Need a good foam cannon for caked-on manure
Recommendations for a foam cannon and soap that can cut through dried-on cow manure when washing the tractor.
By 3P Ranch
Jun 6, 2026 · Oklahoma
Looking for suggestions for a foam cannon. I don't wash my tractor frequently, but when I do, it's usually because it got splattered with cow manure. Manure turns into hardened glue after it dries. Can anyone recommend a good soap and foam cannon that can attack dried manure? Thanks.
Reader Comments(10)
- PumpSprayerPaulJun 6, 2026 · Texas
Just get soapy water and a 2-gallon pump sprayer.
- DetailDonJun 6, 2026 · California
Just buy a cheap foam gun and get good soap. They all make suds, but how long they last on the surface is determined by the soap. Costco had some Armor All brand made for cannons and it worked OK on my pickup. Honestly, a foam cannon mostly wastes soap and uses several times the rinse water. You're better off using the pressure washer to knock the big stuff off, then wash. Get it clean and wax or coat it, then the cow stuff won't stick as bad. Your neighbors might tease you for waxing your tractor, but that's their own insecurities talking.
- SimpleGreenSteveJun 6, 2026 · Oregon
Simple solutions work pretty well. A foam cannon will lay down a thick shaving-cream layer (with a pressure washer), but that's probably overkill. Foam cannon soaps don't have magical properties. I'm usually impressed with how well Simple Green works on mud, grass, and poop-like substances. Spray it on in the shade, let it sit a bit, and hose or pressure wash it off. Use the widest nozzle (40 degree) to avoid ripping off stickers or damaging connections. If you really want a cannon, the Adam's Polishes Premium Foam Cannon has been my favorite.
- GriotsGuyJun 6, 2026 · Pennsylvania
I've had a Griot's Garage foam cannon for a couple of years — they make good stuff. I also bought their Surface Prep soap; it's supposed to dissolve crap on your vehicle and it worked much better than expected, even helped road tar come off with a clay bar. Power wash it, apply the soap, let it sit 5 minutes, power wash again, repeat, then rinse clean. Won't be perfect but it'll be a lot better.
- SnowFoamSalJun 7, 2026 · Massachusetts
3P Ranch: Looking for suggestions for a foam cannon. I don't wash my tractor frequently, but when I do, it's usually because it got splattered with cow manure. Manure turns into hardened glue after it dries. Can anyone recommend a good soap and foam cannon that can attack dried manure? Thanks.
I second the Griot's. Started using their Brilliant Finish Snow Foam when winter ended. It is exceptionally hard to keep road material off vehicles around here, but my trucks have stayed cleaner longer than with any other detergent. A coworker's truck always looked better than everything else in the lot — turns out he had a bottle of Brilliant Finish in his garage. I'm sold on the stuff.
- SlickWashSamJun 7, 2026 · Minnesota
I recommend the John Deere Slick Wash. Never seen anything else like it. A little pricey at $50 a gallon, but they have a $9 trial size. 1–2 oz per gallon in a bucket, or 8 oz in a foam cannon prefilled with hot water, makes incredible suds. A gallon lasts me over a year and I use it on all the vehicles, toys, and machines. It even brings color back to dull plastics on tractors and side-by-sides.
- CheapAndCheerfulJun 7, 2026 · Arizona
Cheap Amazon unit works great — after all, it's just a sprayer, the soap does the work. I picked mine up for $15 or $20. Just get some good soap and go at it!
- FoamConnoisseurJun 8, 2026 · Ohio
I kinda disagree. I've owned several foam cannons. Many are made from metals that corrode; some are stainless. Some have a soap-mixture knob that doesn't break off, and some give you control over vertical/horizontal spray patterns, soap mix, and pressure. They all blow foam, but the build quality varies a lot.
- RainwaterRandyJun 8, 2026 · Kansas
I got my Tool Daily cannon in 2019 and use it a couple times a year — paid $12.99, now it's up to $19. My only surprise was that maximum foam comes when the adjustment is fully closed. I dilute about an ounce of car wash with a quart of rainwater and it runs long enough to do a full-size pickup. The rainwater is VERY soft and I think it doubles the foam compared to hard well water.
- HotWaterHarryJun 8, 2026 · Indiana
3P Ranch: Looking for suggestions for a foam cannon. I don't wash my tractor frequently, but when I do, it's usually because it got splattered with cow manure. Manure turns into hardened glue after it dries. Can anyone recommend a good soap and foam cannon that can attack dried manure? Thanks.
Heat the rainwater and swirl — don't shake — the sprayer bottle to mix the detergent. That'll maximize the cleaning potential of your soap.