Snow Foam and Cleaning Methods

[READER84]

Hi, i know snow foaming is a good thing if you have the right gear, can anyone recommend a lance and solution thats any good? I've got a Karcher attachment for my pressure washer that does foam, a bit!

Also the correct cleaning methods...

Blast Car Down
Snow Foam
Bucket Wash
Clay
Bucket Wash
Dry
Swirl Removal With Chosen Product
Polish
Wax

That the best way to do it?

 

[rossh]

That's the same cleaning method I would use.

If you get the right polish it should remove the swirls anyway. Also, I believe you dont need to polish after every wash, just 2/3 times a year, from what i've been reading. You will need to reapply the Wax if you clay with every wash though.


Ross

 

[riggssuzuki]

I use a standard snow foam lance but use AMDetails snowfoam. I then use pretty much the method you state above. However at the start of the year i plan to get a full correction done on the paint to remove all swirls etc. Then its up to me to keep it that way. seeing a brand new car next to one with a good correction detail done was enough for me to be persuaded!!!
Alan at AMDetails can set you up with a lance and foam. AMDetails – Detailing – Car Care – Gtechniq – Dodo Juice he does internet orders and postage too i think.

 

[Steve220]

That's the same cleaning method I would use.

If you get the right polish it should remove the swirls anyway. Also, I believe you dont need to polish after every wash, just 2/3 times a year, from what i've been reading. You will need to reapply the Wax if you clay with every wash though.


Ross

Unless you wash your car every 6 months, you shouldn't clay your car each time.

 

[READER84]

I wont clay it each time, just meant with a full blown wash thats the best method

 

[Steve220]

What you wrote was pretty much what you do, although i'm going to expand slightly.

Blast Car Down - Use a pressure washer to get thick crud/muck off first.
Snow Foam - You don't have to make it look like a thick foam, too many people get utterly carried away at making it the thickest foam they can. Ratio of around 1:8 in the bottle is fine.
Bucket Wash - 2 bucket method with grid guards and a wool mitt then hose down after
De-contaminate - de-tar and de-iron
Clay - As already discussed on here
Bucket Wash - just a pressure wash will suffice.
Dry - a good car drying towel
Swirl Removal - Chosen Product - This is essentially what polishing does
Polish - see above
Wax - OR seal. I use a seal as it doesn't apply pressure to paintwork to apply and therefore risk tarnishing paintwork.

 

[johnnythepie]

I certainly wouldnt blast the car as the first step.You are in effect blasting solids from the paint.They need to be loosened by the foam before you blast it.Soft dirt is safer to remove than hard dirt.Dont expect any miracles from snow foam though, its only good for loosening dirt and nothing else.It doesnt remove enough grime and film to avoid a two bucket mitt wash.Ive probably tried about 8 or 9 diferant foams and they are basically the same.Both soften dirt in the right concentration, but little else.Its a myth that its a wonder cleaner.Your wash should be two buckets with grit guards...one bucket detergent (not washing up liquid!!!) and one rinse, with a sheepskin mitt doing one panel at a time starting with the roof. The last part to do is the lower third of the car which is the dirtiest. To dry, use drying cloths to lay on the panels to dry initially,drag them off and mop up the residue with another cloth.Juicy Jen has a good wash guide, but skip step two and foam first.She also has foam lances that work. Of course if you need to clay or remove contaminents (iron-x) do this after the wash but dont forget to give it a thorough rinse.Iron X is incredible for wheels too.

Car Washing | Articles

 

[the_cueball]

What you wrote was pretty much what you do, although i'm going to expand slightly.

Blast Car Down - Use a pressure washer to get thick crud/muck off first.
Snow Foam - You don't have to make it look like a thick foam, too many people get utterly carried away at making it the thickest foam they can. Ratio of around 1:8 in the bottle is fine.
Bucket Wash - 2 bucket method with grid guards and a wool mitt then hose down after
De-contaminate - de-tar and de-iron
Clay - As already discussed on here
Bucket Wash - just a pressure wash will suffice.
Dry - a good car drying towel
Swirl Removal - Chosen Product - This is essentially what polishing does
Polish - see above
Wax - OR seal. I use a seal as it doesn't apply pressure to paintwork to apply and therefore risk tarnishing paintwork.

and I'll use yours and expand on it too... lol

Blast Car Down - Use a pressure washer to get thick crud/muck off first, including wheels/arches/underbody.

Snow Foam - You don't have to make it look like a thick foam, too many people get utterly carried away at making it the thickest foam they can. Ratio of around 1:8 in the bottle is fine. <agree>

Wheels - I always clean the wheels after the snow foam is on... mine are all sealed up, so SN and a small brush is usually good enough to clean them.

Bucket Wash - 2 bucket method with grid guards and a wool mitt then hose down after <Grit guards are a complete waste of money imo> Use Fairy Liquid if doing a new car, or wanting to strip back any wax etc on yours, if just a "normal" wash then a decent shampoo that doesn't strip your wax/sealant

De-contaminate - de-tar and de-iron and clay.... <this is a 3 stage process for me... 2 chemical and 1 manual...>

Bucket Wash - just a pressure wash will suffice. <I use ONR as my clay lube, so don't need this step>

Dry - a good car drying towel... < + a drying aid >

Swirl Removal - Chosen Product - This is essentially what polishing does

Polish - see above

Another Snow foam / clean to remove any polish dust, and a dry as per before...

IPA wipedown to remove any oils and to help check that swirls are gone.

Wax - OR seal. I use a seal as it doesn't apply pressure to paintwork to apply and therefore risk tarnishing paintwork... <wax, seal or both as you see fit and enjoy - note, seal before wax if using both>

As for should you pressure wash first....snow second etc... each to their own, the professionals I know and trust do hose down the car first, so that's good enough for me...the idea being to remove any really loose grim, and to leave the harder stuff for the snow foam to work at...


As with everything detailing related, there is no real right or wrong, but this is how I work with the cars....

 

[READER84]

Nice one lads, couple of thoughts though...

You say the snow doesnt have to be thick? The cheap plastic Karcher one i have does make foam, albeit not thick, but providing i use good stuff it should be ok? Or should i get a decent one from Jen?

Also, i was going to give the car a once over with Megs ScratchX to tidy it up a bit then give it a coat or Autoglym Resin Polish, your saying i don't need both?

Thanks

 

[johnnythepie]

Thick foam clings longer.Thin foam just slides off my paintwork

 

[READER84]

Whats best, microfibre wash mitt or a wool one?

 

[riggssuzuki]

Whats best, microfibre wash mitt or a wool one?

I use one of the Noodle mitts you can buy in Asda. Cheap as chips and IMO every bit as good as the expensive brand ones.

 

[johnnythepie]

I like the sheepskin mitt...problem is that they dont last that long if you dont rinse them out properly

 

[READER84]

And what about drying towels? Surely just a big microfibre with a posh name?

 

[Steve220]

Thick foam clings longer.Thin foam just slides off my paintwork

Doesn't mean it works better..

 

[READER84]

Doesn't mean it works better..

The longer it sticks, the longer its breaking down dirt surely?

 

[CHEZ]

either way with "show foam" you need to start off by going against the grain and do the wheels first!
then spray the car from top to bottom so your keeping wheel dirt spread to the minimum!


here is how i do it,
rinse car with pressure washer from top to bottom, giving a little blast under wheel arches when i get to the wheels,
i dont use a snow foam but autoglym pressure washer wash, which is essentially a traffic film remover that works better than snow foam imo,
spray this onto wheels first, then onto the roof then work your way down over the full car,
leave this to dwell on the paint for about 5mins, (just like snow foam),
rinse whole car from top to bottom starting at the roof and finishing at the wheels last,
using the 2 bucket method with car shampoo of your favourite choice in 1 bucket and warm clean water in the other, using a cheapo mitt from asda wash the car from roof down finishing at the wheels last,
rinse car,
fill buckets again, and wash your wheels,
rinse whole car again,
using a jumbo drying towel dry car off including your rims,
open doors and dry your door shuts and around bottom of your doors and sills,
apply tyre shine and wait to dry,
drive down street and work brakes a bit to remove rusty film on discs!
put car in garage before it rains or a bird poo"s on it!

 

[riggssuzuki]

I apply my snow foam then have a cuppa. I have also noticed that if i snow foam 1st the dirt comes off a lot better. when i pressure wash 1st i dont seem to get such a clean finish following the rinse off of the foam. Sounds daft i know but thats how it looks. I have a white car so you can see a clear difference in the methods i use.

 

[READER84]

Anyone used these Towels? Or should i stick to microfibre?

 

[CHEZ]

i think i got something similar in the megs clay kit i bought!
there ok but a little small unless there different to the one i got with it!
i got a jumbo waffle type from halfrauds which is massive!
speeds up the process a bit!
but everybody likes different things!

 

[READER84]

i think i got something similar in the megs clay kit i bought!
there ok but a little small unless there different to the one i got with it!
i got a jumbo waffle type from halfrauds which is massive!
speeds up the process a bit!
but everybody likes different things!

A halfrauds own brand one?

 

[CHEZ]

A halfrauds own brand one?

i think so, cant really remember now it was that long ago!
which in itself says a lot as its lasted so long!
just machine wash it after using it with the mitt and then tumble dry it to keep them clean and soft!

 

[Luke2.0tdi2010]

i think so, cant really remember now it was that long ago!
which in itself says a lot as its lasted so long!
just machine wash it after using it with the mitt and then tumble dry it to keep them clean and soft!

but whatever you do don't use conditioner/fabric softener/lenor etc as after I did it became less effective mopping up the water!

 

[CHEZ]

yep, what he said! ^

 

[READER84]

but whatever you do don't use conditioner/fabric softener/lenor etc as after I did it became less effective mopping up the water!

Nice tip, thanks

 

[Ste_Nova]

i use a 1 bucket method now

 

[READER84]

Anyone used Autosmart Dura Foam ?

 

[johnnythepie]

The longer it sticks, the longer its breaking down dirt surely?

quite.

 

[Boon]

i use a 1 bucket method now

 

[Alan H]

Hi, i know snow foaming is a good thing if you have the right gear, can anyone recommend a lance and solution thats any good? I've got a Karcher attachment for my pressure washer that does foam, a bit!

Also the correct cleaning methods...

Blast Car Down
Snow Foam
Bucket Wash
Clay
Bucket Wash
Dry
Swirl Removal With Chosen Product
Polish
Wax

That the best way to do it?

Your method is fine. Don't need to clay or polish every time though.

Get an Autobrite HD foam lance from the group buy on A world for detailers... probably the best value lance you'll get. You'll see a massive difference between that and the karcher example. It's like chalk and cheese tbh.