This is simple.
Foam cannons leaves a thick foam mixture which won’t run off easily, so you do not need to dip sponges constantly into a bucket of soap.
That’s why a foam cannon is an insanely awesome invention for car cleaning. And you just got a healthy reason for getting the best foam cannon for pressure washer.
However, creating thick creamy foam with foam cannon is not as easy as shaking the shaving cream bottle and having a fluffy foam. I know that and I am going to make that easy for you.
You saw your neighbor washing his car with thick white foam or maybe saw it on YouTube. Is this why you are here, looking for creating the exact same thing? Wondering what is this thing or how does it even work?
All right, let’s get straight to the point.
Here’s a Quick Pick, if You are in a Hurry!
Table of Contents
- 1 Why Use A Foam Cannon?
- 2 Best Foam Cannon For Pressure Washer in 2018
- 3 1. DUSICHIN SFL-001 Foam Cannon: Best Cheap Foam Cannon
- 4 2. MATCC Adjustable Foam Cannon: Best To Buy
- 5 3. TriNova Foam Cannon and Gallon Car Wash Soap Kit
- 6 4. Chemical Guys EQP_312 TORQ Professional Foam Cannon
- 7 5. Fasmov Car Wash Cannon Foam blaster
- 8 6. MTM Hydro Foam Cannon Lance
- 9 7. Foseal Jet Wash Pressure Washer Adjustable Foam Cannon
- 10 The Best Foam Cannon for Pressure Washer: Quick Review
- 11 Best Foam Cannon Buying Guide (Complete Tip)
- 12 Foam Gun vs Foam Cannon: What Are The Differences?
- 13 The Best Soap for Foam Cannon
- 14 How To Use Foam Cannon Effectively
- 15 How Does GPM Affect When Using Foam Cannon
- 16 Maintaining You Foam Cannon
- 17 Frequently Asked Questions
- 18 Before I Let You Go!
Why Use A Foam Cannon?
I agree with you, a pressure washer with water or a bucket full of soapy water is going to do the washing.
Yet, there is a high possibility of some dirt and mud leftover on the paint, which can cause a scratch in the process of using a wash pad.
Pressure washing your car with plain water gets your car pretty clean in the first place. Using a foam cannon right after it allows the foam to settle down with the dirt or mud on the surface.
To be specific, this process lets the foam soak up the dirt and grime a lot longer, ensuring extreme cleaning of your car. On top of that, using a foam cannon instead of a foam gun is way better with a pressure washer. I’ll get to that later.
In addition, the foam can remove the stuff that you can’t even see which may be missed by the pressure washer. A pressure washer can remove most of the dirt but not all of it.
To cap it off, foam cannon makes lots of foam that grasp all the dirt in it without leaving any detergent soak mark. And, really this looks cool!
On this day, there are tons of models with different advantages to make you confused. In this article, I listed out only some great foam cannon reviews.
Listing the very best ones was not easy, but I did. Let’s jump right in!
Best Foam Cannon For Pressure Washer in 2018
1. DUSICHIN SFL-001 Foam Cannon: Best Cheap Foam Cannon
Since its inception in 2015, Dusichin has been manufacturing quality car wash accessories, based in China.
To continue with that, DUSICHIN SFL-001 grabs the crown of this foam cannon top pick. This one is manufactured by Smartpainter.
Key Points at a Glance:
- Brass connectors
- Adjustable mixing knob
- Durable according to the budget
- Opaque bottle for the visual level of soap
- Min PSI 1100
I have always considered a foam cannon under budget yet good promise. This one just complies with this point. A good foam party in a budget like no other.
The recommendation was made super easy with the two major feature it offers. First of all, the connectors are made of brass, which ensures a tighter connection with your pressure washer. That is how it helps you to save all the water pressure.
Secondly, you get a 33-ounce bottle to contain your car wash soap mixture. That is going to be enough for washing a couple of cars several times before next refill.
On top of it, there is a mixture knob to ensure proper mixture of car wash soap and water. The mixture is so accurate by this process, which later converts into a thick layer of foam with pressure washer spray.
The product is well built for professional category use. However, there are few concerns about the longevity of this bottle or whole setup around the neck. I agree there are some actual complains about the bottle breaking, but I did not get any problem like that.
This is the best one with this budget range.
2. MATCC Adjustable Foam Cannon: Best To Buy
This MATCC foam cannon is another reason to brag about the cheap product over the pricey branded ones.
You will not regret the performance it delivers with this price tag.
Key Points at a Glance:
- Brass material
- Adjustable spray nozzle with a spray pattern controller
- Minimum 2.0 GPM to maximum 5.3 GPM of water flow
- Minimum 1000 PSI to maximum 3000 PSI pressure washer
- Maximum 60°C water temperature
- 1 Liter bottle capacity
Using less detergent in the bottle works just fine with the pressure washer. Which means, you save a good amount of soap at the end of the month.
This foam cannon is quite familiar with the model I discussed above. The foam lance and main body are made of solid brass and quite heavy. That means no rust, durable great connection.
Other things are quite similar to the earlier DUSICHIN model. Adjustable spray nozzle and bigger bottle for more soap are two of those similarities.
The long tube at the end adjusts the width of the foam spray coverage. You can choose how pointy or wide you want the foam coverage to be. However, wide coverage clears up the bottle quickly.
This adjustability in the foam lance core makes it flexible to perform some additional jobs around your home. Like motorcycle washing, driveways, roofs, sidings and so on. This is built for professional use too.
Rotating the top knob to clockwise direction allows more detergent to mix with pressurized water spray. This will result in thicker foam. The duck-bill paddles inside the nozzle determine the pattern of spray.
Having this one is also a wise option.
3. TriNova Foam Cannon and Gallon Car Wash Soap Kit
Before being acquired by Goldeagle Trinova produces automotive detailing chemicals and after the acquisition, it just got better. They are producing some great automotive detailing chemical and many kinds of protective solutions.
This foam cannon can be nothing but a great one according to the company profile.
Key Points at a Glance:
- Unique wide neck design
- Solid premium build quality
- Top quality brass material
- Easy to use
- Minimum PSI 800
This premium category foam cannon introduces a wide neck that prevents it from unexpected breakage. Trinova is a brand of high performance so is this product.
Their Brush connectors are great furnished and come with a premium grade foam nozzle. Even their hinges are unique that feels more premium.
However, I found the bottle is smaller than some of its competitors but enough for two car wash in a row. Increasing or decreasing the amount of foam is just as easy as playing with a stereo sound wheel. This small bottle does not allow more PSI than 3000 and no garden hose is adaptable.
Holding the foam cannon will make you feel a premium product. This is not going to let you down with the performance too, which is premium as promised.
With a premium finish and wide neck, this foam cannon is going to last a longer life than others. That is why this is a good deal for you.
4. Chemical Guys EQP_312 TORQ Professional Foam Cannon
Chemical Guys is the provider of the highest quality car chemical provider and they have this one for you. They are dedicated to car cleaning solution and accessories.
Key Points at a Glance:
- Air injection technology
- Comes in a package
- See through, 32 Ounce bottle
- Thick foam guaranteed with the proper soap mixture
- Minimum PSI 800
One thing everyone has to take note off that chemical guys offer this product in a package. So if you go for this package you get a honey dew snow foam cleanser. On top of it, there are other package choices too!
No matter the package is, this TORQ foam cannon is ready to wash your car in every possible way. Their unique air injection system produces some real thick foam.
They claim to have a thread lock system design to protect the bottle head from getting broke against brass. However, I don’t know why there are some complaints about the bottleneck being broken.
With a large see-through soap bottle, you are about to get some good amount of snow foam that has a citrus smell to hypnotize you! However, this bottle is reported to work better with more than 2500 psi pressure washer jet.
All these features with a branded expertise cost a bit more than others. But, you get a premium product that is truly well worth of investment.
5. Fasmov Car Wash Cannon Foam blaster
Honestly, I do not have any idea about the Fasmov brand and its origin. But, this thing does exactly what is supposed to do! Great foam wash, nothing less, nothing more!
Key Points at a Glance:
- Brass connectors
- Large 1 liter (32 ounces) bottle
- Adjustable knob
- Sturdy cannon for prolonged use
I did not find any kind of brand logo on the bottle (unbelievable), which is a pure white color. To knock it off, this item just covered my car with super quality foam. I just want to say, regardless of the brand, it can dominate over the branded models.
If you do not want to spend extra bucks just for some fancy brand with the same result (no one does), then this is something to have a look at.
The bottle is well built to take a good amount of pressure. Equipped with brass connector just like the top products. Typically 1 bottle of a 1:10 dilute mixture of soap concentrate is good for 2 or 3 cars before the next refill. This is true for most of the models.
Like earlier models, this one also has a knob to control soap thickness and spray angle.
This one may not look fancy branded, but don’t let that stop you from picking up a good choice.
6. MTM Hydro Foam Cannon Lance
MTM Hydro, based in Italy, is the trusted manufacturer of hydro foam cannon. They produce great products for automobile detailing as well as pressure washer parts.
Key Points at a Glance:
- 8 – 5.3 GPM
- Adjustable fan blades (Foam jet angle)
- Large bottle
- Also good for home cleaning
Someone, who wants a professional foam wash in a budget must consider this one. This is surely going to give you a feel of high professional foaming touch in a short budget.
Ideal for a 3000 psi pressure washer with a maximum range of 5000 psi pressure washer. The main issue, GPM is a maximum of 5.3 GPM and minimum of 1.8 GPM to suck the detergent.
Adjustable fan blades are present for wider and pointy foam angle and a knob (as always) for foam thickness control. In addition, the combination of power and GPM can cut serious grime from your car.
I do not recommend this for T type connector as they won’t fit. Rather than that, this is also made with a brass connector to stay on top. However, there are very negligible complains of rust issue.
7. Foseal Jet Wash Pressure Washer Adjustable Foam Cannon
I have known Foseal for wi-fi car data diagnostic reader, then I found this, a foam cannon. This foam cannon is really great! If you do not want to pay extra bucks on Chemical guys (neither do I), you need to consider this.
Key Points at a Glance:
- Brass connector
- 32-ounce bottle
- Good strong bottle
- The soap adjust knob is of brass (super interesting!)
I cannot ensure the brand value except the great quality I found. With a 32-ounce capacity bottle, it starts throwing out foam starting from 1000 PSI. That is a decent size bottle like the fancy brands have.
This produces a thick layer of foam under a decent amount of price tag. Regardless of the price tag, the bottle is quite tough. On top of it, they have a brass connector for zero water spillage.
With the save money be happy tag, this sturdy piece lasts a while. With the 1/4” quick disconnecting nozzle this is easy to use too. Combining with a good pressure washer and perfect nozzle fit this is capable of competing for any professional grade foam wash.
However, nothing is perfect. This item also has some bad reviews that are easy to opt out.
The Best Foam Cannon for Pressure Washer: Quick Review
- DUSICHIN SFL-001 Foam Cannon: Best and Cheap
- MATCC Adjustable Foam Cannon
- Trinova Foam Cannon and Gallon Car Wash Soap
- Chemical Guys EQP_312 TORQ Professional Foam Cannon
- Fasmov Car Wash Cannon Foam Blaster
- MTM Hydro Foam Cannon Lance
- Foseal Jet Wash Pressure Washer Adjustable Foam Cannon
Best Foam Cannon Buying Guide (Complete Tip)
I have mentioned a few brands that are up to the mark. Yet, you should consider some steps before ending up with a wrong one in the process of selecting the best cannon.
Also, I am going to disclose the secrets for taking the best advantages of a foam cannon.
Foam Gun vs Foam Cannon: What Are The Differences?
You have already noticed or you knew about foam gun, which we are definitely not talking here about. So, you might be wondering what the actual difference between these two is?
Well, yes, there are some certain differences in outlook and features. And the main thing that makes them different is that one is a gun and other is cannon (!).
To be more specific, the foam gun fits with a typical hose. This makes it simpler to use but with some limitations.
- As it fits with a garden hose the force or pressure it generates is disappointing to mention
- You can understand, using low-pressure water extensively, this can only generate some foam which is really weak. The foam it generates won’t stay on the body and quickly runs off.
- However, using low-pressure water does not mean less water. In practical it ends up using a big amount of water, which is a total waste.
As you already know, pressure washer uses huge pressure to generate water power. This pressurized water sucks up the detergent from foam cannon and mixes up with air to generate a thick layer of foam.
This sounds like using some extra setup like brass connector. This extra setup makes it super easy to set up with a pressure washer nozzle, just like a tap in! There are some great features too:
- Generate extra thick layer of foam that does not run off. Which ensures super cleaning, like a professional car washing. The thicker the foam layer, the longer the stay, the premium finish is easier to get.
- High-pressure water ensures the use of less water and soap yet a proper foam thickness. This makes foam cannon more efficient over foam gun.
- If you have a car full of dirt and grime, using a foam cannon is wise than using soap and towel by hand all over your car. Foam it up and sit tight.
I always use a foam cannon and forgot the bucket full of soap and towel for wiping. Just foaming it up from the first step makes me feel a lot relaxed.
The Best Soap for Foam Cannon
One more thing people suffer to decide is foam cannon soap.
While buying this item all you need to consider is the thickness and great suds. A product that should not damage the car paint or wax protection but wash away all dirt and spots.
A soap that does not leave water spots is also a good one. However, shuffling from all the products available in the market and finding the best one is tough.
Here’s a quick pick of best one, keeping in mind the above-mentioned features of a good foam cannon soap.
How To Use Foam Cannon Effectively
This is controversial, whether you need to pre-wash before foaming up or not. However, let me assure you, there is literally no problem if you skip pre-wash.
The purpose of pre-wash is to remove the hard speck of dirt or debris from the surface. This keeps you on the safe side from making a scratch on the paint job. However, this is an extra step when you have only a pressure washer to work with.
Now, with a foam cannon you can, there is no need to pre-wash with plain water which saves a good amount of time. All you need to get started is a foam cannon and a pressure washer.
But how do you wash your car with a foam cannon exactly? Please check my article on how to adjust foam cannon for thicker foam first.
Use Foam Cannon Step By Step-
- The first thing you need is to grab a foam cannon and pressure washer
- Unscrew the brass connector from foam cannon body
- Fill the bottle with water (lukewarm is better)
- Add 1-3 ounces of your favorite car wash shampoo or soap (recommended)
- Attach the bottle again with the brass connector part tightly
- Connect with pressure washer spray gun lance by the quick disconnect nozzle of foam cannon
- Start using the pressure washer until the air is purged or the foam comes out
While the foam is sprayed on your car, remember to spin the foam volume control knob for foam thickness you desire. There is also a plastic adjustable nozzle to control the angle of foam spray.
Here’s a video describing how to wash using a foam cannon.
The next step requires you to let the foam sit for a couple of minutes. This way it can grasp all the dirt and mud from your car easily.
Now, finally, take that dirt from your car! Use a pressure washer to work with the water jet from top to bottom. You do not want to blast dirt up onto the car from the ground by washing from bottom to top.
By now, you should see a shine on your car. Leave as it is, let dry and use a car wax for stunning shine like a pro.
How Does GPM Affect When Using Foam Cannon
A hard question but the answer is simple.
I know, this is hard when you notice your pressure washer has a GPM lower than the rated GPM of your newly bought foam cannon.
Don’t just throw them away. Because they would work properly. All you need is to switch to a small orifice.
Fortunately, most of the manufacturers pack them together. If it does not include in the package, you need to order them separately.
Maintaining You Foam Cannon
This might sound weird to you but this is essential.
People tend to (including me) through away and forget their foam cannon after the washing is done leaving soap mixture in the bottle. This generates a calcium sludge that hampers foam generation.
This situation can also reduce the pressure that it needs to operate.
You can already understand this is absolutely mandatory to empty and clean the foam cannon before putting it away for a long time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much PSI does a foam cannon need?
Typically, the majority of foam cannons will require a PSI of between 1,000 and 3,000 PSI to be able to operate as they are supposed to. The number increases depending on whether you want a foam cannon that is light or heavy-duty.
Most light and medium-duty foam cannons will require a PSI of between 1,400 and 2,500 and anything between 2,500 and 3,000 PSI would be classed as heavy-duty.
Different foam cannons will require different PSIs and there is no correct answer for them all, so you must double-check the requirements for the specific foam cannon that you are considering purchasing.
That way, you can align the PSI needs of your foam cannon with the power washer specifications to ensure that your foam cannon will be able to complete its job correctly.
Is the foam cannon worth it?
In short, yes a foam cannon is definitely worth it. While there are a wide variety of other excellent ways to clean your car, nothing is quite as good as a foam cannon. Other types of cleaning methods will get your car looking clean, but foam cannons are also able to retain the new shine which cars have.
They are also great for use before you wash your vehicle with other methods as foam cannons can blow away dirt from your vehicle without causing any scratches or damage.
Other types of cleaning methods will also remove this dirt, but the scrubbing actions often included in this can cause the dirt to scratch your vehicle.
So using a foam cannon not only retains your car’s shine but also prevents it from unnecessary scratches, so a foam cannon is definitely worth the cost for the results that they produce.
Are all foam cannons the same?
While there are a wide variety of different foam cannons available, you will quickly observe that the majority of these products are actually the same.
Despite how excellent they are, foam cannons are actually a fairly basic product and so it is unsurprising that there are not many differential features between competitors. In fact, one of the only clear differences that you will notice between foam cannons is often the name of the brand that is selling them.
This is because the majority of foam cannons are manufactured overseas, and quite a lot of them are actually produced in the same factory and then sold under different company names.
As you look through foam cannons, it is very difficult to find any differential factors between them as most foam cannons will complete one simple job, so don’t be surprised if there appear to be no out-standing features for each device as this is often the case with foam cannons.
How do you use a soap cannon with a pressure washer?
Pressure washers are a very important component of using a soap cannon, and while it is not always essential, it is the best way to get excellent power when using the soap cannon.
It is important that you use a pressure washer that has a PSI that is suitable for use with your soap cannon. Once you have ensured this, you can then connect your soap cannon to your pressure washer.
You can do this using the hose that is connected to the pressure washer, and if need be you can use an extension hose to extend the distance between the soap cannon and the pressure washer.
But connecting your pressure washer to your soap cannon is very simple, all you have to do is connect the hose and you are good to go.
Do you need special soap for a foam cannon?
There is a special type of soap that you need for a foam cannon, but it isn’t as special as a specific brand which is the only one that is compatible. As long as you have a highly concentrated soap then it will work well in your foam cannon.
While it is advised that you use a highly concentrated soap, you will need to dilute these soaps down before using them with your foam cannon.
It is important that you use a highly concentrated soap as the weaker options will not be able to produce a thick foam when added to the cannon, leaving you with liquid rather than the shaving foam texture you may desire.
But as long as it is highly concentrated, there is no specific or special soap that you must use for your foam cannon, giving you lots of flexibility when buying.
How do I get more foam out of my foam cannon?
There are a few ways to get the most foam out of your foam cannon. To get more foam you can select the best pressure washer which has a perfect PSI level for your foam cannon, you should also choose a good soap formula, ideally, one that advertises thick foam.
As well as this, to get thicker foam you should also use warm water as this is better at activating the suds into a foam.
Finally, you should rinse your car before you start using the foam cannon for the best results. If you do all of this and keep up excellent maintenance of your equipment then you will get more and thicker foam from your foam cannon which is more satisfying to see and better for cleaning your vehicle.
Part of a video titled How to get MORE FOAM from your Foam Cannon | Car Detailing
A cheaper foam cannon can be very tempting, and in general, they are very good value.
But one issue with cheaper foam cannons is that they tend to have larger gaps for the soap and water to pass through in the quick connection, and this allows more water to pass through than soap which can often result in thinner foam coating your vehicle.
To get more foam, you should make this gap smaller. To do this, you need to remove the top piece of your foam cannon and use a wrench to remove the quick connection off of your gun.
With that removed, you can use a flat-head screwdriver to remove the orifice ready for replacement. You can then replace this orifice with a smaller orifice and this will allow you to get more foam out of your cannon.
For the best results, we would recommend replacing it with a 1.1mm orifice, but there are lots of other excellent options that will allow you to get more foam out of your cannon.
Do you scrub after foam cannon?
No, you shouldn’t scrub your vehicle after you use a foam cannon on it. One of the main benefits of cleaning your car with a foam cannon is that it does not scratch the surface of your vehicle.
If you scrub your vehicle after applying the foam you run the risk of scratching the dirt into your vehicle’s surface, so you shouldn’t scrub it. Instead, you should use the foam cannon and then allow the foam to stand for a couple of minutes.
You should then rinse the foam off with water. Once you have cleared the soap, you can then scrub your vehicle with a soap and water solution if you want, but you should never scrub your car’s surface when it is coated with foam from the cannon.
Does foam clean better?
While there are some clear cleaning benefits that foam offers, foam doesn’t necessarily clean better than other cleaning methods. The amount of foam that you use when cleaning also does not have an impact on how well the foam will clean your vehicle, but it definitely is more aesthetically pleasing.
As we have said, one of the clear benefits that foam from a foam cannon has over other cleaning methods is that it allows you to retain the new shine that comes with your vehicle, which can make the paintwork look much nicer than other cleaning methods can.
Cleaning with foam is also often much quicker than other cleaning methods, as it does not require you to scrub the surface of your vehicle. So while cleaning with foam isn’t necessarily better, it does have some clear benefits that other cleaning methods do not offer.
Can you use a foam cannon with a garden hose?
Yes, you can use your foam cannon with a garden hose. This is great as not everyone has a power washer available to them, but it is worth noting that you will not get the same effect with a garden hose as you would with a pressure washer.
To use a garden hose with your foam cannon, all you need to do is hook the foam cannon up to the garden hose in the same way that you would connect the foam cannon to the power washer.
This method works well but there are noticeable differences between using your foam cannon with a garden hose rather than a pressure washer.
The main one being that the quality of the foam will be much more liquidy rather than foamy. This doesn’t impact the foam’s cleaning ability, but it doesn’t look as nice when you are cleaning it.
What is the best chemical guys foam cannon?
Chemical Guys offer a wide range of excellent foam cannons which can be used with your pressure washer to clean your vehicle. One of the best options that they sell is the Chemical Guys EQP_312 which is excellent for cleaning your vehicle.
It has advanced foaming technology which makes your car look like new every time you clean your vehicle with this cannon. It is also constructed for heavy-duty use and is compatible with pretty much any pressure washer which makes it highly versatile.
This foam cannon works best when you use it with a soap that is produced by Chemical Guys but it is also suitable for use with lots of different types of soap. So this is easily one of the best foam cannons that Chemical Guys sell.
What is the soap to water ratio for foam cannon?
One of the hardest things about using a foam cannon is trying to get the soap to water ratio correct. Most soap formulas will need you to dilute them before using them with your foam cannon due to the high concentration.
For the best results, you should aim to dilute a high concentration soap at a ratio of 1:16. So that is 1 part high-concentration soap, and 16 parts water, as this will highly dilute the soap.
If your vehicle is more dirty than usual, you should instead use a ratio of either 2:16 or 3:16 to get your car looking like new again. This ratio of soap will create an excellent foam that will be able to clean your car, and will also be aesthetically pleasing which is a big part of using a foam cannon when cleaning your vehicle.
Should you rinse car before snow foam?
To generate better foam, it is best that you rinse your car with fresh water. When the surface is wet, the foam will be able to work better with your vehicle and create a cleaner look. When it comes to using a foam cannon on your vehicle, water is very important.
Rinsing your car before you use the foam cannon will help it to clean better, but the type of water that you use when diluting the soap is also important.
For the best results, you should use warm water when mixing the soap solution, rather than cold water. Warm water will generate larger suds which will be able to clean your car more successfully.
This warm foam solution combined with the water that is already coating your vehicle from pre-rinsing will improve the cleaning experience and get your vehicle looking as good as new.
Before I Let You Go!
I said what I had to say.
You read my opinion. It is up to you to select a product now.
Everything depends on your budget. Whether you tend to buy an affordable one or a premium one always look for the future that you are looking for.
Use it wisely with proper soap concentration and you are good to go!
