Not only does snow foaming a car look cool, but it is a really effective way at removing traffic film and dirt from the vehicle before washing it with a mitt which will dramatically reduce the risk of inflicting scratches and swirl marks.
Snow foams are typically applied to a car using a snow foam cannon or lance, attached to a pressure washer. But what if you don’t own a pressure washer?
Well in this article, I’ll be listing the best alternatives which allow you get all the benefits of snow foam, but without needing a pressure washer. So let’s get started.
The Quick Answer
You can apply a snow foam to a car without a pressure washer by using a hand-held foaming pump sprayer or a foam cannon which attaches to directly to a garden hose. The snow foam can also be applied to the car using a regular spray bottle which will achieve the same cleaning effect, but without producing any foam.
If your looking for some snow foam recommendations, check out my article comparing 5 market leading snow foams for some very effective options.
Now let’s take a look at these three options and consider the pros and cons of each alternative.
Use a Foaming Pump Sprayer
If you don’t own a pressure washer of foam cannon, then the next best option which allows you to produce a thick layer of snow foam, is a handheld foaming pump sprayer.
These are very simple to operate.
- Fill the bottle with the snow foam diluted with water
- Pump it up until you feel it become very resistant
- Spray the product over the panels
It doesn’t get much easier than that.
I personally own an IK 1.5 Foam Sprayer which is a cost-effective option.
Keep in mind the dilution ratio though if you use one of these.
Most snow foam bottles will give a recommended dilution ratio based on how much you add to a foam cannon attached to a pressure washer. This accounts for the added dilution of the product when the water from the pressure washer is involved.
When using a hand-held foamer, you need to use a lower concentration of product than it may state on the bottle.
This ensures that you get the correct “panel impact ratio” (PIR) which essentially means the concentration of product that actually hits the panel.
As a general rule of thumb, dilute the snow foam 10x more says to use in a regular foam cannon.
For example, a lot of snow foams suggest using 100ml of snow foam diluted in 900ml of water. So instead, use 10ml of snow foam in 990ml of water to achieve a similar effect. This makes the handheld foamer a pretty economical solution to snow foaming.
You may need to adjust the concentration a bit though depending on the level of foam thickness you are after.
Advantages
- Uses a small amount of snow foam
- Good level of foam thickness
Disadvantages
- Time and effort required to pump the bottle to cover the entire car
Use a Foam Cannon Designed for a Regular Hose
Most foam cannons are designed to be attached to a pressure washer, but there are some on the market that are designed to be attached to a regular garden hose.
A lot of brands produce these now, to give car owners without a pressure washer a way of still using snow foam.
The good thing about these, is that you can still have a similar experience of snow foaming compared to using a pressure washer. It’s a fast and effective alternative to using a hand-held foamer, but the foam is likely to be a bit thinner.
Advantages
- Closest method to traditional snow foaming
- Fastest method of application
Disadvantages
- Thinner foam is produced
- Will likely use more product
Apply the Snow Foam in a Regular Trigger Spray Bottle or Pump Sprayer
It’s a common misconception that snow foams need to be “foamed up” in order to work, but this isn’t actually the case. The chemicals are still effective at lifting dirt and traffic film off the car, without being in a foam format.
So it is actually possible to just mix up your snow foam diluted in water in a regular trigger spray bottle, and spray it directly onto the panels and rinse it off as normal.
It may not look as cool, or be as fun, but in terms of it’s actual function, to clean the car, it’s just as effective.
Again, be mindful of the dilution ratio if you use this method.
If the snow foam says on the bottle to put 100ml of product and 900ml of water in a foam cannon, then instead put 10ml of product and 990ml of water in your spray bottle. This will account for the extra dilution that a pressure washer would provide.
Reducing the concentration of the snow foam by roughly 10x is a good place to start, but you may need to increase or decrease it, depending on the level of dirt on the car.
Advantages
- Very effective at cleaning
- Cheapest alternative
Disadvantages
- Time and effort required to spray the entire car
- Not as fun as using proper foam!
If your looking for some snow foam recommendations, check out my article comparing 5 market leading snow foams for some very effective options.
Other Prewash Options
Snow foaming isn’t the only effective way at pre-washing the car to remove as much dirt as possible before the contact wash.
Alternatives:
- Citrus Prewash Sprays
- All-Purpose Cleaners
These can both be applied using a regular spray bottle and will help break up the road grime on the car so it can be rinsed away more easily before washing the car with a regular wash mitt.
Some of my favourite options are Yum Citrus and Squid Ink Citrus, which can be diluted (usually 1 part product to 8 parts water) and is very effective at cleaning whilst still being wax-safe so won’t degrade the protection on the car.
Another great alternative which works very well for heavily-soiled vehicles is Bilt Hamber Surfex HD, at a 10% concentration. This is highly alkaline so may degrade any waxes or sealants slightly faster, but it is very effective at cleaning.
The good thing about this product is it’s versatility. It works for all areas of the car including the tyres, engine bay and interior, and can be diluted accordingly to offer excellent value for money.
Consider Purchasing a Pressure Washer
Okay, so if you’re reading this article, it’s very likely you don’t want to purchase a pressure washer, however, it is well worth looking into this option at some point.
Not only does it may snow foaming more enjoyable and easier, but it also helps with the entire wash process. A garden hose is only capable of lifting very loose dirt of the car, whilst a pressure washer will tackle baked on dirt with ease.
They aren’t too expensive either. I’ve written an article on the 5 best pressure washers for car cleaning which suits all budgets, so check it out if you’re considering purchasing one at some point.
Thanks for reading! I hope you’ve found this article useful. Here are some other articles you may find helpful.