Who uses a “Foam Cannon” for pressure washers?

[McSwine]

Foam cannon/pressure washer works great if you have 2 people and more than 1 car to wash.

Sponsored

 

[Canadian Guy]

I'm a former professional auto detailer. Foam cannons work great to soap up a car faster and some customers like the theatrics. I suggest you watch some product demonstrations. You still have to agitate the soap in some fashion unless your car is perhaps just dusty. Otherwise you'll leave a thin film of road grime and/or soap grime on the car (also the same reason as to why I don't like touchless carwashes).

Personally I don't see the value in having a foam cannon for home use unless you have large vehicles like boats, enclosed car trailers, or RVs.

Ya, I was mislead too. You can't just foam your vehicle, rinse it off and have a washed car. You still have to wash it by hand. Cannons are basically a toy.

 

[Bob The Builder]

Foam cannons are great!!! You get to eliminate a bucket which eliminates having all that dirt in the bucket which could easily scratch the thin and soft paint on our beloved Mavericks. I do realize some of you SoCal guys never get your trucks dirty so this would be moot.

As others have stated one still has to scrub with a sponge. Everybody knows that! I use 3 sponges. One for the truck itself , one for the wheels and one for the fender wells.

That Griots Garage 99 dollar one looks great but I am light years way to cheapish to spring for that. I use one I found on Amazon for 20 bucks a number of years ago and it still works great.

 

[commadorebob]

I just leave mine out in the rain....

 

[Stradbash]

Personally I don't see the value in having a foam cannon for home use unless you have large vehicles like boats, enclosed car trailers, or RVs.

I'm a home user and do like using a foam cannon and power washer carefully for getting rid of most of the dirt on the car without having to "touch" the paint. They don't get really clean without some contact. I use the "two bucket" method and a clean washing mitt after the pre-cleaning.

 

[jorl]

I like to hand wash/chamois dry for the exercise(besides the 12 miles/week I swim).

 

[B2000]

I have one of these that I just bought recently and goes on the end of a garden hose. Haven't used it yet to see how it works, but I'd love to wash the truck without having to drag out the pressure washer.

I have one and it works okay. Not as good as the ones for a pressure washer but easier for me than dunking in the bucket. I have to use the max setting to get enough soap foam but that soap is not that expensive. Use a shady area or do it on a shady day or the soap will dry out before you get to it.

I also got a microfiber drying towel that works very well- much better than my old bathroom towel! Sometimes I use it after the rain to dry the truck and get rid of some dirt and dust.

 

[Stradbash]

I like to hand wash/chamois dry for the exercise(besides the 12 miles/week I swim).

Cross Training!

 

[Optimus]

I use the “two bucket” method (an actual method you can google or watch videos on), modified down to only 1 bucket, because the foam cannon itself takes the place of needing a bucket of soapy water.

I feel the term “foam cannon” is a bit over dramatic. It’s nothing more than a jug of soap. It requires a power washer to provide the actual foaming and cannon-ing. I have a basic electric pressure washer that already comes with it’s own cannon (e.g. soap canister). The cannon simply clips on to the end of your pressure washer gun, no different than swapping out for different spray pattern tips. If you already have a pressure washer but no cannon, just buy the “jug” as an attachment. No need to buy a whole new gun/wand.

I like the foam cannon for home use because I always just leave soap in it ready to go. I don’t have to find a clean bucket, fill with soap/water, waste it by dumping out the soapy bucket after washing, then eventually misplacing the bucket because I used it for something unrelated—oops.

 

[North Coast Joe]

Does the foam remove your sealers or waxes? I use a wash/wax car wash shampoo: Maquiers Gold. It does not remove the sealers and wax. Every few washes I use Simple Green in water to remove oily residue. It does not remove the sealers or waxes either. When in a hurry my choice of working the suds is a telescoping soft bristle brush, that I do not use for anytning else. When I have more time I use a microfiber mitt. After rinsing I blow off the excess water, then towel dry, with a clean towel. It takes about 25-30 minutes to wash and dry my Mav.

 

[jorl]

Cross Training!

not to mention the clay bar every once in a while-now thats work

 

[KEMeyer]

Foam cannons are a gimmick. If it amuses you, great. They don't wash the car any better.

Hey! Don't harsh our mellow.

 

[Sig-vicious]

Like others have said, it doesn't replace a hand wash, you gotta get in there.

It mostly just speeds up the process a little for me. I foam the whole car, wait 5 minutes, then a rinse. This initial rinse just helps knock of the heavy stuff. Then I'll foam one side of the car and wash it with a wash pad. Rinse that half and then do the same for the other side. I'll rinse/shake the wash pad out in a bucket of soapy water every panel or two.

The only benefit I get is that I can soap only twice, once for each side. Instead of doing a panel or two (soap, wash, rinse) at a time.

Part of the efficency is having the pressure washer at the ready. If you gotta drag it out of the shed and set everything up, you'll start to see it may not speed things up much, compared to a regular 2 bucket wash.

 

[Tim d]

I’m thinking of buying this foam cannon. It looks simple enough to use. Spray foam on, let it do its job, then rinse off. No more washing by hand. What do you think?

Water Cannon

I'd have to see it in action,skeptical It can clean as good as hand washing with a rag.

 

[Tim d]

That’s the same one I have it’s very nice. But you should spray off the car. Foam it. Let it sit for 5 min then spray off. After that foam again and wash normally. Keeps the paint perfect. Now if you have a good ceramic coat it definitely could be done without any hand wash but I still find it best to give it a quick once over. That foam gum works fine. It does use more soap than others I’ve tried but that’s not a bad thing.

Sounds like alot more work and expense than just simple hand washing.

Sponsored