* The Car Cleaning Thread *

RoboCod · 5 Mar 2009 at 02:46

PLUS even if he was "OCD" it's ****ing sad

webmonkeyuk · 5 Mar 2009 at 14:28

could anyone recconmend me a electric car polisher plz. preferably a mains operated one, doesnt need to really expensive say about £50 max

Matt82 · 5 Mar 2009 at 14:33

hello anyone.

whats the point in using snow foam? that is it meant to do whilst it sits on top of the car?

Dup · 5 Mar 2009 at 14:39

Matt82 said:
hello anyone.

whats the point in using snow foam? that is it meant to do whilst it sits on top of the car?

It's meant to act like a detergent to soak off dirt without any aggrivation with a wash mitt etc to reduce swirls.

It seams there is an art to gettign the right mixture and results vary. It's best as a weekly top-up wash after you've done a proper hand wash and polish job I would imagine so it takes less time and effort to clean and keeps the paint safe.

1CE · 5 Mar 2009 at 14:39

Super Snow Foam's description -

This Super Snow Foam is designed to create a thick blanket of foam when used through a foaming device. It is completely safe on all paint, does not strip wax.

The advantage of foam is that it can be applied to the vehicle and left to dwell for a prolonged cleaning effect. Dirt and grime is enclapsulated and removed reducing the need for contact washing

Plus it's hella fun to when you cover your neighbours car in it and leave it

.

Firestar_3x · 5 Mar 2009 at 14:40

Makes cleaning the car easier imho, i always snow foam let it soak in for 5 mins, rinse off, snow foam again and then attack with my washmit, works wonders.

[TW]Fox · 5 Mar 2009 at 14:41

What does snow foam do that my washmit wont? My car is always clean when I wash it so.. :confused:

Dup · 5 Mar 2009 at 14:44

[TW]Fox;13622992 said:
What does snow foam do that my washmit wont? My car is always clean when I wash it so..

It's to reduce the need for touching the paintwork and move dirt around the paint surface. Pointless imo unless you're not a spazz with a sponge.

Matt82 · 5 Mar 2009 at 14:47

see i get the pressure washer out and get off the bulk of the crud off and the wash mitt it.

Toker · 5 Mar 2009 at 14:47

basically makes car cleaning easier and reduces the chances of causing swirls and defects, a lot more effectively than just a pressure washing

Fr0dders · 5 Mar 2009 at 15:12

usual theory behind snowfoam vs pressure rinsing is that the rinsing with the pressure washer prior to wash can cause any large chunks of dirt / debris on the car to go flying off and could marr / swirl the paint

Using snowfoam gently drags it off the paint without the pressure

plus snowfoaming is more fun

Overlag · 5 Mar 2009 at 15:27

[TW]Fox;13622992 said:
What does snow foam do that my washmit wont? My car is always clean when I wash it so..

when my car is only slightly dirty snow foam + rinse is enough to clean it.

Phil W · 7 Mar 2009 at 21:23

Just seen these in Argos for £7.99, pretty good considering it comes with a MF Wash Mitt, couple of sponges etc. Not sure what you's use the squegee for, and probably wouldn't get a lot of use out of the synthetic chamois other than taking the thick of the water off... nice price though

chipperhead · 7 Mar 2009 at 21:37

Phil W said:
Just seen these in Argos for £7.99, pretty good considering it comes with a MF Wash Mitt, couple of sponges etc. Not sure what you's use the squegee for, and probably wouldn't get a lot of use out of the synthetic chamois other than taking the thick of the water off... nice price though

I wouldn't bother myself, a quality sheepskin or lambswool wash mitt would be better, sponges are no good, squegees are terrible for scratches, the wheel cleaning brush looks like it has wire inside which could scratch your alloys.
Better just to spend a little more on quality products that you actually need.

mrk · 7 Mar 2009 at 22:23

Overlag said:
when my car is only slightly dirty snow foam + rinse is enough to clean it.

But then local petrol pumps now come with jet washes that offer snow foam facility as one of the buttons (the others being rinse, power jet, shampoo etc) - what difference are they?

Dangerous Dave · 7 Mar 2009 at 22:37

[TW]Fox;13622992 said:
What does snow foam do that my washmit wont? My car is always clean when I wash it so..

I personally only use snow foam in the winter. Our cars are filthy in 2 or 3 days so I give them a quick snow foam and rinse once or twice a week and it takes 95% of the dirt off making the car look clean without getting my hands wet. The fact I can do 2-3 cars in under 10 minutes is a bonus aswell as I don't enjoy washing cars in winter.

Overlag · 8 Mar 2009 at 00:45

mrk said:
But then local petrol pumps now come with jet washes that offer snow foam facility as one of the buttons (the others being rinse, power jet, shampoo etc) - what difference are they?

they "recycle" water so it will cover the car in dirty cloudy water normally.

mrk · 8 Mar 2009 at 00:51

I've never once seen a station use recycled water and I've used the pressure washer jetwashes there a few times to clean the inside of the alloys, arches/undercarriage etc. Areas that a normal hose isn't powerful enough to remove crap from.

Lashout_UK · 8 Mar 2009 at 13:52

Well I went to clean the 3 series today, first time properly since I've had it (done a good 5k since).

Dropped into the local pressure washer, did the underside, arches, seams etc to get all the accumulated crud out, drove home, parked up, started washing it off and the heavens opened

Just rubbed it down quickly and washed it off for now. Still a vast improvement.

Found a few chips that need attention though, so all good. Damned winter salt!

mrk · 8 Mar 2009 at 14:08

Yeah was glad I did mine yesterday when it was niiiiiice

*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

* The Car Cleaning Thread *