You've got a great pace of talking and being direct to the point, which makes it ideal for me to be engaged with my shot attention span. Keep up the good work
As new comer to snow foaming (72yo) I’m still working out the intricacies of how to get the best results. This is exactly what I needed to see, I’m currently using Autoglym’s Polar Blast which is a pre wash and was left questioning if I was actually getting the car any cleaner. I was planning using Build Hammer as my next purchase having read reviews on it. Thank you so much for the demo.
Bilt hamber is far better. I've used both. Almost out of BH auto foam and then I will try their Touchless snow foam. You need to calculate your panel impact ratio to your jet wash. It will work as intended then.
I'm glad someone has finally tested this, although I'd like to see the non snow foam side wetted down first, as water pre-soaking into the dirt might have an effect. Another good test would be snow foam vs spray on pre-wash to see if snow foam is really worth the extra faffing around or is it just as effective to spray on a pre-wash and let that dwell for 5 minutes instead.
Never wet before applying snow foam. It works by far the best spraying the foam directly onto a dry car. Dry dirt will sort of absorb the foam a bit helping it release. The foam is very wet as it is and has all the required chemicals to soften the dirt far better than water. With a good foam the difference with or without is quite incredible...
They all have their own purpose. A pre-wash shampoo however is better on an unprotected car, since most pre-wash products will damage alot of waxes or other protectants. A foam-shampoo often is softer on those kind of things. A pre-wash step is also a good first step, when wanting to do a complete decon afterwards, like iron removers, degreasers and insect removers. Then again, many detailers find their own thing, what works best for them. There's no real advantage using an expensive foamshampoo on a very dirty unprotected car. A pre-wash product often is alot cheaper and removes or losens alot more then a foamshampoo will.
THIS IS THE IDIOTIC TEST! FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE 0 IQ. HE USED HIGH PRESURE WASHER ON 1 SIDE 2X AND ON THE OTHER SIDE - 1X. ALSO ONE SIDE (THE FOAM SIDE) HAD 5 MINUTES WATER ON IT TO MAKE DIRT SOFT AND EASY TO WIPE, WHILE OTHERS IDE WAS CLEANED ONLY WITH WATER AND DRY! AT LEAST HE COULD WET BOTH SIDES AND ALLOW 5 MINUTES ON BOTH SIDES. SO THIS TEST IS STUPID FOR PEOPLE WITH NO LOGIC.
Nice video, but to have a true control you would need to compare the snow foam side with wetting the other side with just water for 5 minutes before jet washing them off. Just saying...
Thanks bud. Not if you like to snow foam the car dry. Which is actually what you should do for better results. I’ve tried it both ways, and it makes no difference (in my experience)
I don't use snow foam (mainly because can't find a unit that fits my pressure washer). If my cars are really dirty, like your BMW, I normally take it to the self serve car washes and give them a good going over for about 3 minutes. I use the high pressure washers only as they are a lot more powerful than mine. It won't remove all the dirt but when I get back home it makes it slot easier to wash the cars by hand.
@@roadreg1820 I think the original comment was referring to the fact that the snow foam is a soaking agent that interacts with the surface to improve the dirt removal process and I suspect any form of soaking would make a difference versus an unprepared area. Perhaps a better experiment is to compare the difference between foam and plain water as pre-soak agents? I suspect it would still be better but it would be a more comparable set of conditions; y'know, science and all that.😂 Enjoyed the video though, thumbs up from me 👍
Not sure if it was mentioned but a very key aspect to keep in mind here... Bilt Hammer Touch less is a 14 PH snow foam. The alkalinity is what helps with cleaning. Most people do their snow foam with regular PH neutral soap, same as the bucket soap.
@@youbencowell I mean that depends on your definition of a lot less. 14 PH is 10 times more than 13 PH and 100 times more than 12 PH. It will not get anywhere close to neutral.
Wouldn't touch BiltHamber myself. Far too Alkaline a PH for a snow foam imho. It's a pre-wash for the purpose of reducing paint swirls though contact washing. It's not a wash so no idea why BiltHamber add detergent to try to make it behave like one, resulting in neither a great snow foam or wash imho
Love the fact everyone is going on about so many products and the huge amount of products on the market, You can clean a car with less than 3 to 4 products and the finished result would match any of the products available on the market, it's down to the detailer and his own experience, being thorough and not missing a single point on the car. Unfortunately we are bombarded with retailers trying to make too many products which are no different to many others on the market. Consumer's are fooled by the smell and look of products.... Brand names and worst of all you tube! . So keep it real everyone its down to the experience of the detailer. Good video.....
It would be more interesting to compare it to water. Make the other side wet for 5 minutes as well, then rinse it off. My guess is that making the dirt soaked in water would make a huge difference compared to trying to wash it of all dry.
Who would soak there car in water before washing lol. This is a simple case of checking whether snow foam does a better job than not using snow foam. It clearly does.
@@NoNonsenseJohnson Which is a pointless test. You could buy pints of bull semen or truffle oil on the basis of "It cleans the car better than nothing" - any product that makes a soapy foam will clean it as well - the point is, most of these other products are significantly cheaper and you probably already have them in your home. It's like trying to sell / promote expensive shampoo by comparing a really expensive one against just wetting your hair.
Fine if you want a touch less wash ....I assume your going to hand dry the car regardless ....so why not just spend that 5 min with a sponge and shampoo then watching your neighbours cat for 5 min waiting for this snow foam which costs a 'touch' Lazy / gimmick era we live in today
Looks very nice. I'll probably give the pressure washer another chance. Be careful with how close you're spraying the car and how much pressure you're applying; you can strip paint and peel back any paint protection film very easily with the jet stream.
*Shouldn't use the pressure washer at all. Now that we see the foam works, all it needs is a shower nozzle rinse followed by a mist nozzle spray-down to break up the surface water bubbles.* Pressure washing kills car paint.
BH auto foam user here. My car never really gets that dirty as I wash it every week, and BH auto foam is amazing. Touchless might just have a very slight edge in cleaning ability, but you would only notice the difference on a very dirty car, and the auto foam is cheaper, so swings & roundabouts.
I use Bilt Hamber Touchless. Hands down, the best snow foam I’ve ever used by some margin. It’s actually quite amazing how clean it can get the car before touching it.
What kind of soap do you use? What's the soap/water ratio? I tried Blue Coral car wash and it doesn't work in a foam cannon! Just won't build up a lather no matter what ratio I mix.
@largol33t1 I use the Bilt Hamber car wash concentrate. It doesn't really create a lather, but it cleans really well. You just use about 5mls at a time & it lasts ages. Bu the time I've used the Touchless, there's very little left to clean.
PH neutral is what the average consumer needs with there standard carnauba based wax or no wax. Ceramic guy are fine with pH 12 of car pro lift or even higher of around 14 with bilt hamber. I use pH neutral for summer maintenance wash but think 14 is fine for colder salty Road months but think 12 is fine all the time
I do a citrus pre wash, then snow foam, both on for 5 mins, then 2 bucket method wash, and dry with a towel and pet air dryer. Then use EZ gloss boss. Drive around the corner, and it's dirty again.
Great video Reg, Touchless and Autofoam are the only two snowfoams I use now. Not really an issue for me degrading the LSP as a quick wipe over with Sonax Bsd whilst drying works for me.
I’d been using a snow foam for a few months. It’s a bit gimmicky if you ask me. In my opinion yes it does lift some dirt, but it’s get very clingy to the paintwork and you end up using a lot more water to shift it. Then I have a lot of mess left on the driveway afterwards. I’ve gone back to washing my cars with rain water and a cheap £10 wash n wax. It’s amazing how many people comment on how shiny our cars are!
I used auto glym snowfoam on my bike after a 300 miles ride back from the Scottish Borders in heavy rain and I would urge anyone to exercise caution. I may have been unlucky but 2 days after using it is went to get the bike out of the garage and I could hear the chain grinding as I moved it. On closer inspection the stuff had removed every trace of oil and grease from the whole bike. Don't get me wrong, from a cleaning perspective I couldn't fault it but I had to give the bike a thorough going over and I had to replace the chain because the snow foam had corroded it, it had done less than a thousand miles as I replaced it for the Scotland trip. Like I said, it really cleaned it but be careful where you let it go because a little bit of grease is cheaper than a big lump of metal!
Somewhat related, I think - when detailing a bike, also, using a pressure washer is probably a bad idea. There are so many nooks and crannies and gaps and bolt holes etc etc where you can force in water at high pressure. That can probably promote corrosion and other issues. A bike is small, there's no need to use a pressure washer on anything. Maybe snow foam and rinse to get the loose dirt off, then a two-bucket wash system, some smaller brushes, maybe polishing up everything after with a Flitz 2- or 3-inch buff ball and the polish of your choice (I do favor the Flitz paste polish also, personally.)
@@KimmoJaskari have you found that some of the tried and tested products that we have used for years aren't as good as they used to be? Too many to name on here but over the last 10 years I've noticed a distinct decline in the performance of a lot of well known polishes. I have been told that to keep costs down (or perhaps maximise profit) the manufacturers cut back on the more expensive ingredients and use more of whatever is the cheapest option?
I've seen a few that say you must apply the snow foam, then agitate with a sponge before rinsing. You'd be better off with a bucket with detergent, a sponge and a hose.
I've always understood it that snow foam agitates the dirt so it doesn't drag or scratch your paintwork. It's not intended as a one coating cleaner . I wouldn't use a high pressure hose either. Good demo though
Next time wet the non snow foam side to hydrate the dirt. It will make a difference because it gives the dirt a chance to absorb moisture and release from the paint. This is why car washes have a pre soak. Even though they will be using a chemical and you won't, it will still make a difference. I have a foam cannon that I use regularly. Your foam didn't stick around as long as mine does. FTR I use "Mr. Pink" as one of my foams, gently mixed with hot water. My canon isn't particularly expensive and neither is the pressure washer.
One advantage / use of snow foam is to clean the underside of the car / wheel arches etc. A good application at the start of the wash process and then a final rinse at the end giving it time to remove mud / salt etc.
I use the Flare detailing PH neutral foam which is absolutely incredible. Their website said it contains ingredients that expand out and actively attack and dissolve the grim rather than just loosening it and I was pretty skeptical but now a year on I wouldn't use anything ever again! It's truly amazing how well it works, super thick (like actual foam) just be sure to leave it for 4-5minutes.
Good little video, thanks! Lots of comments about Touchless not being PH neutral, which is fair comment but, as far as I am aware, it doesn't strip wax as is being suggested. Yes it does degrade wax slightly quicker but it's pretty negligible. I just think, if it cleans the car better and makes a contact wash safer, I'd rather apply a new wax a few weeks earlier than if I was using a PH neutral SF. I tend to think, if you're using a SF then you probably care enough to protect the paint, so a little earlier waxing isn't too much of a problem. All the best.
I've been using Turtle Wax Hybrid Ceramic Wet Wax and I think it's superb, certainly for ease of use. As the name suggests, you can use it without drying the car and it's easy to apply and easy to wipe without leaving streaks - no buffing like you have to do with many ceramic products and it leaves a really slick finish. I don't know how long the hydro effect lasts but I'm not that bothered, I wash my car often, and you don't need to use a lot so it will last.
Should have got the other side wet as it hydrates the dirt in the same way.. then it would have been a true comparison to whether the snow foam lifts more dirt
2:24 - Woah! Careful matey. If you hold the spray wand too close to the car, you can actually force the dirt under the clearcoat. That's why I never take my car to automatic washes. The pressure is set too high and I had a car with a few dirt spots that cannot buff out. The only solution is to strip the clearcoat and recoat it.
Don’t worry, the pressure on my K4 isn’t that strong, plus I know where every stone chip is on my car, also bmw clear is very hard. Never had an issue that you describe. Thank you tho!
How are u the first in the detailing world to force dirt under the clear coat that couldn’t be polished out 😂 No man. Not sure what your doing but most retail pressure washers won’t get that high to even come near damaging a flat coat let alone the billions of topper products they use.
It’s to demonstrate the difference between using snow foam and not. That’s the whole point of the video. Many people think that snow foaming does nothing. That’s why I made this video. Thanks for the kind comment! Have a lovely day 😃😎👍
Having just washed my new car for the first time, (not particularly dirty, just normal road film and dust), I was going to call BS on this "snow foam" fad... I paid for the Diamondbrite ceramic coating and the included care pack included some snow foam. After seeing the many vids on YT about it, I thought I'd give it a go. After faffing around for a week getting an applicator with the correct fitting for my pressure washer, I actually used it this morning... and frankly I was disappointed. I rinsed the car down with the pressure washer first, then gave it a coat of foam. I waited 5 mins, then gave it another coat of foam. waited another 5 mins then rinsed off with the pressure washer. While it was wet, it looked cleaner, but when I dried it was a microfibre cloth, I could see there was still a film of dirt on the car... the supposed "lifts off dirt" didn't happen. Maybe the Diamondbrite snow foam is just not very good, but I'd have gotten a better clean the old fashioned bucket way...
Probably not shocking - using any detergent vs not using detergent, the detergent is going to win. The benefit is probably in if you snow-foam first, then rinse it off (even without pressure) you get all the gross dirt off that it lifts without having to grind that into the paint. After that, a two-.bucket wash with a brush followed by treating the paint would probably give a superior end result. Touchless is a bit of a misnomer, really, you're touching the paint plenty with a ton of high pressure water - but touchless for the initial stage when the paint is covered in grit is probably very valuable.
When using Snow foam or any other TFR ( Traffic Film Removers) always start at the bottom and work up to the top of the car for best results, this way you are allowing the heavier solid areas to have more contact.
Thanks for a good demonstration and ongoing explanation of your work. Big thumbs! How does the things look with chemistry on your recommended product? I mean, I guess it's not very environmental friendly, is it?
Thank you !! Not 100 percent on that, however I know that they wouldn’t make a product that was environmentally friendly. They have to meet certain guidelines.
@@roadreg1820You mean, they wouldn't make a product that wasn't environmental friendly, right? Have you by any chance heard of a Netherland product called "Airolube"? They're using plantbased ingredients which ofc. are biodegradable. That is something the car care industry could learn something from, I believe 😁
Nice video! I suppose the argument with foam is lubrication rather then power washing from dry and driving that dirt into paint increasing the chance of scratches
The secret also is to make sure it dwells for at least 5 min, which is not always easy. I use Car Pro Lift, mainly because it's slightly gentler on my ceramic coating and it compliments Car Pro Reset shampoo I also use (a bit more expensive than Built Hamber), Built Hamber is a good product as well, but a bit more aggressive
Technicaly a alkaline degreaser work pretty similar , because a big portion of the formula in snow foam is just alkaline degreasing. But the foam is a bit more easy to reach and get the dirt of in my opinion. In Sweden we can buy Ditec proffesionell products on their site as a usual customer. And theres foam wash is brand just like alkaline degreasing foam wash. But important is to now that a degreaser is often a bit more chemical aggressive than a ordinarie car schampo. So good to have a good protection on the car if using it alot
Believe it or not, there is still dirt on the snow foam side, though it is hard to see. Professional detailers use a foam wash to get the majority of the dirt off before hand washing, since hand washing introduces the possibility of scratches and swirl marks, which is minimized when most of the dirt is already gone. After that, some type of paint decontamination may be needed before a ceramic coating or wax is applied. That decontamination is often done with a clay bar or pad, which removes particles that are stuck in the clear coat. Then a professional ceramic coating, or for a DIYer a ceramic and/or graphene-infused polish can be applied which will protect the paint and bead water for many weeks to months, while leaving a high gloss shine.
I never use a pressure washer to clean the panels of a car, but your method certainly proves that the active surfactants are held in place by the foam. Good vid.
@@jonfrench7133 The tiny point of contact is no match for a decent sponge. The jet can damage panel trims and force water into places it shouldn't go. From an eco angle it wastes a load of water. Its the wrong tool for the job.
@@mikenco oh crikey one mention of the word sponge and I’m doubting your detailing credentials 😁. Re the pressure it’s absolutely the right tool IF used properly, ie wide spray and held a couple of feet away from the bodywork. It also uses less water than a hose so on every count it is the best thing to use to remove the most material from the paintwork before making contact with a wash mitt, not sponge
@@mikenco I slightly disagree based on what i know about sensitive finishes. If you were to wash the mud off an ATV or Dirtbike with a sponge you would completely ruin the soft plastic, it would leave very nasty swirl marks everywhere you touch. Factually if you were to even simply twist your thumbprint into those plastics (when completely clean) it will still leave a swirl, meaning they are super soft and sensitive. BUT powerwash the mud off and it leaves it in brand new condition! Go figure. A Sponge is much more aggressive.
Adding a snow foam as a pre wash is to soften the dirt on a car to make the washing process as safe as possible. I use Mitchell & King Snow which is PH neutral but if extra bite is required they do HD Snow which is alkaline like your Bilt Hamber. Martin@OCD has done a good review of the M&K Snow if you are interested. I like your car better when it is clean.
Thank you! Tbh, I can’t remember as I’ve had it for a very long time, and I just bought a random one that was about £30. I didn’t choose a specific brand or anything, which is rare for me! I would go on Amazon and filter for highest rated and get one for in the region of £25-30 and you’ll get something similar! 😃
For a proper comparison. A quick spray of water on the non foam side. Leave for 5 mins. Then wash. Substantial difference. Foam side, put on dry though. Having said that, I can’t be arsed with dragging the jet wash out and all the faff. Sainsbury’s car wash £3.50 once a week. The roads are so crap a beautiful cleaning job lasts about 10mins at the moment.
I think it’s this one: it’s been a while since I bought it. www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Kleen-Karcher-Pressure-Capacity-Cleaning/dp/B01CW47MIE/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?crid=ITH02RZ1USFL&keywords=snow+foam+lance&qid=1701077605&sprefix=snow+foam+lanc%2Caps%2C455&sr=8-15
I am a recent convert to pressure washing having spent all my driving years (13 to be exact from passing in 2010) using a bucket, sponge and Wash & Wax. People say you get the ground in dirt off better that way. Is there a difference between snow foam and car shampoo? I am going to be getting of Santa a Kaercher K2 Pressure Washer an it has a free 5ltr bottle of car shampoo with it.
What volume of Snow Foam did you put in the bottle? PIR percentages are a pain - I've got a Karcher like many watchers & that info would be very handy as a starting point.
I use the one from Poundland, wet the car first, use the foam , use the karcher soft brush then jet wash off . My father owned a car garage when I was a kid, nothing beats elbow grease
Hey coold video! So i just wanna ask since you said you've tried a lot of snow foams. Have you tried the Gyeon snowfoam? Because i was thinking of buying it the other day but if you've tried it perhaps I'll just buy the one you said in the video
Really needed this cause i want to have a proper & easy setup to clean my car. Great, Thanks man! Its very kind of you to reply my question. Appreciate it. I just subbed. Hope to see your channel grow to 100k subs one day. Keep it up
Getting the pressure fan so close to dirty pain,t water jets the sand/dirt particles across the paint, creating tiny scratches/marring, prewash foam with good lubricity for that exact issue
I replaced the Karcher for a better lance with a built in nozzle. Just a £25 pounds one of Amazon. Those Karcher ones are not great - I wouldn’t recommend using it if you can avoid it.
Bilt Hamber stuff works, I wasn't surprised by the results as I've used Surfex as a snow foam for years. I know it's not as foamy but I like to reduce the amount of different products I have to buy, Surfex does everything I want it to even around the house. I will say the dwell time on that Touchless looks impressive and I might get some for Summer use.
I use GTechniq Citrus snow foam, would recommend it even though it's on the pricey side. it's more of a gel type snow foam than liquid, brings up good results and I only ever mix it in the snow foam lance bottle with hot water. Edit: works well with a decent citrus wash and car shampoo too.
GTechniq and Bilt Hamber are up there with the best products on the market. The GT multi purpose cleaner is about the best I've found for removing stains from just about any fabric. The BH Surfex HD is excellent for cleaning guttering and UPVC windows.
*not all snow foams are created equal though. Touchless is a very good example of an actually working one but it just gets shit for not producing thick foam. Heck you could use it in a spray bottle and it would still do its job
That doesn't make sense, because snow foam is a prewash. There will always be a "traffic film" left after the Prewash. That's why it's called "prewash". You use snow foam to remove as much dirt as possible to make the following handwash safer for the paint. It's not meant to make the handwash unneccessary.
Another option on a dirty car with road grime is a dilute non caustic TFR e.g. jennychem. Only leave it a minute and wash thoroughly. Then a good 'shampoo and wax' type wash.
You've got a great pace of talking and being direct to the point, which makes it ideal for me to be engaged with my shot attention span. Keep up the good work
Thank you - that’s really encouraging! Glad you enjoy the videos. 😃
As new comer to snow foaming (72yo) I’m still working out the intricacies of how to get the best results. This is exactly what I needed to see, I’m currently using Autoglym’s Polar Blast which is a pre wash and was left questioning if I was actually getting the car any cleaner. I was planning using Build Hammer as my next purchase having read reviews on it. Thank you so much for the demo.
How long have you left the autoglym foam on before washing it off? I leave it for 10 mins myself.
Bilt hamber is far better. I've used both. Almost out of BH auto foam and then I will try their Touchless snow foam. You need to calculate your panel impact ratio to your jet wash. It will work as intended then.
Ditch the Autoglym,go for Bilt Hamber Autofoam or Touchless.
The difference is night and day,also a good foam cannon.
@@swift2117 just tried Touchless and it's brilliant. Better than autofoam
Tried polar blast. Seen no difference at all. Don't rate it
I'm glad someone has finally tested this, although I'd like to see the non snow foam side wetted down first, as water pre-soaking into the dirt might have an effect.
Another good test would be snow foam vs spray on pre-wash to see if snow foam is really worth the extra faffing around or is it just as effective to spray on a pre-wash and let that dwell for 5 minutes instead.
Never wet before applying snow foam. It works by far the best spraying the foam directly onto a dry car. Dry dirt will sort of absorb the foam a bit helping it release.
The foam is very wet as it is and has all the required chemicals to soften the dirt far better than water.
With a good foam the difference with or without is quite incredible...
They all have their own purpose. A pre-wash shampoo however is better on an unprotected car, since most pre-wash products will damage alot of waxes or other protectants. A foam-shampoo often is softer on those kind of things.
A pre-wash step is also a good first step, when wanting to do a complete decon afterwards, like iron removers, degreasers and insect removers.
Then again, many detailers find their own thing, what works best for them. There's no real advantage using an expensive foamshampoo on a very dirty unprotected car. A pre-wash product often is alot cheaper and removes or losens alot more then a foamshampoo will.
I would like to see spray apc vs snow foam (neutral and strong), too.
@@revorocks123 The OP didn't say anything about wetting before applying snow foam.
many people on RUclips cannot understand what they are reading. So, don't have high hopes. @@lolzlolz69
Fantastic and simple demo of what a snow foam can actually do. Thanks' for taking the time to record, edit and post this video mate!
That’s very kind - Glad you enjoyed :)
THIS IS THE IDIOTIC TEST! FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE 0 IQ. HE USED HIGH PRESURE WASHER ON 1 SIDE 2X AND ON THE OTHER SIDE - 1X. ALSO ONE SIDE (THE FOAM SIDE) HAD 5 MINUTES WATER ON IT TO MAKE DIRT SOFT AND EASY TO WIPE, WHILE OTHERS IDE WAS CLEANED ONLY WITH WATER AND DRY! AT LEAST HE COULD WET BOTH SIDES AND ALLOW 5 MINUTES ON BOTH SIDES. SO THIS TEST IS STUPID FOR PEOPLE WITH NO LOGIC.
Nice video, but to have a true control you would need to compare the snow foam side with wetting the other side with just water for 5 minutes before jet washing them off. Just saying...
Thanks bud. Not if you like to snow foam the car dry. Which is actually what you should do for better results. I’ve tried it both ways, and it makes no difference (in my experience)
@@roadreg1820 If it really makes no difference, then pre-spraying with plain water is just a waste of water.
@@1959Berre spraying with water does absolutely nothing. I tried it myself. That’s why I didn’t do it in the video.
I don't use snow foam (mainly because can't find a unit that fits my pressure washer). If my cars are really dirty, like your BMW, I normally take it to the self serve car washes and give them a good going over for about 3 minutes. I use the high pressure washers only as they are a lot more powerful than mine. It won't remove all the dirt but when I get back home it makes it slot easier to wash the cars by hand.
@@roadreg1820 I think the original comment was referring to the fact that the snow foam is a soaking agent that interacts with the surface to improve the dirt removal process and I suspect any form of soaking would make a difference versus an unprepared area. Perhaps a better experiment is to compare the difference between foam and plain water as pre-soak agents? I suspect it would still be better but it would be a more comparable set of conditions; y'know, science and all that.😂
Enjoyed the video though, thumbs up from me 👍
Not sure if it was mentioned but a very key aspect to keep in mind here... Bilt Hammer Touch less is a 14 PH snow foam. The alkalinity is what helps with cleaning. Most people do their snow foam with regular PH neutral soap, same as the bucket soap.
Yeah I am aware but the PH level is fine for waxes and coating. I’ve had my car ceramic coated last year and the coating is still working well.
It's pH is a lot less once watered down!
@@youbencowell I mean that depends on your definition of a lot less. 14 PH is 10 times more than 13 PH and 100 times more than 12 PH. It will not get anywhere close to neutral.
Wouldn't touch BiltHamber myself. Far too Alkaline a PH for a snow foam imho.
It's a pre-wash for the purpose of reducing paint swirls though contact washing. It's not a wash so no idea why BiltHamber add detergent to try to make it behave like one, resulting in neither a great snow foam or wash imho
Love the fact everyone is going on about so many products and the huge amount of products on the market, You can clean a car with less than 3 to 4 products and the finished result would match any of the products available on the market, it's down to the detailer and his own experience, being thorough and not missing a single point on the car. Unfortunately we are bombarded with retailers trying to make too many products which are no different to many others on the market. Consumer's are fooled by the smell and look of products.... Brand names and worst of all you tube! . So keep it real everyone its down to the experience of the detailer. Good video.....
It would be more interesting to compare it to water.
Make the other side wet for 5 minutes as well, then rinse it off.
My guess is that making the dirt soaked in water would make a huge difference compared to trying to wash it of all dry.
Who would soak there car in water before washing lol. This is a simple case of checking whether snow foam does a better job than not using snow foam. It clearly does.
@@NoNonsenseJohnson Yeah who would be that stupid right? ;)
@@NoNonsenseJohnson Which is a pointless test. You could buy pints of bull semen or truffle oil on the basis of "It cleans the car better than nothing" - any product that makes a soapy foam will clean it as well - the point is, most of these other products are significantly cheaper and you probably already have them in your home. It's like trying to sell / promote expensive shampoo by comparing a really expensive one against just wetting your hair.
people that don't want to buy expensive car wash. @@NoNonsenseJohnson
Fine if you want a touch less wash ....I assume your going to hand dry the car regardless ....so why not just spend that 5 min with a sponge and shampoo then watching your neighbours cat for 5 min waiting for this snow foam which costs a 'touch' Lazy / gimmick era we live in today
Looks very nice. I'll probably give the pressure washer another chance. Be careful with how close you're spraying the car and how much pressure you're applying; you can strip paint and peel back any paint protection film very easily with the jet stream.
*Shouldn't use the pressure washer at all. Now that we see the foam works, all it needs is a shower nozzle rinse followed by a mist nozzle spray-down to break up the surface water bubbles.* Pressure washing kills car paint.
@@hulkhatepunybanner false.
@@matsudakodo *True.*
@@hulkhatepunybanner if you're that afraid, don't use one.
@@matsudakodo *I don't use one. It ruins cars' paint.*
BH auto foam user here. My car never really gets that dirty as I wash it every week, and BH auto foam is amazing. Touchless might just have a very slight edge in cleaning ability, but you would only notice the difference on a very dirty car, and the auto foam is cheaper, so swings & roundabouts.
I use Bilt Hamber Touchless. Hands down, the best snow foam I’ve ever used by some margin. It’s actually quite amazing how clean it can get the car before touching it.
What kind of soap do you use? What's the soap/water ratio? I tried Blue Coral car wash and it doesn't work in a foam cannon! Just won't build up a lather no matter what ratio I mix.
@largol33t1 I use the Bilt Hamber car wash concentrate. It doesn't really create a lather, but it cleans really well. You just use about 5mls at a time & it lasts ages. Bu the time I've used the Touchless, there's very little left to clean.
It only works well because bilt hamber touchless is NOT a ph neutral soap. Most of the foaming soaps out there are ph neutral
PH neutral is what the average consumer needs with there standard carnauba based wax or no wax. Ceramic guy are fine with pH 12 of car pro lift or even higher of around 14 with bilt hamber. I use pH neutral for summer maintenance wash but think 14 is fine for colder salty Road months but think 12 is fine all the time
I do a citrus pre wash, then snow foam, both on for 5 mins, then 2 bucket method wash, and dry with a towel and pet air dryer. Then use EZ gloss boss. Drive around the corner, and it's dirty again.
Nice and simple well presented video. Totally agree touch less or auto foam both give great results. Pre-wash is the way.
Can you explain what you mean by pre wash? Is it using the snow foam and wash it off before using bucket and water/shampoo to clean the car?
@@Bootheh Yes exactly that.
Would be interesting comparing the two front wheels with brake dust covering the alloys too
Great video Reg, Touchless and Autofoam are the only two snowfoams I use now. Not really an issue for me degrading the LSP as a quick wipe over with Sonax Bsd whilst drying works for me.
I’d been using a snow foam for a few months. It’s a bit gimmicky if you ask me. In my opinion yes it does lift some dirt, but it’s get very clingy to the paintwork and you end up using a lot more water to shift it. Then I have a lot of mess left on the driveway afterwards. I’ve gone back to washing my cars with rain water and a cheap £10 wash n wax. It’s amazing how many people comment on how shiny our cars are!
Nice. As long as your happy with the wash n’ wax, then result !
Simple & effective test, clearly shows it works 👍🏻
Thank you!
NO IT'S DUMB! AND HE SHOWED NOTHING. ONLY THAT WASHING ONE SIDE 2X IS BETTER THAN 1 TIME.
I used auto glym snowfoam on my bike after a 300 miles ride back from the Scottish Borders in heavy rain and I would urge anyone to exercise caution. I may have been unlucky but 2 days after using it is went to get the bike out of the garage and I could hear the chain grinding as I moved it. On closer inspection the stuff had removed every trace of oil and grease from the whole bike. Don't get me wrong, from a cleaning perspective I couldn't fault it but I had to give the bike a thorough going over and I had to replace the chain because the snow foam had corroded it, it had done less than a thousand miles as I replaced it for the Scotland trip. Like I said, it really cleaned it but be careful where you let it go because a little bit of grease is cheaper than a big lump of metal!
Somewhat related, I think - when detailing a bike, also, using a pressure washer is probably a bad idea. There are so many nooks and crannies and gaps and bolt holes etc etc where you can force in water at high pressure. That can probably promote corrosion and other issues. A bike is small, there's no need to use a pressure washer on anything. Maybe snow foam and rinse to get the loose dirt off, then a two-bucket wash system, some smaller brushes, maybe polishing up everything after with a Flitz 2- or 3-inch buff ball and the polish of your choice (I do favor the Flitz paste polish also, personally.)
@@KimmoJaskari have you found that some of the tried and tested products that we have used for years aren't as good as they used to be? Too many to name on here but over the last 10 years I've noticed a distinct decline in the performance of a lot of well known polishes. I have been told that to keep costs down (or perhaps maximise profit) the manufacturers cut back on the more expensive ingredients and use more of whatever is the cheapest option?
I've seen a few that say you must apply the snow foam, then agitate with a sponge before rinsing. You'd be better off with a bucket with detergent, a sponge and a hose.
They should pay your for this commercial LMAO
@@TheCameltotem Right !
whats wrong with using a bit of elbow grease
Casues scratches. The point of this snow foam is to remove as much dirt as possible before you get to the elbow grease bit.
Great test! I was wondering about this very thing! Thanks!
I've always understood it that snow foam agitates the dirt so it doesn't drag or scratch your paintwork. It's not intended as a one coating cleaner . I wouldn't use a high pressure hose either. Good demo though
Next time wet the non snow foam side to hydrate the dirt. It will make a difference because it gives the dirt a chance to absorb moisture and release from the paint. This is why car washes have a pre soak. Even though they will be using a chemical and you won't, it will still make a difference.
I have a foam cannon that I use regularly. Your foam didn't stick around as long as mine does. FTR I use "Mr. Pink" as one of my foams, gently mixed with hot water. My canon isn't particularly expensive and neither is the pressure washer.
The Autobrite one is good or the Mjcc Canon
The effectiveness of snowfoam isn't measured by 'how long it sticks around'...
@@mrlooneycooney8948 You're absolutely correct. You should just pour the soap directly on the car and rinse it off as fast as you can.
Great comparison, need to get myself some of the touchless to test against what i usually use!
Thank you!
Polar blast? I have polar blast now time for BH 😄
One advantage / use of snow foam is to clean the underside of the car / wheel arches etc. A good application at the start of the wash process and then a final rinse at the end giving it time to remove mud / salt etc.
I use the Flare detailing PH neutral foam which is absolutely incredible. Their website said it contains ingredients that expand out and actively attack and dissolve the grim rather than just loosening it and I was pretty skeptical but now a year on I wouldn't use anything ever again! It's truly amazing how well it works, super thick (like actual foam) just be sure to leave it for 4-5minutes.
Straight to the point. Thank you 👍🏻
Good little video, thanks! Lots of comments about Touchless not being PH neutral, which is fair comment but, as far as I am aware, it doesn't strip wax as is being suggested. Yes it does degrade wax slightly quicker but it's pretty negligible. I just think, if it cleans the car better and makes a contact wash safer, I'd rather apply a new wax a few weeks earlier than if I was using a PH neutral SF. I tend to think, if you're using a SF then you probably care enough to protect the paint, so a little earlier waxing isn't too much of a problem. All the best.
I've been using Turtle Wax Hybrid Ceramic Wet Wax and I think it's superb, certainly for ease of use. As the name suggests, you can use it without drying the car and it's easy to apply and easy to wipe without leaving streaks - no buffing like you have to do with many ceramic products and it leaves a really slick finish. I don't know how long the hydro effect lasts but I'm not that bothered, I wash my car often, and you don't need to use a lot so it will last.
Thanks for this. Did you mix the product with water or was this 100% neat?
About 40 percent snow foam to 60 percent water. Just from the tap.
Great video thanks. I don't need to see any others as yours is straight to the point with no vageries and just one snow foam.
Thank you. Really appreciate the comment!
Should have got the other side wet as it hydrates the dirt in the same way.. then it would have been a true comparison to whether the snow foam lifts more dirt
great video i love cleaning cars love your channel
Great video !!!! What ratio did you use ?
Cheers
40/60 snow foam to water
Excellent demonstration. Thank you.
2:24 - Woah! Careful matey. If you hold the spray wand too close to the car, you can actually force the dirt under the clearcoat. That's why I never take my car to automatic washes. The pressure is set too high and I had a car with a few dirt spots that cannot buff out. The only solution is to strip the clearcoat and recoat it.
Don’t worry, the pressure on my K4 isn’t that strong, plus I know where every stone chip is on my car, also bmw clear is very hard. Never had an issue that you describe. Thank you tho!
How are u the first in the detailing world to force dirt under the clear coat that couldn’t be polished out 😂
No man. Not sure what your doing but most retail pressure washers won’t get that high to even come near damaging a flat coat let alone the billions of topper products they use.
Excellent results based demo!
So you compared a soap vs nothing that’s a great job. You should be an add seller
It’s to demonstrate the difference between using snow foam and not. That’s the whole point of the video. Many people think that snow foaming does nothing. That’s why I made this video.
Thanks for the kind comment!
Have a lovely day 😃😎👍
If you buy the right brand it's incredible... great video
Having just washed my new car for the first time, (not particularly dirty, just normal road film and dust), I was going to call BS on this "snow foam" fad... I paid for the Diamondbrite ceramic coating and the included care pack included some snow foam. After seeing the many vids on YT about it, I thought I'd give it a go. After faffing around for a week getting an applicator with the correct fitting for my pressure washer, I actually used it this morning... and frankly I was disappointed.
I rinsed the car down with the pressure washer first, then gave it a coat of foam. I waited 5 mins, then gave it another coat of foam. waited another 5 mins then rinsed off with the pressure washer.
While it was wet, it looked cleaner, but when I dried it was a microfibre cloth, I could see there was still a film of dirt on the car... the supposed "lifts off dirt" didn't happen.
Maybe the Diamondbrite snow foam is just not very good, but I'd have gotten a better clean the old fashioned bucket way...
Bilt Hamber make excellent products; their snow foam is just one I have been very pleased with.
Probably not shocking - using any detergent vs not using detergent, the detergent is going to win. The benefit is probably in if you snow-foam first, then rinse it off (even without pressure) you get all the gross dirt off that it lifts without having to grind that into the paint. After that, a two-.bucket wash with a brush followed by treating the paint would probably give a superior end result. Touchless is a bit of a misnomer, really, you're touching the paint plenty with a ton of high pressure water - but touchless for the initial stage when the paint is covered in grit is probably very valuable.
When using Snow foam or any other TFR ( Traffic Film Removers) always start at the bottom and work up to the top of the car for best results, this way you are allowing the heavier solid areas to have more contact.
Thanks for a good demonstration and ongoing explanation of your work. Big thumbs! How does the things look with chemistry on your recommended product? I mean, I guess it's not very environmental friendly, is it?
Thank you !! Not 100 percent on that, however I know that they wouldn’t make a product that was environmentally friendly. They have to meet certain guidelines.
@@roadreg1820You mean, they wouldn't make a product that wasn't environmental friendly, right?
Have you by any chance heard of a Netherland product called "Airolube"? They're using plantbased ingredients which ofc. are biodegradable. That is something the car care industry could learn something from, I believe 😁
Nice video! I suppose the argument with foam is lubrication rather then power washing from dry and driving that dirt into paint increasing the chance of scratches
Good comparison video 👍🏻. I only use snow foam when car is proper dirty. But good to see it makes sense.
The secret also is to make sure it dwells for at least 5 min, which is not always easy.
I use Car Pro Lift, mainly because it's slightly gentler on my ceramic coating and it compliments Car Pro Reset shampoo I also use (a bit more expensive than Built Hamber), Built Hamber is a good product as well, but a bit more aggressive
I had a good laugh at the music coming in for the snow foam "montage," but it only lasted about 10 seconds 🤣
WOW. thanks for that. l went off snow foam as l thought it wasn't helpful.
looks like a great product.
Glad it helped
Technicaly a alkaline degreaser work pretty similar , because a big portion of the formula in snow foam is just alkaline degreasing.
But the foam is a bit more easy to reach and get the dirt of in my opinion. In Sweden we can buy Ditec proffesionell products on their site as a usual customer. And theres foam wash is brand just like alkaline degreasing foam wash.
But important is to now that a degreaser is often a bit more chemical aggressive than a ordinarie car schampo. So good to have a good protection on the car if using it alot
I wish I had a power washer. Would be interesting to see it done with a regular hose. I can't find that soap, as it is sold out whereever I look.
Believe it or not, there is still dirt on the snow foam side, though it is hard to see. Professional detailers use a foam wash to get the majority of the dirt off before hand washing, since hand washing introduces the possibility of scratches and swirl marks, which is minimized when most of the dirt is already gone. After that, some type of paint decontamination may be needed before a ceramic coating or wax is applied. That decontamination is often done with a clay bar or pad, which removes particles that are stuck in the clear coat. Then a professional ceramic coating, or for a DIYer a ceramic and/or graphene-infused polish can be applied which will protect the paint and bead water for many weeks to months, while leaving a high gloss shine.
Should the foam be as thick as to not run down the sides. Should it cling to the car for at least 5 mins to be effective.
3000 km away from u but i can tell u this is a very nice video u made, thanks for that. thats gives u a like an subscribe.
Plain and simple video Reg, quality! 😊
Thank you brother 🤩
I never use a pressure washer to clean the panels of a car, but your method certainly proves that the active surfactants are held in place by the foam. Good vid.
Why not use a pressure washer on the panels ?
@@jonfrench7133 The tiny point of contact is no match for a decent sponge. The jet can damage panel trims and force water into places it shouldn't go. From an eco angle it wastes a load of water. Its the wrong tool for the job.
@@mikenco oh crikey one mention of the word sponge and I’m doubting your detailing credentials 😁. Re the pressure it’s absolutely the right tool IF used properly, ie wide spray and held a couple of feet away from the bodywork. It also uses less water than a hose so on every count it is the best thing to use to remove the most material from the paintwork before making contact with a wash mitt, not sponge
@@mikenco high pressure definitely not to be used on older cars/classics etc or vehicles that have been resprayed.
@@mikenco I slightly disagree based on what i know about sensitive finishes. If you were to wash the mud off an ATV or Dirtbike with a sponge you would completely ruin the soft plastic, it would leave very nasty swirl marks everywhere you touch. Factually if you were to even simply twist your thumbprint into those plastics (when completely clean) it will still leave a swirl, meaning they are super soft and sensitive. BUT powerwash the mud off and it leaves it in brand new condition! Go figure.
A Sponge is much more aggressive.
Superb. A very convincing display.....and a beautiful 140i too 😃
Thank you Andrew!
Adding a snow foam as a pre wash is to soften the dirt on a car to make the washing process as safe as possible. I use Mitchell & King Snow which is PH neutral but if extra bite is required they do HD Snow which is alkaline like your Bilt Hamber. Martin@OCD has done a good review of the M&K Snow if you are interested. I like your car better when it is clean.
Thanks John, well said.
Excellent comparison, could you tell me what snow foam lance you have please as I am trying to find a decent size one for my karcher k5
Thank you! Tbh, I can’t remember as I’ve had it for a very long time, and I just bought a random one that was about £30. I didn’t choose a specific brand or anything, which is rare for me! I would go on Amazon and filter for highest rated and get one for in the region of £25-30 and you’ll get something similar! 😃
For a proper comparison. A quick spray of water on the non foam side. Leave for 5 mins. Then wash. Substantial difference. Foam side, put on dry though. Having said that, I can’t be arsed with dragging the jet wash out and all the faff. Sainsbury’s car wash £3.50 once a week. The roads are so crap a beautiful cleaning job lasts about 10mins at the moment.
Can I ask what snow foam cannon your using? I've the same pressure washer as that and that cannon does a great job
I think it’s this one: it’s been a while since I bought it. www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Kleen-Karcher-Pressure-Capacity-Cleaning/dp/B01CW47MIE/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?crid=ITH02RZ1USFL&keywords=snow+foam+lance&qid=1701077605&sprefix=snow+foam+lanc%2Caps%2C455&sr=8-15
@@roadreg1820 brilliant thanks for the quick reply
I am a recent convert to pressure washing having spent all my driving years (13 to be exact from passing in 2010) using a bucket, sponge and Wash & Wax. People say you get the ground in dirt off better that way. Is there a difference between snow foam and car shampoo? I am going to be getting of Santa a Kaercher K2 Pressure Washer an it has a free 5ltr bottle of car shampoo with it.
Great video mate!
What volume of Snow Foam did you put in the bottle? PIR percentages are a pain - I've got a Karcher like many watchers & that info would be very handy as a starting point.
About 45 percent product to water. I have a big foam cannon, not the small katcher one. Hope that helps!
Real world, simple review. VERY helpful that. Thanks buddy 👍
Glad you enjoyed the video - thank you 😁😎
What happens when you pre spray with plain water (without snow) and let it soak for 5 minutes, then power wash it?
Nothing. The dirt stays where it is.
I use the one from Poundland, wet the car first, use the foam , use the karcher soft brush then jet wash off . My father owned a car garage when I was a kid, nothing beats elbow grease
Hey coold video! So i just wanna ask since you said you've tried a lot of snow foams. Have you tried the Gyeon snowfoam? Because i was thinking of buying it the other day but if you've tried it perhaps I'll just buy the one you said in the video
Hi, yes I have used that snow foam. It’s one of the better snow foams on the market, however it doesn’t have the cleaning ability of touchless.
Really needed this cause i want to have a proper & easy setup to clean my car. Great, Thanks man! Its very kind of you to reply my question. Appreciate it. I just subbed. Hope to see your channel grow to 100k subs one day. Keep it up
@@johnlegend9553 That’s great - I’m glad this video helped buddy, thank you so much for the Sub!
Doesnt spraying down a non treated section with pressure just imbed it deeper into the paint?
Not that I’m aware of. Never had this issue.
Does using the power washer damage paintwork? I use a jet gun on a hose as wary of damage
Just don’t get millimetres close. Watch out for stone chips when getting close too.
Good video Reg! Is that Jon's old K7 you've got there?
Thank you. It’s my K4 😁
Getting the pressure fan so close to dirty pain,t water jets the sand/dirt particles across the paint, creating tiny scratches/marring, prewash foam with good lubricity for that exact issue
Paint is in really good condition. I check it over every time I wash the car. Thanks for the comment though!
Which nozzle do you use to get that foam, as I know the Kärcher one is not giving that foam
I replaced the Karcher for a better lance with a built in nozzle. Just a £25 pounds one of Amazon. Those Karcher ones are not great - I wouldn’t recommend using it if you can avoid it.
I use autogylm, I like to think it helps but it’s still leaves dirt stuck to the car and still needs washing with a sponge
Question, in general when using snow foam do you pre wash, snow foam, use bucket and hand wash, rinse or just pre wash, foam and rinse?
I snow foam like I did in the video, then wash with bucket/wash mitt. 😁
Nice video mate, straight forward and easy to see results.
Any idea how people make their reset plates so dirty? Asking for a freind
Wet or dry foam is better for wash?
I like to apply the snow foam dry.
Bilt Hamber stuff works, I wasn't surprised by the results as I've used Surfex as a snow foam for years. I know it's not as foamy but I like to reduce the amount of different products I have to buy, Surfex does everything I want it to even around the house. I will say the dwell time on that Touchless looks impressive and I might get some for Summer use.
You won’t regret it my dude 😎
what Foam Nozzle are u using ?? amazing tick foam
Great test comparison dude. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed :)
Glad with the result. Just purchase a snow foam kit. Used once was pleased with the result.
Nice Lynne! 😃
What dilution / PIR did you use?
Roughly 40 percent product to 60 percent snow foam.
What a difference what dilution did you use?
About 40 percent product to 60 percent water roughly.
Yes it does really work. Saved u guys 5 mins
Cheers 🥂
I use GTechniq Citrus snow foam, would recommend it even though it's on the pricey side. it's more of a gel type snow foam than liquid, brings up good results and I only ever mix it in the snow foam lance bottle with hot water.
Edit: works well with a decent citrus wash and car shampoo too.
GTechniq and Bilt Hamber are up there with the best products on the market. The GT multi purpose cleaner is about the best I've found for removing stains from just about any fabric. The BH Surfex HD is excellent for cleaning guttering and UPVC windows.
Can you use without affecting previously applied ceramic coatings ie Auto Glam Lifeshine
Yes, absolutely
*not all snow foams are created equal though. Touchless is a very good example of an actually working one but it just gets shit for not producing thick foam. Heck you could use it in a spray bottle and it would still do its job
In what proportions to mix the foam?
Roughly 40/100
what foam cannon you use if I may ask?
Tbh, I bought it a long time ago, and it’s not a branded one so I couldn’t tell you. Apologies
You can see the difference before you zoom in. Pretty good.
What series of karchar and foam cannon brand please?
K4 and the foam cannon is unbranded I think. It’s off Amazon.
Would this be one of the better(beste) products? Any any how too get the wheels nice, i have heaps of break dust stuck on it. Thanks in advance
Bilt Hamber do a product called Auto Wheels which is fantastic. I am thinking about doing a video on this subject, so watch this space :)
I'd like to see what the car looks like after its dry ( not wiped, just air dried ), close up.
That doesn't make sense, because snow foam is a prewash. There will always be a "traffic film" left after the Prewash. That's why it's called "prewash". You use snow foam to remove as much dirt as possible to make the following handwash safer for the paint. It's not meant to make the handwash unneccessary.
@@racecruiser oh ok, I didn't know that
I find that using Surfex-HD first, using a pump pressure spray gets the ingrained dirt off better. Followed by the foam.
What hose do you use for karcher looks so long mine is too short need to sit the karcher close and gets covered in snow foam
Just the one that comes with the K4. Bone stock! Could do with an upgrade tbh.
How did you get it not to kink my always kinks
Great video perfect demonstration of just how good built hamber products are 😊👍
Well done on being about 38 years behind the trend.
Another option on a dirty car with road grime is a dilute non caustic TFR e.g. jennychem. Only leave it a minute and wash thoroughly. Then a good 'shampoo and wax' type wash.
Good suggestion! Thank you
Great video! Quick question… is that a battery powered Jet Washer? If so can you post the brand / Model pls as I’m looking to buy one very soon 1:02
Thank you! It’s a Kartcher K4. It is not battery powered sadly.
What snowfoam sprayer attachment are you using?
I can’t actually remember as I bought it such a long time ago! It’s nothing fancy. I think I paid about £20 for it.