Foam gun and washing question

[sberk1012]

Maybe I'm over-thinking things and it might be a minor detail, but I'm curious. When washing my car: I jet-rinse all the big debris off my car with water first, then soak it with water, then cover it with soap (Honeydew) using a foam gun. Then, I let it dwell for a couple minutes. After it dwells, I go directly to washing it with my mitts and 2 bucket wash.

Here's my question: Would it be better to rinse off the soap from the foam gun first, before I go at it with my wash mitt?

Here's the 2 perspectives I see:

1. Leave the foam on the car because it will add extra lubrication while washing.

2. Rinse the soap off first because then all the debris "encapsulated" by the soap will already be washed away, and you don't have a chance to rub it against the paint with your mitt.

All the washing videos I see go directly from the gun to the mitt, without a rinse in-between. However, I feel it may be better to rinse the car off first. To debunk perspective 1 from above, I feel that there is plenty of lubrication from my soapy water in my wash bucket already that will be transferred from the mitt to the car- leaving the foam on there won't provide any meaningful added lubrication.

[RevitalizeAutoSpa]

I'm a little overly careful.

1. Pressure washer rinse
2. Foam cannon dwell for several minutes
3. Pressure washer rinse
4. Foam cannon
5. Two bucket method
6. Pressure washer rinse
7. Leaf blower

By rinsing the first layer of foam off I'm getting all the loose dirt\dust\pollen. Foaming a second time adds an additional layer of lubricity on top of the soap in the wash bucket.

[Moldavite]

I'm a little overly careful.

1. Pressure washer rinse
2. Foam cannon dwell for several minutes
3. Pressure washer rinse
4. Foam cannon
5. Two bucket method
6. Pressure washer rinse
7. Leaf blower

very impressive 7 step washing

[swanicyouth]

IMHO you should only foam a dry car. Wetting it down first makes the foam not stick as well. At the very least, it's just a waste of time because you have to pressure wash the foam off anyway.

Just like polishing - it makes sense to go from most aggressive (foam) to least aggressive (water). Foaming a wet car is like polishing, then compounding - then polishing again.

Just my 2¢

😱

[sberk1012]

IMHO you should only foam a dry car. Wetting it down first makes the foam not stick as well. At the very least, it's just a waste of time because you have to pressure wash the foam off anyway.

Just like polishing - it makes sense to go from most aggressive (foam) to least aggressive (water). Foaming a wet car is like polishing, then compounding - then polishing again.

Just my 2¢

��

Foam (soap) is a surfactant, so it can "break through" water no problem. I'm not concerned about this.

[Kamakaz1961]

[QUOTE=sberk1012;1164645]Maybe I'm over-thinking things and it might be a minor detail, but I'm curious. When washing my car: I jet-rinse all the big debris off my car with water first, then soak it with water, then cover it with soap (Honeydew) using a foam gun. Then, I let it dwell for a couple minutes. After it dwells, I go directly to washing it with my mitts and 2 bucket wash.


1. Leave the foam on the car because it will add extra lubrication while washing.

This is what I do same as you. I like this way. Additionally, IMO less chances of scratches too. But I know there will be other opinions. but I do the same thing you do. I do not jet rinse I have no pressure washer. I just rinse 1st and then everything else same as you.

[allenk4]

It is too hot in the South (TX) and West (CA) for me to leave foam on the car while doing a 2BM

1. Foam
2. Rinse
3. 2BM
4. Rinse
5. SHEETING
6. Drying

[Wadey]

This is interesting to me. I always considered the slippery nature of the suds to somehow aid in not scratching when I make physical contact.

Maybe I'm all wet? :-)

[Mizzoutiger]

I'm a little overly careful.

1. Pressure washer rinse
2. Foam cannon dwell for several minutes
3. Pressure washer rinse
4. Foam cannon
5. Two bucket method
6. Pressure washer rinse
7. Leaf blower

By rinsing the first layer of foam off I'm getting all the loose dirtdustpollen. Foaming a second time adds an additional layer of lubricity on top of the soap in the wash bucket.

And buy your soap in bulk and enjoy the suds!

[solman]

I also rinse the foam off the car before my 2 bucket wash. If I leave the foam on the car I find that I have to play beat the clock to get done before the soap starts to dry on the car. Maybe in cooler weather you might be able to get away without rinsing first.