Car Cleaning

[Pinball]

Thinking about getting a pressure washer I can run from a bucket with a snow foam lance. Has anyone got any recommendations on the kit necessary? Thanks.

[pete.g]

Pinball said:

Thinking about getting a pressure washer I can run from a bucket with a snow foam lance. Has anyone got any recommendations on the kit necessary? Thanks.

I bought a Karcher HD6/13 Plus, which has a tube you can pull out and put into a bucket of cleaning solution and a setting on the lance which puts the solution through the machine.

I have found the domestic versions to be weak and lacking durability - this machine is very heavy but easy to store as it has a coil for the hose.

Some people don't like using them, but used with care they are great. We do a lot of boat washing and this machine has been fantastic - after three broken or worn out cheaper options.

I got a deal on mine from a friend, but it was still over £700.

[hixster]

Pinball said:

Thinking about getting a pressure washer I can run from a bucket with a snow foam lance. Has anyone got any recommendations on the kit necessary? Thanks.

I run one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lance-Karcher-Connector-5... which is much better than using the feed and the supplied Karcher snow foam lance..just mix and go!

The K5 has plenty of power for a reasonable price (~£335) https://www.kaercher.com/uk/home-garden/pressure-w... - it will destroy bricks with the high pressure head as I found out.

Results are like this.... https://www.instagram.com/p/BVP09qOApEg/?taken-by=...

Also.. 6m extension hose comes in handy when walking around the car https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kärcher-2-641-709-0-...

Edited by hixster on Tuesday 31st October 23:49

[Cheib]

I am unconvinced by snowfoam...I’ve been using it for about six months and washed our Cayenne this weekend without it. Can’t say I noticed much difference in ease of cleaning or the result!

[Evanivitch]

OP, you need a good lance and a good solution.

Save yourself some money:
http://www.in2detailing.co.uk/products/wash/snow-f...

And then Built Banner Surfex HD (you'll dilute this a lot) and Bilt Hamber Autofoam measured 5% and 10% respectively into a full bottle on the lance.

[Porsche911R]

Cheib said:

I am unconvinced by snowfoam...I’ve been using it for about six months and washed our Cayenne this weekend without it. Can’t say I noticed much difference in ease of cleaning or the result!

this , it's a fad, it does nothing I used it for about 5 washes and found it's pointless.

[AinsleyB]

I use snow foam and have not had to actually touch the car to clean it. Its got a ceramic coating which helps, but to wash it I just jet wash it, then snow foam it then jet wash that off. Never touched it with a cloth / sponge. Use a cheap Karcher which I've had for about 10 years.

[hopeydaze]

Can I divert this thread slightly to ask about a 'waterless' solution? A colleague who's a car nut and long time air-cooled owner tells me I should use a Williams Waterless product. Anyone on here tried it? I cannot believe you can squirt the product on a dry car and wipe it off with a micro fibre cloth without damaging the paint work.

[PaulD86]

I've a Kartcher K5. Had 3 warranty repairs so far. Build quality is poor. I won't buy another. I actually think it must take special effort to make some of the plastic bits as flimsy as they are!

Snow foam definitely has it's place. People who think it cleans your car do not understand it or what it's for. Snow foams also vary massively in quality and whether a car has any sealant on the paint can make a difference too. With a quarts coating on mine the snow foam takes off an awful lot of the muck before I ever have to touch the paint - this is the point of it, to aid reduction in the likelihood of paint marring caused by moving dirt round the paint surface. But basically it comes down to what you can be bothered with. If you just want the car clean or if you want it clean and the paint to be swirl free and looking its best. Most don't care that much. Unfortunately I do so hours of my life have disappeared polishing and coating my cars...

[cypriot]

hopeydaze said:

Can I divert this thread slightly to ask about a 'waterless' solution? A colleague who's a car nut and long time air-cooled owner tells me I should use a Williams Waterless product. Anyone on here tried it? I cannot believe you can squirt the product on a dry car and wipe it off with a micro fibre cloth without damaging the paint work.

No waterless product works properly, as a car always has dirty and small stones on the surface, so a waterless solution will create scratches, unless you are literally talking removing a very small of dust from the car. I do not have access to running water in the underground car park that I have, so I use this product: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Optimum-Rinse-BOTTLE-Rins...

I first take the car to my local petrol station and jet wash away most of the dirt, then use the above product to clean. It works really well and the bottle will last you a long time.

[beanoir]

Cheib said:

I am unconvinced by snowfoam...I’ve been using it for about six months and washed our Cayenne this weekend without it. Can’t say I noticed much difference in ease of cleaning or the result!

Not all snow foams are equal, i've used plenty that were quite frankly rubbish. Then I found Bilt Hamber High Activity Snow Foam

During the winter months I only use this and don't even need to pick up a mitt/sponge or anything else to remove dirt from the car. Its well worth giving it a go.

[Magic919]

I use Power Maxed TFR these days. Easy to apply with a decent 5 litre pumped sprayer.

[SV_WDC]

hopeydaze said:

Can I divert this thread slightly to ask about a 'waterless' solution? A colleague who's a car nut and long time air-cooled owner tells me I should use a Williams Waterless product. Anyone on here tried it? I cannot believe you can squirt the product on a dry car and wipe it off with a micro fibre cloth without damaging the paint work.

Met some car nuts at Silverstone Classic this year who said they only use it to remove water marks after they wash it. They were also applying it at the show, having made some 30miles and picked up light dirt on the road. Don't trust it myself, dont think it's really made for the British climate.

[adz86]

Bought a Karcher K4 from Argos last week. Only £169.99 atm

(http://www.argos.co.uk/product/4629250?storeID=132&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59156|cid:596650041|agid:28594643125|tidla-182981726725|crid:95889911485|nw:g|rnd:17036955971232090077|dvc:c|adp:1o2|mt:|loc:1006779&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4JPEu5Gg1wIVq5XtCh3UXQ56EAQYAiABEgL77vD_BwE)

Did the job well IMO, although the cable was a bit short. Will defiantly be getting that hose extension.

[anonymous-user]

Hang On said:

hopeydaze said:

Can I divert this thread slightly to ask about a 'waterless' solution? A colleague who's a car nut and long time air-cooled owner tells me I should use a Williams Waterless product. Anyone on here tried it? I cannot believe you can squirt the product on a dry car and wipe it off with a micro fibre cloth without damaging the paint work.

Yes you can. Using a waterless product can be a very gentle way to remove dirt. There just comes a point where the car is too dirty for it to be cost effective. I have cleaned properly dirty cars with megs uwwa but wouldn't recommend it because it requires so much product. On the other hand, for a car that is cleaned after every outing I only use waterless products.

[Pinball]

Thanks all for the advice. I need to sort something out as some local birds have decided that the car is their toilet. Oddly I must be getting in their flight path as only my car seems affected.