Car Wash Cannon & Soap Recommendations?

[scode]

Which is the best Cannon and Soap to use.

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[ReverendPete]

I have several foam cannons, but this one is my favorite: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09Q63CFM2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00

I generally use Adam's Polishes Graphene Shampoo, because my MME has one of their graphene/ceramic coatings. But I also use their "Mega Foam" (https://adamspolishes.com/products/adams-mega-foam) on my other cars.

That foam cannon puts a thick, snow-like coating on the car with less than a tablespoon of shampoo, and it can be thick enough to not be able to tell the color of the car! But I just about any automotive shampoo will do that in a good cannon.

 

[tbrumleve]

Chemical Guys Hydrosuds Ceramic wash

Any cheap foam cannon from Amazon (mine was $12 and has lasted two years so far).

 

[scode]

Thanks for the response. I guess I need to spend some money at Amazon.

 

[VindictivePantz]

Thanks for the response. I guess I need to spend some money at Amazon.

Prime day is soon...

 

[Deleted member 19354]

I use Palmolive. Look your soaking in it ?

 

[DeusEx]

Which is the best Cannon and Soap to use.

Are you prepared for the rabbit hole you're going to go down?

I use Opti-Coat M wash for my Opti-Coat Pro+ coated car at a 1 oz product to 32 oz water ratio. Product smells like grape but I'm almost out and will be trying Optimum Car Wash and Adam's Mega Foam to get a better idea of what I like. All are pH neutral so it won't eat the coating off my car.

I cheaped out on my cannon. I got a Tool Daily but I wished I have gotten another one as the mouth is a bit too small to fill quickly with water and soap. It was $20 but came with nozzles I needed for my stubby gun to pressure wash. Eventually, I'll upgrade.

Pressure washing is a lot of fun but takes a lot of time to setup and finish. It takes me about 2-3 hours to properly clean the Mach-E, but with Optimum No Rinse, it takes me about 1 hour.

If you're new to this, look into videos by DIY Detail, and Pan the Organizer. They are a good place to start in your detail rabbit hole.

Have fun!

 

[Deleted member 19354]

We all have our favourite soaps. My question I currently have a nice spray on ceramic, so wash wax and reapply or just wash and apply the spray on?

 

[RickMachE]

2 bucket method, micro fiber mit, Rain-x car wash soap. Turtle Wax Wax and Dry.

No cannons, save them for war...

 

[Triggerhappy007]

I agree, I bought a foam cannon but don't use it anymore.

1. Need to drag my pressure washer out to hook it up and put it away.
2. I still need to use a mit to wash the car.

Just use two bucket method.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Best soaps for foam cannon that are still coating safe:

• Koch‑Chemie Active Foam
• CARPRO Reset

Adam's Mega Foam and Koch‑Chemie Gentle Snow Foam (Gsf) foam well but don't have much cleaning ability. They are for people that don't really have dirty cars and wash them twice a week for fun. I've concluded that a lot of people in the detailing world are addicted to foam simply for aesthetic reasons rather than actual objective cleaning performance. pH neutral means the soap won't clean very well.

The MTM and MJJC foam cannons are generally regarded as the best. There are cheaper options that work almost as well, what's important is that you have a pressure washer with enough power and you mix the soap with soft water for better foaming action. I bought an off-brand one at Lowes and it works fine.

Foam cannon + non-contact pressure wash will not get the car really clean. You have to still scrub with a wash mitt or bucket to get good results. A lot of people like to do the foam cannon + rinse first to remove any fine grit or surface rust before going contact wash.

It's my opinion that foam cannons can possibly replace the traditional two-bucket method once the market moves away from "pH-neutral" soaps to ones that have better chemistry and cleaning ability. And also when people realize 1000 psi is not enough, your pressure washer tip really needs to develop 1500-2000 psi to get a car clean, but that comes with some paint risk if you aren't careful.

 

[Deleted member 19354]

Best soaps for foam cannon that are still coating safe:

• Koch‑Chemie Active Foam
• CARPRO Reset

Adam's Mega Foam and Koch‑Chemie Gentle Snow Foam (Gsf) foam well but don't have much cleaning ability. They are for people that don't really have dirty cars and wash them twice a week for fun. I've concluded that a lot of people in the detailing world are addicted to foam simply for aesthetic reasons rather than actual objective cleaning performance. pH neutral means the soap won't clean very well.

The MTM and MJJC foam cannons are generally regarded as the best. There are cheaper options that work almost as well, what's important is that you have a pressure washer with enough power and you mix the soap with soft water for better foaming action. I bought an off-brand one at Lowes and it works fine.

Foam cannon + non-contact pressure wash will not get the car really clean. You have to still scrub with a wash mitt or bucket to get good results. A lot of people like to do the foam cannon + rinse first to remove any fine grit or surface rust before going contact wash.

You’re hired!

 

[MJ's Mach E]

Look for a foam cannon that the bottom of the soap container is larger than the top. This may allow you to set it on the driveway still connected to the pressure washer hose. Also, many cannons come with extra stones that makes the soap foam. (Stones may not be what they are called, but that's what they look like.) I'm sure someone will correct me on this as that's what is great about this forum. (Most of the time.)
Regarding the soap, Anything from the " Chemical Guys" works well and is not crazy expensive.
Good luck and have fun.

 

[roamtheworld]

Be careful of Amazon cheap foam cannons. I bought one because it was rated good and had extra nozzles for my power washer that I needed at the time. The foam cannon lasted maybe 6 washes and stopped working after 12 uses. Way past the time I could return it. I have used the two-bucket method for years but wanted to speed up the process in the summer heat of Texas. Using buckets is still the best IMO. I've used several dozen soaps over the years and they are mostly the same. Others might disagree but mild dish soap or stuff you can buy at Target like Turtle Wax or Meguiars has always worked fine for me. Clean fiber towels and mitts are the priority.

 

[emetz582]

2 bucket method is over.

FRF = Foam Rinse Foam

Then hand wash the 2nd foam application. (1 bucket of clean water is typically needed to only rinse the wash mitt, I use the hose/washer.)

Rinse and blow/hand dry.

Done

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