Talk to me about snow foam

[jmsheahan]

Hi all, I apologise if this has been covered before but I'm after some advice on snow foam and lances/guns. Had a search but could only find snippets of info - I'm after an idiots guide  Basically I'm wondering if they are a worthwhile investment for someone who takes pride in a clean car but isn't a detailing pro?

My household has got a Karcher pressure washer recently and I'm tempted to get a snow foam gun for xmas. My stepdads FTO is always filthy and it doesn't take long for my Golf to be plastered either with the winter salt etc. I'm thinking of a gun for a more thorough clean and to speed up the cleaning process a little. Which are the best guns and foam to use for a reasonable price? Does the foam strip coats of wax etc? How long would you leave the foam on the car? Is a snowfoam gun the kind of thing you'd use on a weekly basis/wash?

Should I stick with the buckets and mitt or add a snow foam gun to the collection? Top of everything they look like fun 

Any advice appreciated and sorry for all of the questions!

[tech1889]

I'm going to buy snow foam

To my knowledge it's ph neutral so doesn't strip wax

Most lances are the same waxamomo has the lance for 50ish and snowfoam is like a tenner

And yer you can use it everyweek as a pre wash before 2 bucket method.

It is not a substitute for normal cleaning just helps


Hope this helps you mate. 

[jmsheahan]

Yeah that's great mate, ta for the info 

Good to know it could be used as a weekly thing and the solution is PH neutral. Would you put normal car shampoo in with the mixture? Main reason I'm considering one is for a more thorough clean for the bits you can't get to with a mitt, nooks and crannies, arches etc as having always owned older cars I'm paranoid about rust and salt is the enemy!

Seems to be an option of this as a proper lance for a pressure washer


or this for a garden hose although it seems to have mixed reviews from what I've been reading


Quite a lot of dosh for essentially a pressure washer attachment but if they do a good job, and if I can go halves with my stepdad I'm thinking it might possibly be worth the investment.

[SI74]

Get the proper lance.  Then get what ever SF you want. Some will strip wax and some wont just read up on them and yes you can add car shampoo it down to you.

I use this with a little car shampoo. works a treat.

http://www.waxamomo.co.uk/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=87&idcategory=12

[jmsheahan]

Thanks 

[stealthwolf]

A proper lance allows the foam to form properly. I tried one of those garden sprayers and to produce foam, they're crap. Use mine for spraying Bilberry on to the wheels.

As above, you should be looking at pH neutral foams. Most detailers recommend about an inch of snowfoam in the bottle, with the rest topped up with water.

Remember, snowfoam doesn't mean touchless wash. It just softens the dirt and lifts some of it off so when you wash by 2BM, it reduces likelihood of swirls. Best analogy I've heard is compare it to washing up. Imagine the dishes have been left overnight and the foodstains are dried. Trying to scrub them clean is difficult. It's a lot easier if you soak them first!

[Uruk Hai]

I use Valet Pro PH neutral and I get on very well with it although when it runs out I'm very tempted to try this product.

http://shop.autobritedirect.co.uk/magifoam---the-ultimate-in-vehicle-washing-2725-p.asp

[jmsheahan]

A proper lance allows the foam to form properly. I tried one of those garden sprayers and to produce foam, they're crap. Use mine for spraying Bilberry on to the wheels.

As above, you should be looking at pH neutral foams. Most detailers recommend about an inch of snowfoam in the bottle, with the rest topped up with water.

Remember, snowfoam doesn't mean touchless wash. It just softens the dirt and lifts some of it off so when you wash by 2BM, it reduces likelihood of swirls. Best analogy I've heard is compare it to washing up. Imagine the dishes have been left overnight and the foodstains are dried. Trying to scrub them clean is difficult. It's a lot easier if you soak them first!

Thanks  . Understand I still need to wash after, was just looking for something to help loosen the dirt in the knooks and crannies a mitt can't get. I'll avoid the hose sprayer on then, good to know.

I use Valet Pro PH neutral and I get on very well with it although when it runs out I'm very tempted to try this product.

http://shop.autobritedirect.co.uk/magifoam---the-ultimate-in-vehicle-washing-2725-p.asp

Cheers for that 

[waxamomo]

I'm a big fan of Snow Foam, it just removes that top layer of dirt before you start touching the paintwork and rubbing it in causing swirls.

[new to vw]

As above bud....you cant go wrong with it.......
If people have never seen it in use you get some strange looks