New on the shelves

Latest kit, kicked off by a clever new foam blaster

NEW PRODUCT Valetpro Foam Blaster Price: £94.99 Rating: ★★★ Contact: www.cleanandshiny.co.uk

USING a snow foam when washing your car reduces the risk of dragging damaging grit across the paintwork, but to apply it has always required a pressure washer, or at the very least a hose. But thanks to Valetpro, these are no longer needed – as it has launched the Foam Blaster.

Snow foam not only looks spectacular when applied, as it turns any car a brilliant white, but it also has practical advantages. That’s because the soap clings to the body panels, allowing it to work on loosening grime for longer. Creating the thick layer of foam requires force, which usually comes from a pressure washer pumping water and soap through a lance. But with the Foam Blaster, you pressurise the canister with the plunger on top.

The amount of pumps required varies with how much water is in the canister, but a neat relief valve releases any excess pressure when necessary. With the desired concentration of detergent already in the canister, all you need to do is press the trigger to get a thick foam on the bodywork. The spray can be adjusted from vertical to horizontal depending on your preference.

The major drawback is that the usable force lasts around 30 seconds, so you’ll need to pump the unit again for full coverage of most cars. Other than that it works well, delivering substantial foam with good cling. The system also allows greater control over the concentration of the soap mix than a conventional lance, as you do it yourself. We found a ratio of around 1:20 works well with Valetpro’s ph Neutral Snow Foam.

The Foam Blaster isn’t cheap, but it solves a problem for owners forced to clean their cars away from mains power or a hose. The cost is eased as there’s an introductory offer that includes a five-litre pack of snow foam worth £19.99.