Pressure washer vs foam gun, what's better?

[v10CodeMonkey]

Well, I used my new foam gun today alongwith the 2 bucket wash for the first time and it worked good. I used the Mr Pink soap from Chemical Guys (I bought it before seeing Junkman's reply) and it seemed to do the job, but I'm going to try DP's Xtreme Foam Formula in my foam gun next time as suggested and see how it compares. Next step is adding an electric leaf blower to my drying routine

[Junkman2008]

You are coming along right nicely.

[MEPEH]

My understanding is that not one method is 100% effective. So what I do is I start with rinsing the car off (with power washer or just hose nozzle) general idea is to wash off all loose particles as much as possible before washing. After that I will wash my wheels, tires and under the fender areas (using designated bucket and brushes for wheels) then wash it all of with power washer and as I am washing off soap from the wheels, give my car another light rinse. Now next step depends on how much time I have, whats the level of contamination (defining level of "dirty"). I could use my 2 buckets (one with water and one with soap) and wash it with a wash mitt OR I could use my foam gun, apply the foam and STILL use my wash mitt with a bucket of water to clean the mitt. After all this i will rise the car off with power washer, trick is to understand the pressure of water with different nozzles (usually 25, 45, 0) If you have 1500 psi unit you do not have to worry about a lot with 45 degree nozzle. DO NOT use 0 on anything! And so after your car is clear of soap its time to dry and apply seal/wax. How do you dry your car? I use microfiber towels, never a shammy cloth. all you need to do is wet the microfiber towel and squeeze it to dry and it will soak up all the water. Last trick i use when i use the m/f towel i spray liquid wax on it and dry the car with it, re spaying and turning the towel frequently. This way you kill 2 birds with one stone, wax and dry. you never wee runs or lines on the car because liquid wax absorbs in to the clear coat. That's all and you will not have any swirls "love marks" on your ride but remember to trow away and replace your m/f towels and your wash mitts frequently.

[Drummerviper]

Junkman is correct. Power washers are for trucks ( and decks). The water softening paraphernalia is a PITA not to mention the refills.

There are excellent car soaps out there that leave almost no spots and if you use a good hydrophobic solution on your car like Beeds you will have very little work. My black M6 used to be a handful. Not now.

[Junkman2008]

... The water softening paraphernalia is a PITA not to mention the refills.

Not to mention the COST too! That stuff ain't cheap to keep filled.

[ViperJon]

Man you guys are so 2005. For lighter dirt and dust use a quality waterless wash PROPERLY and you'll never foam gun again.
You're doing a section at a time cleaning and drying so no water spots possible. No excessive water draining out of every crack and crevice for days. No hose. No scratches. Soap and water for the rims and tires only.

[Junkman2008]

Man you guys are so 2005. For lighter dirt and dust use a quality waterless wash PROPERLY and you'll never foam gun again.
You're doing a section at a time cleaning and drying so no water spots possible. No excessive water draining out of every crack and crevice for days. No hose. No scratches. Soap and water for the rims and tires only.

How about putting your money where your mouth is and letting us see a flash test picture of various sections of your paint RIGHT NOW if this is what you subscribe to? Because I know for a proven fact that waterless washing DIRT off your car will leave more paint damage that washing with one bucket. Manufacturers are selling waterless wash products like it's some kind of new found secret answer to washing without water when the truth is, "the emperor has no cloths."

[Drummerviper]

Pretty sure waterless washes predate 2005 and I want no part of them even for " lighter dirt and dust" whatever that means.

Next time you are at a Concours show ask how many folks use waterless washes-- zero. Just moving dirt/ deposits around.

[ViperJon]

There are literally hundreds and hundreds of positive reviews of waterless type washes, from regular people as well as professional detailers.
PROFESSIONAL DETAILERS. Not the meaningless opinion of a few old farts at a car meet.
These people are probably all wrong, as the "Junkman" has proof positive that it will scratch your paint.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...wash-plus.html
http://www.autopia.org/forums/detail...waterless.html
http://www.detailersdomain.com/Optim...2oz_p_154.html

165 reviews on Amazon. Five stars average. These people have no agenda. Just reviewing a product.
http://www.amazon.com/32oz-Optimum-R.../dp/B000E9TS6O

[swexlin]

I like Adam's Waterless (although I'm switching to Rinsless diluted). I don't drive in bad weather unless I'm caught out in it, and even then, doesn't really need a wash. I've met AJ (the Junkman) and he knows detailing as well, just different opinions, neither is right or wrong. Personally, I'm a cheap SOB, and don't like wasting water (and my water bill) using the hose.

My Viper has now been CQuartzed, so I'll continue to use waterless products, CLEAN microfiber, and some good QDs (Megs 34 and Adam's I like, but have about a dozen!)

[ViperJon]

That's exactly where the waterless wash's shine, Swexlin. Light road dust and dirt (pretty obvious what that is unless you're an idiot).
Why haul out the heavy equipment when a bucket (or two) with the waterless wash does a fantastic clean up job.
No ones talking about cleaning up an off-road vehicle here. Light road dust. Not to mention in water restricted areas it's ideal.

[Junkman2008]

There are literally hundreds and hundreds of positive reviews of waterless type washes, from regular people as well as professional detailers.
PROFESSIONAL DETAILERS. Not the meaningless opinion of a few old farts at a car meet.
These people are probably all wrong, as the "Junkman" has proof positive that it will scratch your paint.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...wash-plus.html
http://www.autopia.org/forums/detail...waterless.html
http://www.detailersdomain.com/Optim...2oz_p_154.html

165 reviews on Amazon. Five stars average. These people have no agenda. Just reviewing a product.
http://www.amazon.com/32oz-Optimum-R.../dp/B000E9TS6O

I can take pictures all day and night long of some paint that I've taken the time to fix and them CLAIM that I've used a waterless wash to maintain it. I can claim ANYTHING that I want with pictures and a review and no one would know the difference. That's why I make unedited VIDEOS. You can't use smote and mirrors with an unedited video. The results happen right before your eyes. Unlike YOUR reviews, I have NO DOG in the fight. I have absolutely nothing to sell and I don't reap ANY rewards if you decide to buy something that I use. Another thing, I don't need any "professional opinion" from so called professionals because MY EYES do not lie to me. Forget the fact that I have been messing with this stuff since the 70's and my father's 40 years of experience as my foundation and well to draw from. Nope, leave that out the door and I will just use what my COMMON SENSE has shown me.

I asked YOU to post some immediate pictures of YOUR paint using the flash test since YOU use a waterless wash and YOUR paint is so perfect from doing so. I didn't ask for anyone elses review, I wanted to see YOUR results. The fact that you didn't speaks VOLUMES. It was just as I suspected. The truth hurts, doesn't it? Constantly scooting dirt around on your paint with some worthless liquid in a bottle is exactly how you destroy your paint over time. Common sense proves that but a flash test of YOUR paint would have proven it BOLDLY in this thread to YOU and anyone reading this. Now that you have had time to go work on your paint, the point is moot but the lack of your not posting any pictures proves my point big time. When I see you waterless wash guys posting that stuff as the way to go, I post two pictures in that thread. This time, I will add some OLD videos that still prove my point because waterless washing a vehicle's paint time and time again is how you DESTROY that paint job over time.

The flash test doesn't lie.








Common sense can't be denied.

[BlknBlu]

Junkman 1 waterless wash 0

Bruce

[ViperJon]

This is how you use a waterless rinse properly. Watch and learn boys and girls.
This is NOT spraying some shit on the car and wiping it off with a towel.
You will not scratch the car if you follow this correctly. Note two buckets, thick sponges and clean MF towels.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrbghlznKPQ

[Vombomb]

Junkman is like the detailing Jesus. I wish all detailers had skills like that...

[J TNT]

I like Junkmans approach , seems well thought out. Fwiw.

[Junkman2008]

Junkman 1 waterless wash 0

Bruce

The next time I see you, I owe you a beating if you are not doing it like I do in those videos.

Junkman is like the detailing Jesus. I wish all detailers had skills like that...

Now that was funny!

I like Junkmans approach , seems well thought out. Fwiw.

That's my whole deal. Common sense. If you stop and take the time to think about it, it's just plain ol' common sense.

[Vprbite]

Also, with the duster, you mention about keeping the "strings" straight. I actually try and use it so lightly that I have to check and see if I am actually touching it. I want to barely, if maybe not even, feel the strings going across the car. At least that is my method for making sure I don't smush it and wipe too hard. I have to be careful, for a musician I have fairly heavy hands so doing it so light I'm not sure I am even touching it makes sure I don't rub any dirt in.

I personally would rather have a dusty car than a scratched car. And I isually only use the quick detailer for a big bird poop that happened to land on there so I soak it till its soft and wipe it away.

[Junkman2008]

... I personally would rather have a dusty car than a scratched car.

You and I sing from the same hymnal!

... And I isually only use the quick detailer for a big bird poop that happened to land on there so I soak it till its soft and wipe it away.

Great minds think alike!

[Redx]

This is how you use a waterless rinse properly. Watch and learn boys and girls.
This is NOT spraying some shit on the car and wiping it off with a towel.
You will not scratch the car if you follow this correctly. Note two buckets, thick sponges and clean MF towels.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrbghlznKPQ

When the camera man gets close in on the hood after he blots dry you can see the "spider webbing"/scratching in the reflection, not a good sell.

As far as the pressure washer/foam gun ordeal, i have the chemical guys foam blaster, not quite as much foam as a air foamer, but plenty of suds regardless. I tried mr pink and honey dew, they both sucked compared to polish angel products i switched to.

I usually start with a light bug/tar remover and get all the big chunks with the lowest pressure nozzle on my press washer. Then moving on to the foam blaster-2 bucket-rinse with purified water-master blaster. Is the pressure washer a no-no? The bugs usually never come with the mitt and i don't want to rub the mitt hard into the paint.

[Junkman2008]

When the camera man gets close in on the hood after he blots dry you can see the "spider webbing"/scratching in the reflection, not a good sell.

They were hoping that you weren't paying that close attention! You are like me. Scrutiny is our middle name when it comes to our cars.

As for the soap in your foam gun, this is what I recommend:

[FLATOUT]

Junkman is like the detailing Jesus. I wish all detailers had skills like that...

That would be Kevin Brown but AJ is very good as well.

[Junkman2008]

That would be Kevin Brown but AJ is very good as well.

I would definitely have to agree. He is into this stuff WAY more than I would ever want to be.

[FLATOUT]

I would definitely have to agree. He is into this stuff WAY more than I would ever want to be.

I randomly ran into him at a hotel in Cali and we ended up having breakfast together lol. Extremely nice guy and I've learned a lot from him over the years when it comes to correcting clear flaws.

[ViperPete]

I used to do waterless washes 10 years ago on my Avenger...

Ruined the paint. I mean it was cheap Chrysler paint from 1998 but still. No substitute for water and soap. Dirt needs to glide off.