Autoglym snow foam

bluespit

bluespit

Senior member
 Near Chester
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Fed up with my cars looking filthy in this weather. Considering (just considering) giving autoglym polar snow foam a try as a quick method of cleaning 3 cars twice per week at the moment.

Exact products are polar blast snow foam and polar foam pump sprayer

Thoughts welcome (I’m a tad sceptical)
 
I use this with my Karcher Pressure Washer. It helps a little and Polar cleaner lubricates the surface so it is easier to remove dirt without causing scratches. But it doesn’t really save any time.
 
I use it. It will remove dust from an otherwise clean car and then you only need a rinse. But on a winter-grimy car it will not leave it clean. It'll remove the lumpy bits but you'll still need elbow grease to get the rest off.
Tbh, the vast majority of these foam products are only designed to lift the big particles off before a proper wash, to reduce the chances of you scratching it.
 
I use polar blast but with a snow foam gun on my pressure washer. It’s ok, not great.

However, If I spray the car first with BiltHamber Surfex HD at roughly 1/20 with a trigger spray bottle, then spray this over the top and let if dwell for about 10 mins it does a much better job. The car is close to clean once that’s been pressured washed off.
 
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I’ve used that setup before , it’s decent.

But a big addition before foam …. Use a pre wash. Spray it over the car dry, then snow foam! It really helps further.
 

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True-Blue said:
I use polar blast but with a snow foam gun on my pressure washer. It’s ok, not great.

However, If I spray the car first with BiltHamber Surfex HD at roughly 1/20 with a trigger spray bottle, then spray this over the top and let if dwell for about 10 mins it does a much better job. The car is close to clean once that’s been pressured washed off.
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Ooh, that's worth a try.
 
enuff_zed said:
Ooh, that's worth a try.
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I’ve found letting the Surfex dwell on its own for a few minutes, before spraying the Polar blast over the top, seems to work best. Trial and error, but the Surfex needs time to work its magic without drying out. Worked for me on my step sons Kia, which is a building site (trades) and muddy fields (who know’s?-maybe raves) type car!
 
Bilt Hamber Touchless foam is good stuff.
I use it with pressure washer foam shooter thingy.

For a normal maintenance wash, I dont go near the car with a sponge after using just the foam.
It's good enough for a winter clean for the daily that's only going to get filthy again within 2 days.

Just the foam followed by the pressure jet gets it 80% clean. Rinse with rain water from the water butt with a watering can.
No swirls, quick, easy, and perfect for winter when it's 3 degrees out.

Yeah, if I was going somewhere nice or doing the full works, I'd get a sponge in there for a proper job. But I dont see the need to introduce swirls for a quick winter maintenance clean.

The Bilt Hamber stuff is good.
 
If you have already prepped the car ceramic coated or ceramic wax it speeds things up considerably as you don't need a contact wash especially if you clean the car regularly.

If you haven't it helps agitate but it doesn't speed up the process as the dirt sticks to the paint without protecting the car first.

All in the prep to make it easier. Also wouldn't use a sponge... swirl city after using one as the contaminant just sits in it.
 
Not sure what prewash actually is, I do use TRF though.

The two main cars came with BMWs ‘ceramic’ coating that seems to be holding up well - both still bead when wet the Z is polished with Harley Wax that I use on my classics and that beads well too.

Trouble is the council put loads of red salt on the roads and we’ve 3 building sites in adjacent villages and can’t escape without using the same roads as the builders wagons and they’re filthy.

I’m not looking for show standard clean but I don’t like driving a filthy vehicle either. Might give it a try and see if it works. Cheers
 
Meds said:
Bilt Hamber Touchless foam is good stuff.
I use it with pressure washer foam shooter thingy.

For a normal maintenance wash, I dont go near the car with a sponge after using just the foam.
It's good enough for a winter clean for the daily that's only going to get filthy again within 2 days.

Just the foam followed by the pressure jet gets it 80% clean. Rinse with rain water from the water butt with a watering can.
No swirls, quick, easy, and perfect for winter when it's 3 degrees out.

Yeah, if I was going somewhere nice or doing the full works, I'd get a sponge in there for a proper job. But I dont see the need to introduce swirls for a quick winter maintenance clean.

The Bilt Hamber stuff is good.
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Never use a sponge. Use a wash mitt. Sponges hold grit and cause swirls. Dirty bucket, clean bucket. 👍
 
Reamesy said:
Never use a sponge. Use a wash mitt. Sponges hold grit and cause swirls. Dirty bucket, clean bucket. 👍
Click to expand...

Yes, sponge = wash mitt in my case. I stopped using sponges 15yrs ago. 👍
I used the term 'sponge' to refer to the process rather than actual item I use. 👌
 
For my 330d drive daily

Snow foam sprayed on with a pressure washer left for 10 mins then pressure washed off will make it look clean this time of year

I have a warm water sully for my hosepipe so use warm water for the snow foam then cold to pressure wash off

Did it today in cold condition and Manchester light rain

It is not proper clean but clean enough for this time of year
 
I feel lucky that I have a little Fiat 500 for daily duties in the UK and I take it to the guys down the road. It’s not with anything else. It would kill me if I had to use a zed for daily duties in winter.
 
CliveN said:
It would kill me if I had to use a zed for daily duties in winter.
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Depends on the zed. I daily a tatty 2.2i. Paid £850 for it 3 years ago with failed steering and only 43k on the clock.
Now got 73k on it, every panel has a mark of some kind, but mechanically sound and sails through the MOT.
It's worth nothing in reality, so I use it as the 'Dachsie Taxi' for the dogs and don't care where I park it.
Also helps that I have a garage full of spares, just in case.

But! No way is my E89 coming out until the Spring. ;)
 
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