the $5 for the bucket, it's the growing collection of stuff I'm starting to accumulate.
For my old 318 I had soap, bucket, and mitt. Now it's multiple mitts, Epic, BG, Hydro, different drying towels, buffing towels, applicator pads, multple buckets for washing. It's all good, but just where to put it?![Sly](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/sly.gif)
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
For my old 318 I had soap, bucket, and mitt. Now it's multiple mitts, Epic, BG, Hydro, different drying towels, buffing towels, applicator pads, multple buckets for washing. It's all good, but just where to put it?
![Sly](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/sly.gif)
#20
#21
Hahah..yes! ![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
Actually I was pretty fortunate too because a lot of things were best hidden by leaving them out in the open..just as if they had been there all along...then one day I hear "Hey What's This??" ...Oh it's nothing..that's been there for months!...course I'm now divorced..so I don't have to hide anything anymore. ![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
![Thumbs Up](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/thumb-up.gif)
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
#22
Hahah..yes! ![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
Actually I was pretty fortunate too because a lot of things were best hidden by leaving them out in the open..just as if they had been there all along...then one day I hear "Hey What's This??" ...Oh it's nothing..that's been there for months!...course I'm now divorced..so I don't have to hide anything anymore. ![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
![Thumbs Up](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/thumb-up.gif)
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
![Grin](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/grin.gif)
![Grin](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/grin.gif)
#23
#25