[Matt2008]

Who else uses snowfoam during there wash and how do you find it?

Personally, while its pretty fun to do and looks kind of good it seems to do very little to clean off any crud/crap and i always end up going over the bottom of the sides, rear and front end with jetwash before doing the 2 bucket wash.

On the 3 different cars i've used it on (3 times per car) i have to say it seems a complete waste of time

I rinse it off with a jet wash so just using a jet wash without the foam seems to do an identical job.

[OriginalFrak]

I agree - snowfoam looks great but doesn't drag off much - especially in the way of dust or fine particles.

I've gone back to CG citrus wash n gloss - not so sudsy but nice and slippy and therefore less dangerous with the washmit.

[RiCh]

I like to use snow foam before each wash. Even though it doesnt clean the car perfectly it does help to get most of the crap off before doing a 2 bucket wash.

I used to always begin by rinsing the car with the pressure washer first and then snow foaming it. However i found that since the car was still wet the snow foam didnt cling as well and ran off the car quicker. So now i just begin with snow foaming the car while its dry which seems to clean it a bit better too.

Adding a little bit of car wash shampoo into the mix can help to give to a better clean, but depending on how dirty the car is to begin with i'm usually left with a thin layer of dirt. The snow foam i use is PH Neutral from ValetPro. I bought that a long time ago when i bought my foam lance and it has lasted me absolutely ages. I need to try something else now and see if its any better.

What snow foam are you using yourself?

[Matt2008]

Originally Posted by RiCh

I like to use snow foam before each wash. Even though it doesnt clean the car perfectly it does help to get most of the crap off before doing a 2 bucket wash.

I used to always begin by rinsing the car with the pressure washer first and then snow foaming it. However i found that since the car was still wet the snow foam didnt cling as well and ran off the car quicker. So now i just begin with snow foaming the car while its dry which seems to clean it a bit better too.

Adding a little bit of car wash shampoo into the mix can help to give to a better clean, but depending on how dirty the car is to begin with i'm usually left with a thin layer of dirt. The snow foam i use is PH Neutral from ValetPro. I bought that a long time ago when i bought my foam lance and it has lasted me absolutely ages. I need to try something else now and see if its any better.

What snow foam are you using yourself?

Am using Autobrite snow foam with supplied lance which i cant fault.
I wash cars usually each week so its just a thin film of grime but after washing foam off without blasting with jetwash it seems to have removed none of the grime. I'm also using a generous amount of foam.

Having purchashsed the 335 and c63 over the winter, its only this week i'm seeing many many flies on front/screen/wingmirrors. Is the snowfoam more effective on dead flies?
Prob gonna use foam tom to see how it performs on dead insects!

[AlanQS]

I use snowfoam from cleanyourcar.com and I use it every third or fourth wash or when it is particularly dirty.

To get the benefit of it you have to really spread it so that the car is covered in it. (For this you need a good foam gun). You let it dwell for about five minutes until a lot has fallen off the car - taking a lot of dirt with it - then wash with the two bucket method. After snow foaming, my wash mitt just glides over the bodywork so I know it has made a difference.

[toxicnerve]

I use the ValetPro pH neutral stuff too, I find foaming the car first just helps to loosen a lot of the crud and a subsequent rinse takes most of it off.

What remains is generally just a fine layer of light muck which can easily be washed off using a mitt and 2 bucket method.

@ The panel:

What mixture/ratio of snowfoam:water do you use in the bottle attachment of your lance? I think I've been mixing too weak lately and my foam has been too running/doesn't stick. Oddly the very first time I used it had a great sticky foam that lingered for ages but lately I seem to have forgotten the correct mixture to use!

[beemerbird]

Another vote here for the Valetpro PH neutral snowfoam, very good especially if you wax your car as it doesn't 'drag' the wax off.

Know what you're saying Matt in that it appears not to bring off that much muck perhaps, but as Alan said, a good foam gun is essential and your mitt does glide over the paintwork. Paul (M3fast) gave me all the low down and sound advice on the snowfoam and the foam gun.

During winter I found it much easier to wash the car having snowfoamed it and as you know you can see the shite running off from the panels and underneath the car.

I snowfoamed on Sunday and the car did have a good few of those ruddy greenflys stuck fast to the front end and the snowfoam definitely made it easier to remove the little buggers once I'd shampooed afterwards.

[mexicomark]

If you use a pre wash , like 'Valet Pro's Orange' BEFORE Snowfoaming , you will see better results .

It loosens all the dirt and is wax safe , then the Snowfoam 'grabs' the dirt off the paintwork .

If your cars really dirty , pressure wash it first .

[NFS]

I use snow foam and find it works brilliantly. I do the following:

1. Pressure wash (to remove loose dirt and wet the bodywork).
2. Snowfoam (allow to dwell for as long as possible to loosen stubborn dirt)
3. Rinse
4. Snowfoam again (allow to dwell for a couple of minutes)
5. Agitate snow foam with a washmit, making sure you cover every inch of the car.
6. Rinse thoroughly
7. Dry

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by NFS

I use snow foam and find it works brilliantly. I do the following:

1. Pressure wash (to remove loose dirt and wet the bodywork).
2. Snowfoam (allow to dwell for as long as possible to loosen stubborn dirt)
3. Rinse
4. Snowfoam again (allow to dwell for a couple of minutes)
5. Agitate snow foam with a washmit, making sure you cover every inch of the car.
6. Rinse thoroughly
7. Dry

+1 - I follow exactly the same routine every week and it works spot on.

Managed to keep the paintwork pretty well swirl free and as long as the snowfoam mixture is nice and thick, it clings well to the cars surface enabling the wash mitt to really glide over the surface.

I am also using the Valetpro snowfoam at the moment and find it very good compared to other ones I have used.

The only addition I usually make is to soak the rims in a diluted mixture of Bilberry wheel cleaner before applying the first snowfoam over - really helps clean the wheels with the first rinse.

[dar2008]

Question... do you need to use a pressure washer to apply snowfoam? Or can you attach a lance to a normal hosepipe?

[toxicnerve]

Those that are using foam (especially the ValetPro stuff) any tips on mixtures/concentrations you're using?

Originally Posted by dar2008

Question... do you need to use a pressure washer to apply snowfoam? Or can you attach a lance to a normal hosepipe?

I think you have to have a PW, I can't see a hosepipe having enough pressure for a lance to work properly.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by dar2008

Question... do you need to use a pressure washer to apply snowfoam? Or can you attach a lance to a normal hosepipe?

Yes for sure - I purchased a hosepipe one to start with and was very disappointed with the performance. Could not get any type of consistency to the foam to allow it to cling to the car. It was so runny it just ran straight off the paint surface

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

Those that are using foam (especially the ValetPro stuff) any tips on mixtures/concentrations you're using?



I think you have to have a PW, I can't see a hosepipe having enough pressure for a gun/lance to work properly.

I have only just started using the valet-pro stuff and have done 3 washes with it. Last week I prob added about 1.5cm of solution and then filled the reservoir up with warm water. With the mix setting on full it really dispensed a very thick clingy foam. Best I have seen my 'gun produce in the couple of year I have used it.

Mine is on a Karcher 5.68MD washer and use this foam gun/lance: http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalo..._Lance_1L.html

[AlanQS]

I fill my foam gun about 1/4 to 1/3 full with snow foam and the rest is water. Foam is really nice.

[zedman]

Snowfoam is wicked, check out my sig pic!

I use Valet Pro Ph neutral stuff, apparently it's good to mix in some megs APC and then use a brush to get in the all the hard to reach areas whilst the foam is dwelling e.g. badges, grilles, panel gaps....

[Matt2008]

Well used it again today with almost a third snowfoam and it went on nice and thick but ran off within minutes

I'm guessing as the car is waxed pretty well, its this thats not making it stay on for long?



Oh the poor old dog got covered too as didn't see him other side of car!

[beemerbird]

Originally Posted by Matt2008

Well used it again today with almost a third snowfoam and it went on nice and thick but ran off within minutes

I'm guessing as the car is waxed pretty well, its this thats not making it stay on for long?

Oh the poor old dog got covered too as didn't see him other side of car!

YES - a well waxed motor and the snowfoam will run off within minutes, don't worry mine does the same.

Lol at the dog.......you got any pics. of him covered in snowfoam bless him. I'm assuming he's ok by the fact you mentioned it? Probably just had a disgruntled look on his face.

[themetz]

just spent the last two hours giving mine a good snowfoam + clean. lovely! and no work for me tomorrow - so no dust storms to ruin all my hard work!

[NFS]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

Those that are using foam (especially the ValetPro stuff) any tips on mixtures/concentrations you're using?

I think you have to have a PW, I can't see a hosepipe having enough pressure for a lance to work properly.

I use about an inch of snow foam topped off with warm water.

You need a pressure washer and a 'proper' foam lance (e.g. autobrite).

Originally Posted by Matt2008

Well used it again today with almost a third snowfoam and it went on nice and thick but ran off within minutes

It will run off pretty quickly. I find that the first lot has just about dripped away in 5 mins. Just long enough for a quick mug of tea.

[toxicnerve]

Originally Posted by NFS

I use about an inch of snow foam topped off with warm water.

Hrm, that's the sort of concentration I've been using the past but recently I can't seem to get it right. The bottle that fits onto the lance is about a litre in capacity I believe.

I got the lance off Clean Your Car and the mixture knob on it doesnt really work as one would imagine, it seems to have a sweet spot, either side of which the mixture is just way too weak.

I might try a little more than an inch to see how it goes....

[willhollin]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

I might try a little more than an inch to see how it goes....

Just feed it all in mate.

[toxicnerve]

I might break something if I put it all in.