Avalanche Snow Foam

You can, but we don't recommend it. The idea of the pre-wash stage is to get grit and grime off the vehicle and safely on the floor. When applying snow foams from the bottom upwards you risk pushing soiling from more contaminated areas, up higher to cleaner areas. The lower areas on a vehicle are typically the most contaminated so it makes sense to work from the top down to avoid the chance of inflicting defects unnecessary. Don't worry about Avalanche lingering on dirtier areas for as long as possible, the thick foam it creates will do that regardless. For more on the correct way to use Avalanche you can check out our article: How To Use Snow Foam.

For the best, professional results, yes. Dedicated snow foam lances - just like our own Foam Lance - should not be confused with syphon-based detergent dispensers which are commonly supplied with home-use pressure washers. Snow foam lances are an industry-standard detailing tool designed specifically to whip up the solution into a foam, activating the cleaning agents and mixing them with more water to enable proper application. They do this by dragging the mix through a special metal gauze before exiting the body of the lance. This is the only way to get a useable snow foam that will be effective for even coverage, and not simply waste the concentrate in the container.  

The great thing about silica-based (SiO2) ceramic coatings is that they're specifically developed to help your vehicle look better for longer. The hardy protection layer they install is essentially chemically bonded silicon dioxide, which is like glass, so it smooths the surfaces enough to prevent water molecules and grime from bonding. Regardless of application to paint, glass, vinyl or any other exterior surface, this is why they bead to the extreme and offer the longest lasting protection of any product. What's most important here is that grime will sit on top of the ceramic layer rather than sticking, and this makes cleaning easier. But it's still important to carry out safe maintenance to stop heavy grit and grime from being rubbed in and abrading the coating and the paintwork, causing the infliction of defects. Using coating-friendly pre-wash products, such as Citrus Power Bug and Grime Remover and Avalanche Snow Foam will also prevent damage to coatings because they don't contain harsh acidic or alkaline cleaning agents that may etch into the top layer. It's the same story for the shampoo you use in your two-bucket wash. Lather Car Shampoo is a great choice as it will never damage previously-applied coatings, but alternatively you can use Wash 'N' Gloss Car Shampoo or our Caramics Enhancing Shampoo to actively top-up and prolong the life and performance of your SiO2 coating as you wash paintwork, glass and all other exterior surfaces. Other products that are great for topping up during routine maintenance include Aqua Coat Hydrophobic Rinse Aid, Lavish Ceramic Foam, Caramics Gloss Enhancer, Caramics Glass Cleaner and Ceramic Spray Wax. When it comes to paint correction, all you have to remember is that Si02 coatings have to be allowed to chemically bond to the topcoat or lacquer layer, so it's crucial to use a compound or a polish that doesn't contain any waxes or fillers, because these extra layers will block the chemical bonding process. For paint correction, polishing and refinement before adding a coating, we'd recommend using products that only reveal a true finish, such as One Step All-in-One Compound, or our Revitalise System V2 Compounds (which are also available separately). Don't forget that SiO2 coatings are extremely durable and can only be fully removed through abrasion, this means that polishing your vehicle using any abrasive after applying a ceramic coating will remove the Si02 layer, meaning that reapplication of protection will be required after you polish. For more on how to prepare a car for a ceramic coating, see our guide: Detailing & Ceramic Coating a New Car.