Rinse before using Gilmour Foam gun? Or foam first?

[chalkupanother1]

I use a standard 2 bucket/2 mitt foam gun wash method for my cars. I was just wondering what you guys think on the order of using a foam gun.

With all the salt and extra grime of the winter, do you remove more of that junk by watering the car down, then using a foam gun to cover all the paint? Or does the foam slide off the car quicker, therefore not settling on the surface and removing more dirt?

I keep going back and forth what's better. I used to buy some of the "boutique" lines of car wash soap, but have found that cheap old TW Ice foams just as good.

Thanks!

[camaro2ssblack]

Pre-rinse thoroughly to remove as much dirt as possible, foam and then proceed to wash. I wash the upper half then refresh the foam on the bottom half before washing the bottom. Unless you are using a really strong acidic soap (which you shouldnt be), letting the foam dwell on the paint is not really accomplishing anything.

The foam is simply acting as a slick layer between your wash media and the paint. It is not magically lifting and emulsifying the dirt as you might think. For this reason, the pre-rinse is not optional if you plan on minimizing swirls. Honestly, if you want to skip a step, skip the foam, not the pre-rinse.

[lexlueger]

I foam the car DRY. Foam seems to stick longer.

[CamaroDreams07]

You always want to rinse first. Get off as much loose dirt and crud as possible. Foaming dry is a recipe for swirl city.

[lexlueger]

On a car with caked on dirt...yes rinse first. Thought foam is designed for dry panels...Dwell time,dwell time,dwell time.

[CamaroDreams07]

Originally Posted by lexlueger

On a car with caked on dirt...yes rinse first. Thought foam is designed for dry panels...Dwell time,dwell time,dwell time.

I've never had problems with foam clinging to wet panels. I'd much rather rinse off as much as I can before touching the car with anything.

Of course, every one of us paid for our own cars and are allowed to do with them what we please. That is simply my opinion.

[camaro2ssblack]

Originally Posted by lexlueger

On a car with caked on dirt...yes rinse first. Thought foam is designed for dry panels...Dwell time,dwell time,dwell time.

Again, the dwell time is irrelavent for a PH neutral soap. In fact, the new technique I have been seeing is to hold the foam gun in one hand and your wash media in the other. Spray the foam and wash at the same time. Absolutely no dwell time because again, the purpose of the foam is just a slick surface. Its not doing the dirty work for you.

As CD07 said, foaming and washing a dry car is a recipe for swirls.

- 7 minute mark is where the car washing begins...

[RiCorvette]

I'm still playing around with techniques.
Lately, when I do a full wash, I've been quick rinsing, foam, rinse, then starting at the top, foam and wipe, going from section to section. I foam the wash pad along with the area to be wiped.

I use a two bucket system, but both buckets are clear water; first the dirty dunk to get most of the dirt out of my sheepskin, then a rinse dunk in cleaner water to get more dirt out. Both buckets have 2 grit guards ea. More labor intensive, but I'm trying not to use a dirty pad to wipe.


That's a lot of work, uses a lot of water and takes 2 plus hours. Recently, Ive been doing the 'Garry Dean Wash Method' (Google it) weekly - this usually takes about 45 min or so and only uses a gallon of water with ONR or EcoWash and a 1/4 bottle of waterless wash.

[chalkupanother1]

Thanks for your thoughts. I 'm going to stick with the spray down before the foam gun. The more dirt rinsed off first the less chance of dirt causing swirls later!

[Al C.]

Originally Posted by chalkupanother1

Thanks for your thoughts. I 'm going to stick with the spray down before the foam gun. The more dirt rinsed off first the less chance of dirt causing swirls later!