How much good is this actually doing?

Since I don't have the funds for a proper foam gun/cannon, I just bought this cheap fertilizer sprayer at Lowe's for $7 at the beginning of last summer. It foams up alright, I guess...but I'm only using Megs Gold Class soap, once again because of funds. I was thinking the other day though...how much good am I actually doing, pre-soaking the car with this sprayer and that soap? Am I actually removing some dirt and stuff from the car, or am I wasting time and materials?

Thanks,

Clark

 

Im sure the item you have works as well as the Gilmour unit. What you are doing will help, albeit marginally. If you are concerned about removing grit from your paint before washing, a small pressure washer will be a better investment. I picked up a 1500psi/1.5gpm unit at Home Depot last year on sale for $50! I use it daily in my shop. If you don't have the funds for that, do what you are doing but add a wee bit of APC to the mixture. It may mean reapplying you're LSPa little more often, but it's better than polishing.

 

ken was the pressure washer on a big sale or normally priced.? might be easier than hauling out the biggie every time.

 

If you do end up getting a power washer and want to save on a foam cannon you can try going to Home Depot and getting a Foam Blaster (i think). There was a thread on here that people were have substantial success with that unit and it was only $20. May be worth looking in to.

 

^ i believe its called the "g-foam" and it is 17 bucks i believe at my local home depot.

 

I was about 2 seconds full pulling the trigger on a pressure washer last night then found out it uses a propritary end and would have to get a universal gun to use with a foam cannon, AR Clean Blue/Blue Clean unit, but now I am thinking I should save up the cash and get something of higher quality but they do cost money, $500ish range. So spend $100 now and and last a year or wait a while and get a unit that last years on end....water pressure sucks at my apartment car was bay and need something to help boost it.


As for the foam gun issue, you can do fine w/o it...just makes it nice when you have a dirty dirty or grimy salted up car but the cheapy one you have still does the same thing...also remember the more foam, the more air and less surface contact are the soap has.

 

On sale for $50. Reg price was $90. Its made by Husky. And as for foaming lances, any local pw supplier should be be able to supply you with a hose and wand that will work with whatever pwasher you get.

 

Ken tell me when it goes on sale again lol

 

Check Local Lowe's and Home Depots NOW. The stores are clearing out their pressure washers to make room for winter equipment. One week I was at Lowe's and saw a Task Force PW for $50 marked down from $100, I went back to the same store the following week and they were all gone.

 

i only really stress about snowfoaming on dark colors and dirty cars. if the car is clayed and protected regularly you could skip prefoaming. Its really just a precaution to prevent towel marks, or if your removing lsp (not the case with Megs gold class though).