prewash

[ben lee]

my car gets wash regularly and now its getting dirtier want to use a pre wash to make it easier and safer to wash.

did try some demon shine rapid dirt shifter car wasn't very dirty so didn't really see a benefit of using it at the time.
if i get it on a deal again worth getting more?

don't have a pressure washer to use.

is there anything else that is cheap and effective to use as a pre wash?


have some cheap old shampoos that have gloss enhancers could i make up a stronger dilution to spray on let soak before rinsing off? would it be effective?

if i did the above would a shampoo without gloss enhancers remove the gloss enhancers?

 

[Yellow Dave]

Using a normal garden hose and not a pressure washer you're not going to get much more in the way of cleaning power. Even with the hose on jet after a good soaking with a good pre wash product you're still not likely to remove much more dirt.

What it will do is soften a lot of the dirt prior to physically touching it with your normal wash routine, so hopefully less dirt will be fixed to the paint still and risk scratching. Have a look for a pre wash that helps lift off dirt and enclose it away from the paint so that when you come to physically wash it it's already lifted off the paint. some of the rinseless washes claim to be able to do this so they may work as a pre wash more suited to you without a pressure washer. Look at Chemical guys hose free eco wash, optimum no rinse etc

Washing with a gloss enhancing shampoo then wash with a plain shampoo should wash any gloss enhancers or anything else left behind.

 

[yellowbelly]

As is often the case, if your car is protected with a decent Wax and/or Sealant then this will make it easier and quicker to wash/clean.
Then use a wax safe cleaner such as AutoFinesse Citrus Power or the cheaper equivalent Carplan/Demon Shine Rapid Dirt Shifter (not 100% that RDS is Wax Safe mind you). A couple of hits should do you well on a well protected surface

 

[ben lee]

car has 3 coats of c2v3 neat on most panels and a few with another sealant and wax been using gwash at the moment. live out in the stick so gets covered in a lot of mud ect. will give RDS another go. maybe i could try using a jetwash just a rinse midweek and before a hand wash.

 

[ben lee]

would a snow foam work in one of these sprayers?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_241043_langId_-1_categoryId_255232?_$ja=kw:skimlinks_phg|tsid:40392&cm_mmc=Affiliates-_-PerformanceHorizon-_-skimlinks_phg-_-TopLink

 

[Yellow Dave]

It won't give a thick foam like you'd get with a pressure washer, probably similar results to a normal pre spray.

The one linked is a good price, I just use a 1.5litre pump sprayer I got from B&Q

 

[Amberlamps]

Sorry for the hijack, but how well does that demon shine foam up using a snow foam lance?