what happened to using a bucket and a sponge?

[noopets]

Whilst we’re on the subject, what’s the quickest and easiest way to remove bird st without having to get the pressure washer out? It’s getting to that time of the year where it’s a daily occurance!

[TurboHatchback]

noopets said:

Whilst we’re on the subject, what’s the quickest and easiest way to remove bird st without having to get the pressure washer out? It’s getting to that time of the year where it’s a daily occurance!

Get a wet sponge or cloth, plop it on top and leave. Come back in 10 minutes and just wipe it off.

[ro250]

TurboHatchback said:

noopets said:

Whilst we’re on the subject, what’s the quickest and easiest way to remove bird st without having to get the pressure washer out? It’s getting to that time of the year where it’s a daily occurance!

Get a wet sponge or cloth, plop it on top and leave. Come back in 10 minutes and just wipe it off.

Agreed! I normally use kitchen roll soaked in water. Just be patient as time is your friend.

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

What happened to using a bucket and sponge? answer - a better method came along. Using a wool style mitt and two buckets is a superior method. Its hardly less effort and anyone who has tried it can see why its better - the second bucket gets filthy whilst the soapy bucket remains nearly clean. The concept of grit rubbing on the paint and leaving marks is pretty easy to understand.

[Prohibiting]

noopets said:

Whilst we’re on the subject, what’s the quickest and easiest way to remove bird st without having to get the pressure washer out? It’s getting to that time of the year where it’s a daily occurance!

A mild APC (all purpose cleaner) sprayed on and left to dwell for a couple of mins then wiped off with a cloth.

Bilt Hamber Surfex HD diluted at a safe 5% works well and won’t strip any wax off (if you wax or apply other protectant products etc).

[swisstoni]

Prohibiting said:

noopets said:

Whilst we’re on the subject, what’s the quickest and easiest way to remove bird st without having to get the pressure washer out? It’s getting to that time of the year where it’s a daily occurance!

A mild APC (all purpose cleaner) sprayed on and left to dwell for a couple of mins then wiped off with a cloth.

Bilt Hamber Surfex HD diluted at a safe 5% works well and won’t strip any wax off (if you wax or apply other protectant products etc).

I soak a microfibre in water and leave it over the poop for 10 mins or whatever. Poop should be softened enough to wipe right off with the microfibre.

[JmatthewB]

noopets said:

Whilst we’re on the subject, what’s the quickest and easiest way to remove bird st without having to get the pressure washer out? It’s getting to that time of the year where it’s a daily occurance!

As others have said, try and soften it with a soaked cloth and try to 'lift' it off and not wipe.

I'm grateful I don't work in Fleetwood any more. This was a daily thing:

[Prohibiting]

swisstoni said:

Prohibiting said:

noopets said:

Whilst we’re on the subject, what’s the quickest and easiest way to remove bird st without having to get the pressure washer out? It’s getting to that time of the year where it’s a daily occurance!

A mild APC (all purpose cleaner) sprayed on and left to dwell for a couple of mins then wiped off with a cloth.

Bilt Hamber Surfex HD diluted at a safe 5% works well and won’t strip any wax off (if you wax or apply other protectant products etc).

I soak a microfibre in water and leave it over the poop for 10 mins or whatever. Poop should be softened enough to wipe right off with the microfibre.

That also works but we’re all about doing things in the most efficient way, plus if you have a few bird poop spots like the above image then a spritz of APC on each one will be more effective and quicker

[NGRhodes]

Is there any evidence that using 2 or more buckets is superior ?

[JmatthewB]

NGRhodes said:

Is there any evidence that using 2 or more buckets is superior ?

The evidence would be your suds bucket is still clear and your rinse bucket is dirty and has grit/dirt contaminants in it.

[NGRhodes]

JmatthewB said:

NGRhodes said:

Is there any evidence that using 2 or more buckets is superior ?

The evidence would be your suds bucket is still clear and your rinse bucket is dirty and has grit/dirt contaminants in it.

How is that any better than having grit/dirt contaminants in a single bucket, what difference does that make to my car ?

[InitialDave]

NGRhodes said:

How is that any better than having grit/dirt contaminants in a single bucket, what difference does that make to my car ?

Because you're not moving it back onto the car and rubbing it around.

Fresh sudsy water loaded up on the sponge/mitt, onto the car to clean it, any dirt picked up rinsed off in the rinsing bucket, clean sponge back into the fresh bucket.

If your next question is why the sponge/mitt doesn't pick up the dirt in the rinsing bucket, that's partly where the grit guard helps, by separating off the bottom of the bucket so it's less likely to get swirled up, and also technique - you rinse off and then squeeze out above the bucket, so anything that is still on the surface is flushed out.

You can achieve pretty much the same thing using a hose to rinse the sponge/mitt between loading it up with fresh water, too.

[NGRhodes]

InitialDave said:

NGRhodes said:

How is that any better than having grit/dirt contaminants in a single bucket, what difference does that make to my car ?

Because you're not moving it back onto the car and rubbing it around.

Fresh sudsy water loaded up on the sponge/mitt, onto the car to clean it, any dirt picked up rinsed off in the rinsing bucket, clean sponge back into the fresh bucket.

If your next question is why the sponge/mitt doesn't pick up the dirt in the rinsing bucket, that's partly where the grit guard helps, by separating off the bottom of the bucket so it's less likely to get swirled up, and also technique - you rinse off and then squeeze out above the bucket, so anything that is still on the surface is flushed out.

You can achieve pretty much the same thing using a hose to rinse the sponge/mitt between loading it up with fresh water, too.

Why would I be moving it back onto the car by using one bucket ?

[otolith]

You don't understand why it's better to use a clean cloth to clean something than it is to use a dirty one?

[SWoll]

InitialDave said:

You can achieve pretty much the same thing using a hose to rinse the sponge/mitt between loading it up with fresh water, too.

I personally find this does a better job than the 2 bucket method. All of the filth and grit gets blasted off the sponge/mitt and the washing bucket stays pretty much completely clean whereas with the 2 bucket method there is still some transfer.

[GTEYE]

otolith said:

You don't understand why it's better to use a clean cloth to clean something than it is to use a dirty one?

I use one bucket, but I always pressure wash it first to get rid of any loose grit etc. The bucket picks up relatively little contaminant.

I also tend not to leave it six months between cleans, which probably helps.

[SWoll]

GTEYE said:

otolith said:

You don't understand why it's better to use a clean cloth to clean something than it is to use a dirty one?

I use one bucket, but I always pressure wash it first to get rid of any loose grit etc. The bucket picks up relatively little contaminant.

I also tend not to leave it six months between cleans, which probably helps.

This. A quick regular wash and most of these issues go away, let it get caked in dried on crud for months at a time and rather more of a challenge as with any similar task.

[otolith]

GTEYE said:

otolith said:

You don't understand why it's better to use a clean cloth to clean something than it is to use a dirty one?

I use one bucket, but I always pressure wash it first to get rid of any loose grit etc. The bucket picks up relatively little contaminant.

I also tend not to leave it six months between cleans, which probably helps.

I'm just naturally a bit extravagant, so I splashed out a whole 97p on an extra bucket from B&Q.

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

NGRhodes said:

Why would I be moving it back onto the car by using one bucket ?

With a single bucket, when you clean the mitt in the bucket the water gets dirty; as evidenced by the water going brown. This dirty water has bits suspended in it, so you will get bits on the mitt from the dirty water.

These bits are abrasive, so when you rub the car its a bit like sandpaper and marks the paint.

Where as if you clean the mitt in a bucket of plain water to get the dirt off, then go to the soapy bucket, you prevent this.

[PH User]

Chainsaw Rebuild said:

NGRhodes said:

Why would I be moving it back onto the car by using one bucket ?

With a single bucket, when you clean the mitt in the bucket the water gets dirty; as evidenced by the water going brown. This dirty water has bits suspended in it, so you will get bits on the mitt from the dirty water.

These bits are abrasive, so when you rub the car its a bit like sandpaper and marks the paint.

Where as if you clean the mitt in a bucket of plain water to get the dirt off, then go to the soapy bucket, you prevent this.

You will reduce rather than prevent.