Features:

  • The Cyclone Dirt Trap Bucket Insert eliminates wash swirls and scratches with Cyclone Dirt-Trap Technology
  • Keeps dirt and debris trapped under the Dirt Trap Cyclones to reduce scratches, swirls, and paint damage during washing
  • Nearly 300 geometrically positioned dirt trap cyclones deliver the perfect balance between cone size, dirt aperture diameter, strategic placement, funnel pitch and depth for maximum particle capture
  • Dirt Trap Cyclones funnel and separate dirt away from wash water
  • Fits in your traditional 12-inch bucket and reduces swirl marks and scratches to ensure a better washing experience
Great but your preference.

It does collect smaller particles and keeps bigger ones trapped, but it takes time because it needs to descend to the bottom. Unfortunately you have to buy the 15 dollar bucket from chemical guys if you don't want to cut this contraption. so its personal preference.

Works great, fits in HD bucket

Very well built, not flimsy at all. And best part, fits perfectly all the way to the bottom of my HD bucket with 1/4” clearance all the way around (maybe the west coast buckets are larger 😀 )

It fits older 5 gallon buckets / not newer ones.

I bought two of these wash bucket inserts and they work great. Reading several reviews, many note that it does not fit in the "standard" 5 gallon buckets you typically buy at big-box stores. Here's the scoop.... They fit perfectly in standard 5 gallon buckets that were produced several years back - I have several buckets that are 10 years old. However, many of the buckets you buy at Home Depot/Lowes/Menards/etc... today are actually smaller at the bottom than older buckets (my speculation is they save some money on material when producing the buckets to help improve the margin on the product sold). So, if you have or can find "older" 5 gallon buckets, this product fits great out of the box. If you go to Home Depot and buy a 5 gallon bucket today, it will not go all the way down to the bottom of the bucket and fits lousy (I read where several people sand/remove some of the material from the bucket insert to get it to fit - sounds like it would work but is a hassle, in my opinion). Best option, find an "older" bucket - it will work great. Also, a great tip I read from another review.... Put a plastic zip tie through the middle of the bucket insert. This will give you something to grab onto to pull it out of the bucket when you want to remove it. This is a great little trick.

Clear/Paint Saver

Keeps what you don't want on your car and wash mitt on the bottom of the bucket or on the bottom of this dirt trap. I use two of them in my wash bucket but you can use 1 in a wash bucket and 1 in your clean water bucket too if you're using the 2 bucket wash method. My only gripe which is kinda small is they don't fit in the bottom of a regular 5 gallon bucket. You're better off buying the chemical guy's branded bucket and using it instead if it fits properly.

Grit'er done

Poured out my water and turned the bucket upside down to dry. See picture for the crudookie that was left behind.

shoulda bought one of these YEARS ago.

shoulda bought one of these YEARS ago. I know I have caused scratches in my paint from grit in the past so figured I'd give this a try....

WORKS PERFECTLY in standard 5 Gallons Buckets I got from Lows & Walmart

I don’t know if the manufacturer upgraded this item or some people just like to complain but as of Friday October 12th, 2018 what I received fits PERFECTLY in 5 Gallons Buckets I got from Lows & Walmart which are the Industry Standard size. I will also note that the packaging header card doesn’t say “Chemical Guys” on it. They are Distributed by Chemical Guys. They don’t sit around with grins on their faces making these. Also... they fit so perfectly... if I weren’t able to remove it with my fingers, I’d use a common 3” Sheetrock screw, tiny pick or a small standard flat screwdriver. So far I haven’t had any issues getting it out by hand in fresh NEW $3 buckets. Ultimately, I am pleased with the current item I purchased.

Brilliant - to my mind, an improvement on the grid type version

Brilliant - to my mind, an improvement on the grid type version - the cone shapes should form a 'valve' effect and make it even harder for particles to rise past the trap. THis is my first trap and boy did it show me how much particulate matter ends up on the wash mitt. Glad I got this

I think it works

I like the idea of this, keeping the dirt below where the cleaning mitt goes. I have not seen any dirt under it when rinsing the bucket. It could be that removing it from the bucket is so hard that the dirt gets mixed back in or the car isn't that dirty. Either way it can't hurt. BTW, it is very tight in a standard bucket. First thing you should do is make a loop through the center holes with a zip tie so you have a handle to pull it out of the bucket. When mine arrived I put it in the bucket then heated the bucket using an industrial heat gun around where the bucket was bulging from the grid. Now it is a little easier to install and remove.

No fitment issues here

I was potentially worried I would have fitment issues due to the other reviews but the dirt trap worked great in both the 5-gallon buckets I use for my truck wash. One bucket is a few years old and it fit perfectly in the bottom, the other bucket is less than 2 months old from Lowes and it almost fit all the way to the bottom (maybe an inch from the bottom) but still perfectly usable.

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