Looking to up my car washing game since getting my S2K. Came across the foam cannons and I just don't get the point really. Price of the cannons are $80'ish, pressure washer..... $100 and up. Is it really worth it??? Seems to be a pre soak for a dirty car, or a touch less wash for a lightly dusty car.

Am I wrong?

 

I wouldn't use the ones that go on a pressure washer. Those are overkill. The foam cannon that goes on just the hose seems like a good way to cut some time. You don't have to suds up the entire car the cannon does that for you. You can just spray it with the cannon wipe and then rinse off.

 

^^ I agree. You can find them that go on the hose for much less. With some good car soap (I like to use Dodo Juice's Born to be Mild in mine) it can really help to loosen stuff up before hitting your finish with a woolen mitt. If you are prone to letting your cars get pretty filthy before washing them, then it makes sense. Otherwise, meh...

 

I agree that the pressure washer cannons are overkill, but I always try to get more than one use from things and I need a pressure washer for my house exterior cleaning anyway. My S2K doesn't even get out in the rain, so it doesn't get very dirty at all... DD on the other hand gets driven 2 hours round trip to work through the Louisiana bayou, and our bugs splat with a THUD.

The pressure washer I need anyway, but I'm trying to justify the foam cannon.

That all being said, let me ask this:
If I were to buy the foam cannon and use it on my S2K, would I have to hand wash it, or would I just blast it with soap, let it sit for a bit, spray off then dry?? (Since it doesn't really get dirty)

Then on my DD, it would be sort of a pre soak to loosen dirt/bugs since it gets way dirtier??

 

Neither the foam gun nor the foam cannon will eliminate hand washing, they are both pre-treatments which combined with hand washing achieves a more thorough car cleaning. The foam gun is dependent on your water pressure to be effective, the benefit of the foam cannon and compressor is it will lay a thicker layer of foam which will better encapsulate dirt and make a easier washing experience.
Both are effective, it really depends on how much you value the end results.

 

Just what I was looking for! Thanks!

 

^^ Exactly my experience too. I always use it for my DD, which lives in the driveway. The paint being Acura's Nighthawk Black Pearl, needs TLC, and the foam really loosens stuff up before hand washing.

I have actually never tried it on my S2k because it gets a space in the garage and doesn't get too dirty.

 

i have one that attacheds to my pressure washer (electric) and i like the results. like vanishingpoint said, it does not replace hand washing. it just makes a very nice pre wash and the soap gets rid of a lot of big particles you would other wise be running across your paint with a mitt.

i highly recommend them. they go on amazon lightning deals occassionally or look for an auto geek discount code on here to get one a little better price

 

Awesome! Thank you for the tips.

 

Something I've always been unclear on with the foam cannons and washing. Say you spray on the thick layer of foam, does that count as your soap which you will hand wash or do you still need a dedicated soap bucket with more car wash soap in there?