You've upgraded to a proper detailing bucket. The £1 supermarket special has been consigned to the shed, so, guess you're done now? Think again, like cars themselves detailing buckets can be upgraded with a selection of accessories all designed to make car cleaning easier and more effective.
Related: Kleeneze Collapsible Bucket review: the miraculous shrinking bucket
Be the envy of the street with your tricked out bucket by following our ultimate bucket accessories guide. Don't forget either that you should be using two buckets for car cleaning (at the very least), so you may need to buy two of any accessories you purchase.
What bucket do I need to unlock these upgrades?
If you haven't had a chance to upgrade to a proper detailing bucket there are a couple of things you can double-check to make sure you're buying the correct bucket:
• A 20-litre capacity (some companies will be five US gallons)
• Made from robust plastic
• Strong metal handle for easier carrying
• A rigged top capable of accepting a gamma-seal lid
A good detailing bucket
Description
The default option for car cleaning, Meguiar's wash bucket offers five US gallons of capacity and can be fitted out with everything from a lid to an official Meguiar's dirt trap.
The best bucket accessories
The best bucket grit guard
Description
The perfect beginner's accessory is the humble girt guard. Designed to provide a barrier between your wash mitt and any debris that may get caught up in the water, a girt guard is an excellent scratch prevention tool and essential for anyone who takes car care and cleaning seriously. Be warned though, that some grit guards offer extra bits that will only fit certain models, so check around before committing.
The best bucket bucket lid
www.demon-tweeks.com
Description
A lid for your detailing bucket will give it a second use in life: storage. Safely and securely keep cleaning products, microfibres and other tools containment-free and safe when the bucket isn't full of water. For even more peace of mind, Gamma seal bucket lids are safe enough to store food safely, and more than perfect for a couple of brushes.
The best bucket storage attachment
www.demon-tweeks.com
Description
Add some small storage to a bucket with one of these bucket organisers that clips onto the side of a bucket. Designed primarily to hold detailing brushes, it's a clever way of not losing them beneath a particularly sudsy car shampoo. Carbon Collective even claim it can be used to store bottles, cloths and even a snow foam lance. Those brush holders on either end will come in handy when it comes to drying time too. It even features small drainage holes to prevent any water from accumulating and turning stagnant.
The best bucket grit guard attachment
Description
Taking the grit guard a little further is this washboard attachment that's designed to make scrubbing your wash mitt a bit easier in the hope that you'll remove any trace of debris that may lead to scratched paintwork.
The best bucket attachments for limiting scratches
Description
The ultimate in scratch prevention, the Scrub Wall climbs up half a bucket to allow you to scrub the mitt against it dislodging any debris that may have accumulated in the mitt. This kit also includes a Dirt Lock grit guard too, which is important as the Scrub Wall won't connect to any other type of grit guard.
The best bucket wash mitt cleaner
Description
Taking the humble grit guard to the next level, The Detail Guardz offer a pump-operated deep-cleaning system for your wash mitt. Press it down in the bucket with a mitt and it pushes water deep into the mitt in an attempt to remove any debris that may be caught. Just be warned, however, it only fits The Detail Guardz Dirt Lock Car Wash Bucket Insert.
The best bucket dolly
Description
A bucket filled with 20-litres of water will weigh 20kg when you try and lift it, not ideal if you've got a bad back. The solution? A bucket dolly. It features five rubber wheels and three thumbscrews for ensuring that your bucket isn't going anywhere. It may be rather expensive, but it will help make car cleaning easier.
The best bucket polishing pad cleaner
Description
Less of an accessory and more of a bucket convertor, this polishing pad washer will safely clean grimy polishing pads without you even needing to take them off the machine. Simply turn on the polisher with the pad resting on this device and it'll clean away debris quickly and easily. It's probably too expensive for domestic use but if you're always using a machine polisher and need a quick way to clean them, it is an interesting and novel choice.