Is snow foam worth it?

[AntMB]

Does the “foam” in washing up liquid wash the dishes or is it the soap liquid in the water?

Sounds to me like a bit of a marketing gimmick by the Valeting supplies company..........

It is sold as a pre wash, so your analogy doesn't work.

 

[Edd1968]

Your work , as I assume your new business has taken off among local farmers , all trying to impress the neighbours

Business has taken off yes, this particular farmer is our horse hay supplier and he wanted his once a year clean. But you're right, it's all about how good my farm looks

 

[SlimJim]

We have been "sold" that we need snow foam by good marketing techniques and the belief it does some good. Much like the placebo effect. A good pre wash hose and straight into the 2BM wash is all that's required.

 

[fabes]

But where's the fun in that.....

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

You could put two cars side by side prepped differently and you’d notice the difference

Bilt Hamber auto foam seems to be the leading favourite, with how cheap it is per wash if you bother to work out the 4% PIR dilution properly

A snow foam lance costs thirty quid, which is nothing. Citrus pre wash spritzed onto the car prior to snowfoam and it comes out gleaming. Dedicated lances are far better than the ones that come in the kit with the likes of Karcher/Nilfisk etc. Autobrite’s snow foam lance for example is good, it’s cheap and you get some of their magifoam to try out

Then a two bucket wash with a mitt, stand back and admire the work. Anything after that is a rabbit hole, in terms of polishing, sealing, waxing, maintenance washing etc etc. After getting really into it recently you start to spot neglected cars like a sore thumb

Problem with the stuff is, people cover their cars in it for that ‘photo factor’, more foam doesn’t mean it’s doing a great job- hence BH’s PIR, their SF isn’t massively foamy but it does a tremendous job at removing dirt and grime

 

[sc3992]

Foam does nothing to remove dirt from a car........

Still, fools and their money..........

 

[SCRL]

Is snow foam worth it?

In my experience, absolutely not, in that it does NOT avoid the need to go over the car by hand afterwards. I’ve got one, but I just don’t use it now, and I wish I had the money that it cost still in my pocket.

I’d save my money I were you.

 

[sc3992]

It is sold as a pre wash, so your analogy doesn't work.

All the foam does is show that the car has been covered, a “tell tale” if you like.........

The ingredients in the water do the “lifting and lubricating” to make the dirt lift away........

 

[Deleted member 6183]

How do I get rid of dead flies from the front with little effort?

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

For anyone that wants to read more into it

Might I add, where some think it’s an absolute waste of time. Whilst I’ve taken the 90 seconds to foam the car and leaving it to dwell, I’ve filled my buckets up, cleaned my alloys and more interestingly I haven’t blasted loads of dirt everywhere off the car onto neighbouring surfaces because it’s all dripped down onto the floor instead. Very handy! Then again, when car is prepped and sealed, all it needs is snowfoaming, rinse, then drying

https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=400543

 

[Riva811]

Yes foam wash is intended as a pre wash or for very light dirt

Sent from my H8116 using Tapatalk

 

[Will]

I’m sure snow foam does work, in the same way as two bucket wash, grit guards, filtered water, fancy cloths and wash mitts, air blowers and all the specialist chemicals do.

Still doesn’t stop a bird sh!tting on it as soon as you’re done though

 

[SlimJim]

I’m sure snow foam does work, in the same way as two bucket wash, grit guards, filtered water, fancy cloths and wash mitts, air blowers and all the specialist chemicals do.

Still doesn’t stop a bird sh!tting on it as soon as you’re done though

What makes you " sure snow foam does work" ?

 

[Edd1968]

Dedicated lances are far better than the ones that come in the kit with the likes of Karcher/Nilfisk etc. Autobrite’s snow foam lance for example is good, it’s cheap and you get some of their magifoam to try out
QUOTE]

. .don't agree with this one i'm afraid.
My Kärcher has 3 wands, one of which is for the 'snow foam'.
As long as my client's are happy, pay me well, put a recommendation up on fb and the like and keep coming back for repeat valets then it's doing its job perfectly.
And you can't 'bodge' a client's vehicle, 1. It would show and
2. The business would fold shortly there after!!
...Right off the soapbox (or should I say snow foam box!! )

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

. .don't agree with this one i'm afraid.
My Kärcher has 3 wands, one of which is for the 'snow foam'.
As long as my client's are happy, pay me well, put a recommendation up on fb and the like and keep coming back for repeat valets then it's doing its job perfectly.
And you can't 'bodge' a client's vehicle, 1. It would show and
2. The business would fold shortly there after!!
...Right off the soapbox (or should I say snow foam box!! )

I tried and tried with the one supplied with my Nilfisk, but the lack of adjustability on it sent me bonkers. The AD one was night and day but, my Nilfisk bottle may be crap compared to yours!

 

[Edd1968]

I had heard that Nilfisk can be problematic but the Kärcher one I have is fully adjustable in both water pressure and foam quantity.
... Of course when our own CLKs get washed they get plenty!!

 

[Deleted member 126251]

You could put two cars side by side prepped differently and you’d notice the difference

Not sure I agree-- If a pressure washer is not going to move the dirt then snow foam is not going to move it in the short time it is there. Even on a mildly warm day (10 or 11C last week and it was starting to dry on my car after a few minutes) you cannot leave it for very long (and the instructions say not to let it dry on the car). People talk about doing the wheels while the foam "dwells" - impossible - unless it is a really cold day, the foam will be drying before you finish the wheels. I've tried 3 of the "top" brands and they are all pretty much the same - I was once convinced by the hype but will not be buying more foam when the ~5L I have left is gone.

It is simply an extra step brought in from the carwash industry to make us think it is doing something.

My car is white and well cared for, with good surface coatings (Carlack), and the foam never gets it clean even if I wash it after a couple of days. We are caught up with the dream of an "easy" way to wash the car.......elbow grease & some sort of contact with the paint is what works.

What is a seriously good way to spend your money is a water filter.....

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

Not sure I agree-- If a pressure washer is not going to move the dirt then snow foam is not going to move it in the short time it is there. Even on a mildly warm day (10 or 11C last week and it was starting to dry on my car after a few minutes) you cannot leave it for very long (and the instructions say not to let it dry on the car). People talk about doing the wheels while the foam "dwells" - impossible - unless it is a really cold day, the foam will be drying before you finish the wheels. I've tried 3 of the "top" brands and they are all pretty much the same - I was once convinced by the hype but will not be buying more foam when the ~5L I have left is gone.

It is simply an extra step brought in from the carwash industry to make us think it is doing something.

My car is white and well cared for, with good surface coatings (Carlack), and the foam never gets it clean even if I wash it after a couple of days. We are caught up with the dream of an "easy" way to wash the car.......elbow grease & some sort of contact with the paint is what works.

What is a seriously good way to spend your money is a water filter.....

But it is that easy

Mine is topped with fusso light, then king of gloss. Wheels and calipers treated with gtechniq c5. So for maintenance washes it’s a case of foaming the car with BH, clean wheels and fill buckets in the few minutes while it dwells, then rinse everything off and dry the car

If more areas are soiled beforehand it’s a simple spray of citrus before the SF, then a two bucket wash after and a spritz of something like Gyeon wetcoat or the like

I’ve done all the backbreaking work prepping the car, so for six months or so after SF makes the process light work a majority of the time. Less bending over and less elbow grease, for £40ish quid. It’s hardly a marketing scam as some state, it makes it a whole lot easier!

 

[SlimJim]

But it is that easy

Mine is topped with fusso light, then king of gloss. Wheels and calipers treated with gtechniq c5. So for maintenance washes it’s a case of foaming the car with BH, clean wheels and fill buckets in the few minutes while it dwells, then rinse everything off and dry the car

If more areas are soiled beforehand it’s a simple spray of citrus before the SF, then a two bucket wash after and a spritz of something like Gyeon wetcoat or the like

I’ve done all the backbreaking work prepping the car, so for six months or so after SF makes the process light work a majority of the time. Less bending over and less elbow grease, for £40ish quid. It’s hardly a marketing scam as some state, it makes it a whole lot easier!

The last coat protection makes it easier, not the snow foam.

 

[kianok]

I don’t bother with it anymore, all a bit unnecessary imo.

The only difference I noticed was that it added ten minutes to the time It took to clean my car by the time I’d faffed about.