OV9

I have seen a few pop up adverts for the wee pressure can snow foamer dispensers. A mate bought something similar for his bikes as he has no outsid taps and it is brilliant.

I have had the same £30 pressure washer for over 20 years, I rarely use it as it is a pita to set up but the idea of a snow foamer appeals to pre clean or whatever.

Has anyone actually bought a manual one? Does that description even properly explain what I am on about?

I did think about getting a new pressure washer, probably a nilfisk, with the foamer attathment, but it is a waste when my one works, and I know I am less likely to use it than a can I can just grab and pump, manually.

They’ve been around for a while, not sure what the proper term is either. Pump foamer, pressure foamer??

But yeah, I rarely use a pressure washer because it’s a faff. The lance hose is stiff which makes it awkward to unwind, more around with, and wind back up at the end. Seems 10x more effort than just grabbing a hose.

I would suggest a better solution would be something like an IK pump spray bottle thing and a decent pre-wash (not foam)

i bought one of these

https://hydrouk.co/collections/all/prod ... ray-bundle

for doing my bike as well as cars.

i’m not really convinced to be honest. i just used a mitt and shampoo last time i cleaned the elise and it was no more/less work. it did fuck all on my bike.

Cheers, so looking like a decent soaking and sponge down followed by a rinse will be just as effective then.

Doesn't Jonny use one for the barn finds on the Late Brake Show?

His is battery powered but Autoglym recently launched a similar thing to what Rich posted.

Rich B wrote: Sat Apr 12, 2025 8:56 am i bought one of these

https://hydrouk.co/collections/all/prod ... ray-bundle

for doing my bike as well as cars.

i’m not really convinced to be honest. i just used a mitt and shampoo last time i cleaned the elise and it was no more/less work. it did fuck all on my bike.

I thought they were just to soften/remove stuff to avoid scratches/swirls? Not that it makes anything any easier, or cleaner.

I bought a cheap Autoglym one, it's pretty rubbish tbh, I use it out of stubbornness half the time. Tempted to try a hose attachment version.

I have a foam attachment for the jet wash so thought I would try it the other day to loosen the grime before cleaning as normal. Didn't appear to do much, but it didn't foam very well so I'm assuming I need a better rig.

I like the idea of it, as if the car is quite dirty I'd rather minimise how much I smear scratchy mud over it. If anyone can recommend a set up, let me know!

The snow foam won’t do much, it will help soften grime and insects because it clings to the paintwork rather than immediately running off like pure water would, so gives them more of a soaking.
I like to use it for additional lubrication so as I’m washing the car with the mitt I’ll keep reapplying the snow foam - minimises scratching.

In the summer when a car is covered in dust / pollen rather than actual dirt I’ll foam, rinse, foam, rub over with a mitt, rinse and dry.

Zero bucket method

But yeah, really foam is just to help soften muck because it sits a while, so you can foam, give the wheels a brush, then rinse the whole car. Some have a bit of actual cleaning power, but really it’s just giving the car a pre-soak.

A Mesto foamer is what was popular with detailing bods years ago for non-pressure wash users.

Yeah, use it to loosen dirt and, after you’ve clay bared it, as a quick wash alternative

My name is mik, and I have never snow-foamed a car.

Hi, my name is Marvin, I also have a problem with alc....oh, I mean I've never snow-foamed a car or a bike either...

Bought one of these in Aldi today.

https://www.aldi.co.uk/product/auto-xs- ... 0000642785

Great for a quick wash to get the dust and pollen off. Just used this and the hose after a 5 minute dwell.

Need to fully pressurise it 2 or 3 times to cover the whole car but definitely worth a tenner.

My impression is it is very much about the snow foam product you use as there seems to be a lot of variation. Some will get load of muck off, others not so much. What products are people using? I've read the Autoglym one seems good and can be applied with a pumpy bottle thing.

Autobrite Magifoam which is cheap for 5l and will last years. Lovely and thick lifting dirt, pretty much sits on the paint until hosing off.

They only other one I tried was a Demon Shine cheapy which just ran off the car in a couple of minutes.

mik wrote: Sun Apr 13, 2025 9:00 pm My name is mik, and I have never snow-foamed a car.

You’ve missed out!

It’s just a fuck load less hassle that making up massive buckets of suds. It is a hassle setting up the power washer but less than refilling buckets of water and carrying them through the house. Your personal tap / bucket / distance scenario may vary.

Carlos wrote: Thu May 22, 2025 8:50 pm Autobrite Magifoam which is cheap for 5l and will last years. Lovely and thick lifting dirt, pretty much sits on the paint until hosing off.

They only other one I tried was a Demon Shine cheapy which just ran off the car in a couple of minutes.

Bought the manual AG Snow Foamer and agree. It’s a bit of a faff to set up first time, but once applied it’s great, particularly if the front end is battered with flies and other roadkill.