Chemical additive to increase Foam/Suds?

Noob looking seeking advice, does anyone knowof a chemical additive that could be used with any car soap to increase foamand lather properties? I’ve done a little research and I think what I’m lookingfor is Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate in powder form. Can anyone confirm orsuggest a product that I could use that might help. If you’re wondering why I recently purchaseda MTMHydro PF22 foam cannon and several car soaps specificallymade for this type of application and I’m not getting great result. I’ve tried troubleshootingeverything I can think of. I’ve contacted MTM and Hosty for advice and got nowhere. At the heart of the issue is that I’mnot getting decent amount of foam with my pressure washer/ foam cannon setup. Theonly way I’m getting a decent application is with the chemical nozzle set tomax or increasing the soap to water ration in mix bottle. But this can’t be rightunless soap manufactures are incorrectly claiming 1-2 oz. per application. Any advicewould greatly be appreciated.

whats so important about suds? suds doesn't equal cleaning, its just means suds.....

Which soaps have you tested so far?

I’ve tried several from Chemical Guys, Mr. Pink, Honeydew Snow Foam and Citrus Wash. I’ve also tired Adam's Car Wash Shampoo and some old Maguire’s Gold Shampoo. I’ve tired mixing with both warm and cold water thoroughly but the result leave me thinking something is off.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Noob1

I’ve tried several from Chemical Guys, Mr. Pink, Honeydew Snow Foam and Citrus Wash. I’ve also tired Adam's Car Wash Shampoo and some old Maguire’s Gold Shampoo. I’ve tired mixing with both warm and cold water thoroughly but the result leave me thinking something is off.

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All signs point to manufacturers labeling their products to appear nice and favorable.. And while the recommended amount may meet the bare minimum requirements for "foam" it seems like any kind of real foam gets achieved once you add more than the 1-2oz. that they claim you'll need.

Of all the posted reviews and vids I've only seen 1 soap that stood out heads & shoulders above the rest, [Einzit or whatever that German brand is called] and 2 other soaps that I would consider "great in a foam cannon" based on the word of experienced detailers I know and trust. [3D Pink and Meguiars Hyper Wash]

Search for a review of that Einzit soap posted on this forum to see what I mean... All other soaps appear to pale in comparison.

Somewhere in this video, I believe that is touched on.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KSTuolZZsCI

OP I own all those soaps you mentioned. I don't really use them any longer but all were quality products that produced tremendous amounts of foam. But I used like 5/6 ounces in my old MTM with a gas pressure washer. Always mixed with hot water in the cannon. Any soap I used had great results.

Hey Noob1, Welcome to AGO. I use my foam cannon with almost every wash, and when I first got it I tested a number of different soaps. The best foam I personally found came from Meguiars Hyper Wash, and McKee's 37 Xtreme Foam Formula Auto Shampoo. I however use the Hyper Wash, I use a couple oz. in the bottle, and the mix adjustment nozzle is just a tad over the minimum setting. Foams like crazy.

Suds are way overrated IMO. Besides the cool looking fact I'd be more worried about the other qualities of a shampoo over the foam.

•All soaps, shampoos, detergents, etc.
are going to foam---to some degree or
another---when mixed with air/water.

•Adding foaming agents to a
stabilized car wash solution...in
order to have it become more foamy?
I know I sure wouldn't!

-"Destabilization", of cleaning products,
may wind up being the least unfavorable
event that might occur.

**********************************

•Some people tend to directly equate
"clean" to the amount of foam they
see during the washing processes:
-"Foaming", then, it seems, becomes
a critical component of satisfaction.

•But, IMO:
-Once it is understood that a wet, thin
film-layer of foam is optimal for cleaning...
"Foaming" soon becomes a less critical
must-see component of the cleaning
processes.

{Dr. G, and his recommended dilution
ratios for his ONR cleaning-solution...
is one example that comes to mind.}



Bob