Effortless car care: the best snow foam tried and tested 2024

Recently updated with a more concentrated formula and shrunken size, this powerful alkaline snow foam from Bilt Hamber is designed to maximise cleaning power without using harsh, caustic chemicals that could cause potential damage to the paint or any applied protection.

Made using sugar and with a pH level of 10.5, it’s a strong yet biodegradable cleaner that’ll cut through grease and grime like little else on the market. The final flourish is the inclusion of corrosion inhibitors, a welcome extra for anyone wanting to keep rust at bay. 

It was by far the best snow foam we tested when it came to the job of cleaning. The foam wasn't particularly thick, but it effectively removed the road grime and mud. For the job of prewashing a car before cleaning, it’s the best snow foam, let down only by confusing dilution instructions.

The other snow foam offered by Bilt Hamber, we’ve previously tested Auto Foam and again found it incredibly effective for cleaning a car. Again, it’s not the thickest foam on the market. The foam ran down the car and didn’t cling particularly well, but the foam did pull dirt away and soften the remaining grime for cleaning. 

The cleaning ability may be slightly less than Touch-Less, but it’s still yards ahead of other snow foams we’ve tested when it comes to cleaning. It's highly recommendable for cutting through road grime, especially as it represents slightly better value for money compared to Touch-Less. It also boasts the same rust inhibitors.

A snow foam that prides itself on being gentle on paintwork, Koch Chemie Gsf (Gentle Snow Foam) is designed to lift and remove bits of debris without stripping away any sealant or wax you have applied.

The most significant selling point of this product is the excellent value for money. 20ml of the product is all needed to get a decent foam cove, which again may not be particularly thick, but it did pull a solid amount of dirt off the car while remaining pH-neutral. Even better, 50ml of Gsf in a bucket makes a very effective car shampoo. 

Performance was on par with the Gtechniq, and subsequent testing in a warmer environment did yield better cleaning results. This snow foam piques the Gtechniq to the post purely because of the value-for-money aspect and mouth-watering cherry scent.

The Autoglym Polar Collection is a range of three products (also available in a box set) designed to completely clean your car. Polar Blast snow foam is the first stage in the process. Polar Blast is a rich snow foam that is gentle on paintwork. A recommended dilution ratio of 100ml per litre of water means a 2.5-litre bottle should provide 25 treatments.

You need to leave the Polar Blast on for longer than the Bilt Hamber Auto Foam, about 10 minutes, but it's a high achiever, too, working effectively to remove top-layer grime and loosening more determined stuff. It's pH-neutral, so you don't need to fret about removing an applied layer of car wax.

Those in the know will layer a citrus prewash under a layer of snow foam to get the best results possible. Citrus oils are a miracle product of car care, the natural degreasing properties of the oils should be an excellent extra for a snow foam. Gtechniq’s W4 Citrus Foam does just that, incorporating a citrus degreaser with the usual detergents found in snow foam.  

Designed to use those natural oils to create a better cleaning snow foam without relying on stronger, caustic chemicals, W4 Citrus Foam is designed to be nice to any applied protection while still being effective against dirt. 

The incredibly cold conditions clearly hampered the Gtechniq, and a repeated test in warmer weather did yield better cleaning results. Even so, it certainly won’t be a replacement for a dedicated prewash and snow foam. It’ll work best on a moderately dirty car and is ideal for maintaining a properly protected car.

If you're after a snow foam that you can blanket on and not worry about drying out, or immediately falling off your car, Extreme Snow Foam is your answer. EZ Car Care boast foam booster and rheology tech to create an even and stable layer of foam. In practice, this translates into a very solid coating of foam that dwells longer than other options.

The EZ Care Care can also boast a slightly alkali pH value, which ensures it cleans exceptionally well, but without stripping away any applied waxes. Applied to a muddy Citroen, it did notably improve the car, removing road film. The only downsides are the price premium and the foam isn't suitable for chrome or vinyl wrap.

This cherry-scented and concentrated offering from 26JPN requires only 50ml of product to achieve a thick layer of foam, making this 500ml bottle capable of cleaning 10 cars (so long as you don't spill anything.) With a five-minute dwell time, it's not going to be quite so effective against the toughest of dirt, but it will lift away the usual road film that builds up on a car.

The foam remains stable and clings well, meaning it won't slide off before it has a chance to soften the dirt. Like other pH-neutral snow foams, the 26JPN will be safe to use on any applied paint protection and won't be too abrasive either.

Another pH neutral snow foam designed to be kind to waxes but tough on grease, Halfords Advanced Snow Foam also had the distinction of being the most affordable snow foam on test. Offering 2.5 litres for £11 makes this exceptional value for money, even with a 100ml per application requirement. 

It was by far the thickest snow foam we tested that day, drawing immediate comparisons to shaving foam when applied to the car. It clung well to the paintwork and looked fantastic when applied. The smell was another highlight, not too dissimilar to an aftershave you’d receive for Christmas. 

It was a the most visually appealing option and would be fine for use in summer, it’s just a pity that it couldn’t cut through grime effectively. It was also the hardest snow foam tested to shift, requiring far more water to clear off the car.