Snow foam - what am I doing wrong?

[PHCorvette]

bigbob77 said:

Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated!

But to summarise this thread, I need to: wash, clay bar, wash, polish, seal, and wax.... I was looking for an EASIER way to keep the car clean

No!

You just need to do perhaps 2 or 3 deep cleans a year but its usually a case of

1.) wash, clay, wash, polish (if required), wax and/or seal (no need to seal a wax and visa versa).

then just do a wash cycle until the wax/sealant stops to work then do a top up

The clay bar is only needed if the paint is marred with ste. After you wash, rub your finger tips over the surface if it feels a bit gritty/rough or anything but smooth, it needs a bit of a seeing to.

Don't get into this, its costly and will take your time you will then spend your life fighting little swirl marks which, no matter what anyone says, will always occur no matter how much care you take - just the more care you take the less thy actually occur

[Tony Starks]

TR4man said:

+2

Can't help but think that snow foam is just the latest fashionable fad.

I don't know how we managed before some marketing bloke convinced us that it was the best thing since sliced bread.

Not really a fad, if using the right chemicals it works well. But then you might as well put a bit of TFR in a pressure sprayer and soak the car first. then pressure washer off and wash as normal.

[daryloffsetdetailing]

Note foams aren't designed to clean your car with just a hit of it. The valetpro stuff isn't the best in my opinion. Try the Gyeon foam that shifts a fair bit of dirt. Dodo Apple iFoam is ok too.

Sounds like you need to top up your protection on the paintwork if things are bonding to it easily.

[daryloffsetdetailing]

Also using something like Gyeon wet coat or Fireball Easy coat after you've rinsed the car post washing gives decent protection and you literally just spray it on the whole vehicle when wet, then spray off. That should make your car cleaning life easier!

[belleair302]

Bilt Hamber snowfall along with some decent shampoo. Let dwell then pressure wash off at a 90 degree angle....ie don't stand directly in front of each panel and jet wash.....you need to get under any dirt.

This should remove most of whatever is on your car. Then a swift two bucket wash and some quality wax. Wax will keep the paintwork cleaner.

[BeirutTaxi]

It takes an awful lot of prep to the paintwork, however GTechniq C1 and/or Exo is your best bet for easy cleaning.

Loads Less dirt sticks and it takes a quick wash with GTechniq Gwash to get it looking perfect again.

The C1 is a very hard crystal coating and also helps protect against minor scratches.

Edited by BeirutTaxi on Monday 8th February 19:36

[bigbob77]

Update to this... 2 weeks ago I used a clay bar and had the whole car as smooth as glass, then waxed with Meguiars wax. By last weekend it was already looking pretty filthy so I tried the snow foam again - once again I was underwhelmed. Considering the fresh wax I expected better. It definitely helped to get a lot of dirt/stains off, but it was still mucky.
Maybe if the car wasn't white the result would have been OK, but it took half the time to just use a wash mitt and do it properly - the wax had done the job and it looked great afterwards .

[PH XKR]

st wax will give st results also.

with a good wax base, the snowfoam wont remove the stains it will losen the muck. Leave to dwell for 20 to 30 minutes (if you have a good foam/mix) then spray off. My rinse routine takes anything up to 30 minutes it isnt a quick up down job. It just losens the main st pre wash.

Where are you based?

[Blue62]

Like a few others I have given up with snow foam, it has negligible effect in my experience. My process is to jet wash and then was with two buckets, then rinse using a water filter (best gadget I've bought). Have to say that car washing has become more of a chore these days, maybe I should get another classic, I can see the point of spoiling an old car that only comes out on sunny days and high days.

[PH XKR]

what water filter did you get?

[Blue62]

PH XKR said:

what water filter did you get?

It's an Aquagleam, not cheap but especially good on dark paintwork.

[Stickyfinger]

bigbob77 said:

Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated!

But to summarise this thread, I need to: wash, clay bar, wash, polish, seal, and wax.... stand back and watch a bird stE on the bonnet !

[AMG Merc]

Evolved said:

PHCorvette said:

(Y) Jiffy pads on the stubborn dirt always works a treat

Snap, sometimes break out the Brillo pads for really sticky stuff.

Agree, and a nice wad of wire wool for removing those pesky flies.

[AMG Merc]

PHCorvette said:

Corvette, remember to keep those doors closed when jet washing

[Alex_225]

I have never personally experienced any benefit of snow foam other than the fact that it's a bit of fun to use.

I have a foam lance and like you OP used Valet Pro's snow foam and felt that it made zero difference in removing dirt over and above simply using a pressure washer. To the point where I gave up bothering.

I had a chat with a mate of mine who details for a living and mentioned snow foam. He reiterated the same thing I'd experienced but recommended Valet Pro Citrus Degreaser which is also PH neutral.

Yes a properly protected car with a wax/sealant/both will certainly help repel dirt but I found the Citrus Degreaser does actually work it's way into the dirt and aids rinsing it off using a hose let alone a pressure washer.

[Convert]

I have to say I've just changed the lance and snow foam i'm using from the standard Karcher FJ10C to an Autobrite Direct HD foam lance and magifoam.

Wow, what a difference. The foam is a lot thicker than the Karcher stuff, and dwells on the car a lot better.

Cars were last washed about 10 days ago.

Usually I'd foam, rinse, 2 bucket wash, rinse and dry.

Didn't need the sponge and bucket at all, just foam, dwell, rinse and dry (Drying cloth was still clean after drying).

Admittedly the cars are well cared for and have a couple of layers of carnuba on them every 3 months, they get clayed once a year as well.

[MrChips]

I've tried a few different foams over the years. Really not keen on those which are too thick, or when people say "let it dwell for 25mins" for example. My current favourite is BiltHamber Autofoam. Sprays nicely, fairly economical especially as it's one of the cheaper foams. I let it dwell for 5-7mins, and it really does help clean the car, both from the detergent effect and also as it's mixed thin enough to fall off the car pulling the dirt with it:



And a video here:

https://flic.kr/p/FtvsnU

[WJNB]

Evolved said:

All sounds like a lot of effort. Fairy liquid, bucket and old rag and off I go with my 9 yr old in tow with his cloth to help. Job done in 10 mins.

Ah! nothing like having good standards to set an example to the next generation.
Let's hope you exercise better cleaning & hygiene standards around home & when in public.

[jingars]

MrChips said:

And a video here:

https://flic.kr/p/FtvsnU

Any chance someone can turn that video into a looping gif; I find watching that strangely soothing....?

[Evolved]

WJNB said:

Evolved said:

All sounds like a lot of effort. Fairy liquid, bucket and old rag and off I go with my 9 yr old in tow with his cloth to help. Job done in 10 mins.

Ah! nothing like having good standards to set an example to the next generation.
Let's hope you exercise better cleaning & hygiene standards around home & when in public.

Of course, I carry the trusty Fairy wherever I go
Humour really is lost on some folk eh?!