Washing car under a hosepipe ban - two bucket system?
Discussion
With the hosepipe ban coming in the next couple of days, and having a filthy car, I'm considering my options. Usually I use a pressure washer to soak it with sudsy water, then a wash brush to actually do the washing bit, then pressure washer set to a wide spray to rinse. I understand that this will not be suitable under the hosepipe ban, so won't be able to do that for a while. I have read references to the "two bucket" system; what actually is this? Does one bucket hold clean water + shampoo, and the second bucket used to rinse off the dirty water before reloading the wash mit / sponge? How does one rinse off the sudsy bit afterwards (I assume in the normal course of things a hosepipe would be used, so would a few watering cans be suitable?
I've got a big garage and I'm contemplating actually using a hosepipe but inside the garage.
Do hosepipe bans count if the hose is not connected to the "proper" water supply? My other idea was to use water from a big water butt, but to fill the butt up when it's dark from a hosepipe. Hmmmm....
Do hosepipe bans count if the hose is not connected to the "proper" water supply? My other idea was to use water from a big water butt, but to fill the butt up when it's dark from a hosepipe. Hmmmm....
I use the 2 buckets method
One bucket of plain tap water, one of shampoo.
You were right in thinking that you just use the plain water to rid the mit of dirt and use the other bucket to reapply the warm shampoo.
Watering cans. Lol. I'd throw a few buckets over it tbh, not the one with the dirty water in it though!
One bucket of plain tap water, one of shampoo.
You were right in thinking that you just use the plain water to rid the mit of dirt and use the other bucket to reapply the warm shampoo.
Watering cans. Lol. I'd throw a few buckets over it tbh, not the one with the dirty water in it though!
I use 5 to 6 buckets of water per car to wash it when there is a hosepipe ban. Two to pre-wash loose dirt, one to shampoo and 2 to rinse off.
It takes me about 2 mins to fill a 5ltr bucket due to very poor mains water pressure where we live.
When I use a hose, I spray the car over in around 1 minute to rinse off loose dirt.
I use one bucket of water to shampoo the car, occasionally rinsing the sponge with the hose.
And I rinse the car off in under a minute.
So, using the hose takes approx 12 litres of water.
Using buckets takes about 25-30 lites.
Yes, a hosepipe ban makes complete sense!
It takes me about 2 mins to fill a 5ltr bucket due to very poor mains water pressure where we live.
When I use a hose, I spray the car over in around 1 minute to rinse off loose dirt.
I use one bucket of water to shampoo the car, occasionally rinsing the sponge with the hose.
And I rinse the car off in under a minute.
So, using the hose takes approx 12 litres of water.
Using buckets takes about 25-30 lites.
Yes, a hosepipe ban makes complete sense!
so, things that I need to buy would be:
Shampoo (the stuff from the pressure washer probably won't be suitable?)
2 buckets.
Wash mit or sponge?
Is it worth getting a squuegee to remove excess water? I bought one a while ago, and have used it occasionally but now it's a bit ragged round the edges and I was never sure if it was doing the car any good (always like to squeegee windows though, so you don't get any of that dried up water residue left on the screen). I've tried using a chamois and was rubbish at it.
Shampoo (the stuff from the pressure washer probably won't be suitable?)
2 buckets.
Wash mit or sponge?
Is it worth getting a squuegee to remove excess water? I bought one a while ago, and have used it occasionally but now it's a bit ragged round the edges and I was never sure if it was doing the car any good (always like to squeegee windows though, so you don't get any of that dried up water residue left on the screen). I've tried using a chamois and was rubbish at it.
You can get portable pressure pump hoses that can carry about 5 litres. Two of those should be enough for a reasonable wash. Why not wash before the ban then just worry about keeping the windscreen and numberplates clean. They're my only concerns.
I'm sure a hosepipe ban is because we're low on water so washing it secretly is only going to bring us one stage closer to standpipes in the street (unless that's what you want).
I'm sure a hosepipe ban is because we're low on water so washing it secretly is only going to bring us one stage closer to standpipes in the street (unless that's what you want).
1 bucket of shampoo and water, one of plain water.
Three sponges (or 1 washmit and 2 sponges)
wash car (rinse with a bucket of plain water then refill before if particularly gritty) with the shampoo bucket and mit/sponge.
Use seperate sponge for wheels and arches.
Use "rinse" sponge in plain water and effectively wash the car again quickly with plain water.
Shamois off.
Get a grit gaurd which stops your sponges from resting in the (gritty) bottom of the bucket.
Its all you need, I stopped using pressure washers and hosepipes years ago, theres really no need.
Oh, and a good polish then a couple of coats of wax ( including your wheels) will maintain the clean state of your car by stopping some of the dirt from sticking and makes washing loads easier.
Three sponges (or 1 washmit and 2 sponges)
wash car (rinse with a bucket of plain water then refill before if particularly gritty) with the shampoo bucket and mit/sponge.
Use seperate sponge for wheels and arches.
Use "rinse" sponge in plain water and effectively wash the car again quickly with plain water.
Shamois off.
Get a grit gaurd which stops your sponges from resting in the (gritty) bottom of the bucket.
Its all you need, I stopped using pressure washers and hosepipes years ago, theres really no need.
Oh, and a good polish then a couple of coats of wax ( including your wheels) will maintain the clean state of your car by stopping some of the dirt from sticking and makes washing loads easier.
TonyHetherington said:
Dog Star said:
Do hosepipe bans count if the hose is not connected to the "proper" water supply?
No. You are quite able to store rainwater yourself and use that through a hosepipe.
It'd be like sanding the car down
TonyHetherington said:
Dog Star said:
Do hosepipe bans count if the hose is not connected to the "proper" water supply?
No. You are quite able to store rainwater yourself and use that through a hosepipe.You can also use the hose to fill a watering can for rinsing off
Kentish said:
TonyHetherington said:
Dog Star said:
Do hosepipe bans count if the hose is not connected to the "proper" water supply?
No. You are quite able to store rainwater yourself and use that through a hosepipe.It'd be like sanding the car down
OnTheOverrun said:
Kentish said:
TonyHetherington said:
Dog Star said:
Do hosepipe bans count if the hose is not connected to the "proper" water supply?
No. You are quite able to store rainwater yourself and use that through a hosepipe.It'd be like sanding the car down
Fortunately I live in the south west which is "unlikely" to see a hosepipe ban this summer, however when I lived in an area where a ban was in place I just made sure to fill a water butt whilst I was having a shower. Then I bought an attatchment for my karcher pressure washer which drew water from my butt, so to speak.
dern said:
What sort of a simpleton needs instructions on how to clean a car using a bucket and a sponge?
It really beggars belief doesn't it?How hard can it be?
Get a watering can and water down the car.
Wash with bucket and sponge/brush.
Rinse off with watering can as required.
Dry off with blade/chamois/towel/whatever etc.
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