snow foam questions

[Chicken]

Thinking about trying snow foam on my bike because of hard to reach places but have got some newbie questions
1) Is it good or is it just as easy to use a bucket and microfibre sponge?
2) Will it clean areas without aggitation e.g. rubbing with microfibre sponge?
3) Could i apply it with a manual pressurised sprayer as i cant afford a pressure washer (pic below)?

 

[Alex_225]

Just in response to each of your points mate -

1) It is good, it makes a wash on the car safer by removing larger dirt from the car.

2) It won't clean areas without being wiped/agitated. It'll help soften or loosen particles of dirt but you still need to pressure rinse and then wash normally.

3) I wouldn't have thought it would give you enough pressure to get foam from something like the above.

To be honest Snowfoam is a bit of a novel thing, I have a foam lance and PH Neutral Foam which I used when the car is really dirty. I think you could still have almost as safe a wash without the foam though. It's not a miracle cleaning solution unfortunately and you couldn't really rely on it as your only cleaning method. It's a nice addition to a normal wash routing.

As an alternative, have a look for ONR - Optimum No Rinse. It's raved about by many on DetailingWorld and is a minimal water, washing solution that is said to be safe on paint.

Hope that helps.

 

[Chicken]

Cheers mate. Dont think ill bother then. Was hoping that it would be able to remove dirt in the tight gaps on my bike but guessing it wont. That optimum no rinse looks ok but not for me.

 

[singlespeed]

A citrus degreaser or an APC used with a couple of brushes would probably be better for the hard to reach areas

 

[DrDrew]

I've seen a few videos on the net of people trying to use manual pressurised sprayers like the one you posted, and tbh it didn't look to work particularly well. If you're going to make real use of snow foam I think you'll need a pressure washer and specialised lance (the one's that come with most pressure washers don't work very well).

Think Alex has answered your questions pretty well. Snow foam is fun to use, but it is an addition to washing, rather than a replacement to the main wash (from my experiences with it).

This is the kind of best I've seen from a manual sprayer
[youtube]L7naF5LcYZc[/youtube]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7naF5LcYZc

Your next best bet is the likes of a gilmour foammaster (hose end attachment), although these still produce pretty watery foams, which don't do the best job.
[youtube]YUYf90U0eeU[/youtube]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUYf90U0eeU

If you compare those to the 'real' foam lances on pressure washers, you'll get the difference.
[youtube]7Jp4q1SMbxw[/youtube]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jp4q1SMbxw

[youtube]nq6t8w-v-kU[/youtube]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq6t8w-v-kU&feature=related

[youtube]JVpoQ5fw2rs[/youtube]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVpoQ5fw2rs&feature=related

etc

 

[Alex_225]

Some good links there mate. I've not been using Snow Foam itself for that long so like to see how others are getting on. Have used CG's Maxi Suds through a foam lance and that's not too bad either.

Some people portray Snow Foam as this miracle idea but it's not ever doing to replace a proper hand wash. Just adds too it.

Sounds as though a good all purpose cleaner sprayed on and agitated with a brush, even a soft paintbrush would do the job for you. You can pick up Daisy all purpose cleaner for a couple of quid in Tesco.



Quick addition to my post. I've never managed foam like in that 3rd clip. Wondering if they're using it neat in that bottle as I dilute mine down.

 

[singlespeed]

You can pick up Daisy all purpose cleaner for a couple of quid in Tesco.

price wise, it is extremely good value and does a good job

Quick addition to my post. I've never managed foam like in that 3rd clip. Wondering if they're using it neat in that bottle as I dilute mine down

That's probably neat. I found out that neat in the bottle gives something more like polystirene than foam :lol:

 

[Alex_225]

Haha yeah I bet it comes out like shaving foam!! lol

No wonder my Snow Foam is never that thick, I mix mine about 1:10 at a guess.

 

[Courtney]

i want a go!

 

[Courtney]

Ok, so i just ordered a new pressure washer, coz mine gave up the ghost yesterday! and i thought while i was at it ill get a foam lance attachment.

Now, whats the best snow foam solution to use? dont want something too strong - but you guys know that anyway

 

[DrDrew]

I use ph neutral snow foam, diluted a little stronger than it says on the bottle, but not much, and it works a treat. It takes a small amount of maths and experimentation to get the dilution right for your pressure washer, but it's pretty straightforwards.

https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/valet-pro-ph-neutral-snow-foam/prod_500.html

 

[maggi200]

I've got a 25litre drum of actimousse I'm still working through at home. Easily the best foam I've ever used for regular washing

 

[nick7]

https://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7420205/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CGarden+and+DIY%7C14418702/c_2/2%7C14418702%7CPressure+washers%7C14418805/Trail/searchtext%3EGREAT+DEALS+ON+PRESSURE+WASHERS.htm

Bought that today yet to try it out but its prmising. just need a snow foam lance and ill be on the way

 

[maggi200]

What I use but I paid £30

 

[nick7]

i got some extra parts with it i think aswell so hopefully will last a good few years

 

[maggi200]

SO did i! Someone gave me a discount code whilst it was on a very special (probably accidental) offer at amazon a while back. Good machine and tbh all the pressure you'll ever actually need

 

[Courtney]

I just bought a new one which with a patio rotator thing as well so that will kill two birds with one stone/pressure washer!

Can I get the foam in a shop rather than online? I'm impatient and want to do it this weekend but doubt delivery will get it here that soon!

 

[maggi200]

Not sure what's around where you are tbh, halfords don't sell anything suitable that's for sure. Find an autosmart rep and get some actimousse.

 

[nick7]

gave it a quick blast before and it was awesome. just need the foam now ready for Saturday

 

[Courtney]

Phoned the rep for autosmart.. £42 in total seemed a bit steep for what I wanted/how fast I expect to use it! Think I'll wait till Thursday and order some ph neutral from clean your car or whatever it is! Shame postage wouldn't let anything arrive before the weeks out!