Water Shortages and foam guns

[Jossy92]

I am a newbie. (OK, yer warned.)

I found some good posts that foam doesn't provide a barrier to protect the finish with the wash mitt. This makes sense, but, I want to save some water so here's my idea.

1. Foam gun (Gilmour?) with Hyperwash. Not to clean but to prep.(Instead of spaying the car with water to cool the surface, etc.)

The soap is based on a post from Megs UK site:

"Meguiar's Hyper Wash and Meguiar's #62 being the best 'foamers' of the Meguiar's range, followed by -
3rd place - Soft Wash Gel
4th place - Shampoo Plus
5th place - NXT Wash
6th place - Gold Class"

2. After the foam "soaking", washing the car as usual with 5 gal bucket, NXT soap solution, Megs Microfiber wash mitt.

3. Low flow rinse from hose to allow water to sheet off.

4. Meg's waffle weave to touch up.

Instead of the Foam gun, I was also considering the smallest Karcher 200 series pressure washer + a foaming accessory. (Dual purpose or overkill?)

I am trying to avoid getting a lot of toys. Appreciate constructive advice.

I researched the site under "water conservation", hope this post isn't a repeat, and that answers are helpful. This is my first post, don't shoot.

[Murr1525]

Re: Water Shortages and foam guns

It is the soap itself that provides lubrication. It just seems to me at least that the foam helps the soap cling to the surface (even if briefly on fresh wax) so that I can get my sponge on it. Again just to me, it seems like if I just squeeze some soap from a sponge onto the surface, it all runs off before I can get on it.

However, I am not sure about water savings. It probably isnt too much more if you keep to the task at hand. I tend to like to wash as I go, not as much of a pre-rinse unless it is real dirty. Just have to give it a try and see what you like. Even monitor the water use a couple ways if you can.

1. And I agree more or less with the soaps.... not sure how they proved that exactly, but its reasonable.

2. Are you in the UK? Not sure if you can get Grit Guarrds there, but they are good if you can.

3. Good.

4. You'll probably want a couple towels really.

A foaming tip is important if you want foam. Otherwise even the Gilmour Foam Gun is just a lawn sprayer. The pressure washers arent bad, and the pictures seem to show you get a bit more foam that way. I dont know if it is needed or not, I have never used a pressure washer on the car, but some people like to.

[Jossy92]

Re: Water Shortages and foam guns

Thanks for sharing your experience, makes sense...I can save water just by paying attention.

However, to keep the "glares" from my condo neighbors down, I am still thinking about presoaking with suds (instead of blasting with water) and then washing normally. Pictures I have seen show most of the wet stuff on the vehicle and not the ground.

Here's the link to the UK post, the part about the different wash products is pretty far down the page:

"Posted: Sun 20.11.2005, 18:17 Post subject: Ulltimate Karcher Jetwash FAQ"
www[dot]meguiars.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2417&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
[not sure if the link is legal for me, replace [dot] with "." and cut an paste?]

I live about 10 miles south of Megs in OC. One of the things on my list is a grit guard.

Foam wise, Karcher looks (from photos) like a sure thing, Gilmour easier to use, but, maybe not enough foam or foam is too heavy and less dwell time.

More air in Karcher....lighter foam? I've read it's only the stuff actually contacting the dirt that counts, everything else is dead weight.

I sure appreciate your reply. My 20 year old Honda Civic is my baby, we both appreciate this and your other posts on the subject.

Thanks for your ideas.

[Murr1525]

Re: Water Shortages and foam guns

The foam might be clingier from the Karcher, I guess. With the Gilmour, it seems like there is still a lot of water with the foam, and I know on a fresh waxed surface, it still slides off somewhat easily. But at least it stays long enough for me to catch with my sponge.

I dont know about them saying to use less soap... that sounds like an iffy idea. I still try to stay roughly at the recomnded ratios so I have the proper lubrication.