The Complete Bilt Hamber Laboratories Guide
Every Bilt Hamber product explained in plain language: what it does, where it fits in your routine, and what to buy first. Formulated in Essex, England, and shipped to you from our Sydney warehouse.
What Is Bilt Hamber?
Bilt Hamber is a multi-award-winning UK detailing brand based in Essex, built on research, laboratory-grade chemistry and independent testing rather than marketing claims. Every product released for sale has been extensively compared against market-leading and specialist competitor formulations before it reaches the shelf. This guide sorts the range into six practical categories so you can find the bottle you need fast.
At Detailing Shed, we've tested Bilt Hamber products across daily drivers, ceramic coated vehicles, neglected paintwork and professional detailing jobs. This guide combines manufacturer recommendations with our own hands-on experience to help customers choose the right product for Australian conditions.
Why Detailers Choose Bilt Hamber
Formulated by chemists, proven against the competition, and trusted by professionals and enthusiasts across the UK and Australia.
Made In England
Formulated and manufactured in Essex, UK.
Award Winning
Multiple Auto Express Best Buy and product-of-the-year awards.
Research Led
Every formula lab-tested against market leaders before release.
Concentrated Value
Low dosage rates mean bottles last far longer than they look.
Awards
Bilt Hamber has won numerous independent awards for its core products, reinforcing the brand's reputation for genuine performance over marketing claims.
| Product | Award |
|---|---|
| Double Speed-Wax | Winner of 4 Auto Express awards |
| Auto-Wheel | Auto Express Best Buy Wheel Cleaner Award, eight years running |
| Surfex HD | Winner of 3 Auto Express awards |
Complete Product Range
Six practical categories cover the whole catalogue. Jump straight to the one you need, or read top to bottom for the full picture.
1. Washing
Snow foam pre-wash, foam shampoo, all purpose cleaner and an ultra-concentrated wash.
2. Decontamination & Wheels
Non-acid wheel cleaner, iron fallout remover, clay bar.
3. Anti-Corrosion & Rust Proofing
Corrosion inhibitor and cavity/underbody rust proofing film.
4. Waxes & Protection
Hard wax, balm, pre-wax cleanser and a spray-on hydrophobic treatment.
5. Glass
Streak-free glass cleaner and a deep-cleaning glass polish.
6. Accessories
Precision dosing pumps for the concentrated formulas.
Bilt Hamber Product Comparison Table
Tap any name to shop it. "Ready to use" means no dilution is typically needed for standard jobs.
| Product | Best For | Safe on Ceramic | Dilution | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Touch-Less | Heavy dirt | Yes | Foam Cannon | Easy |
| Auto-Foam | Maintenance | Yes | Foam Cannon | Easy |
| Surfex HD | APC | Yes | 5:1–100:1 | Easy |
| Korrosol | Iron Removal | Yes | Ready to Use | Easy |
| Auto Wash | Contact Wash | Yes | 5 ml / 10 L | Very Easy |
| Auto-Wheel | Wheels | Yes | Ready to Use | Very Easy |
| Auto-Clay | Bonded Contamination | Yes | Ready to Use with Lube | Moderate |
| Atom Mac | Corrosion Protection | N/A | Diluted in Water | Moderate |
| Dynax-UC | Cavities & Box Sections | N/A | Ready to Use | Moderate |
| Deox Dynax UB | Underbody Protection | N/A | Ready to Use | Moderate |
| Double Speed-Wax | Deep Gloss Protection | Yes | Ready to Use | Moderate |
| Auto-Balm | Easier-Application Protection | Yes | Ready to Use | Easy |
| Cleanser-Polish | Pre-Wax Prep | No | Ready to Use | Moderate |
| Touch-On | Quick Protection Top-Up | Yes | Ready to Use | Very Easy |
| Trace-Less | Streak-Free Glass | N/A | Ready to Use | Very Easy |
| Re-View | Wiper Marks & Etching | N/A | Ready to Use | Moderate |
| Dosing Hand Pumps | Accurate Dosing | N/A | N/A, Accessory | Very Easy |
Dilution figures are drawn from Bilt Hamber's own published guidance where available. Always check the label or SDS on the bottle you receive, since formulations are occasionally updated. For pressure washer or foam cannon setups, use our PIR Foam Cannon Calculator to get an exact mix for your equipment.
Which Product For Which Job
Same information, organised by problem instead of product.
| Job / Problem | Product | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Loosening grime before contact, every wash | Touch-Less V2 Snow Foam | No-touch pre-wash cuts contact-wash risk, gentle enough to run weekly |
| Weekly maintenance wash | Auto-Wash Concentrate | 5ml per wash, around 100 washes from one bottle |
| Engine bay or heavy degreasing | Surfex HD | Concentrated degreaser, 3x Auto Express award winner |
| Wheels with brake dust and iron fallout | Auto-Wheel | Non-acid formula safe on all wheel finishes |
| Iron fallout embedded in paint | Korrosol Fallout Remover | Changes colour on contact so you can see it working |
| Paint still feels rough after washing | Auto-Clay | Lifts bonded contaminants a wash can't remove |
| Rust starting on chassis, arches or trim | Atom Mac | Converts and inhibits existing corrosion |
| Protecting box sections and cavities | Dynax-UC | Transparent film built for long-term cavity protection |
| Underbody exposed to road salt and grit | Deox Dynax UB | Aerosol underbody rust proofing |
| Deep gloss with minimal buffing effort | Double Speed-Wax | Fast-curing hard wax, 4x Auto Express award winner |
| Old wax or light oxidation before rewaxing | Cleanser-Polish | Strips old protection back to bare paint |
| Quick topper between full waxes | Touch-On | Spray-on hydrophobic top-up, no buffing required |
| Streaky or smeared windscreen | Trace-Less | Super wetting formula for a streak-free finish |
| Wiper marks or etching on glass | Re-View Glass Polish | Deep clean cuts through baked-on glass defects |
| Accurately dosing a concentrate | Dosing Hand Pumps | 10ml/30ml pump takes the guesswork out of dilution |
Decision Trees
Not sure which product fits your situation? Follow the branch that matches what you're dealing with.
Which Snow Foam Or Pre-Wash?
Which Wheel And Decon Product?
Which Wax Or Protection?
The Complete Bilt Hamber Wash Process
The recommended sequence for a full decontamination and protection routine. Skip steps that don't apply to your car this time around, most washes only need pre-wash through to wheels.
Pre-Wash
Touch-Less V2 snow foam, dwell 1–5 minutes, never allow to dry. Use the PIR Calculator for your exact mix
Wheels
Auto-Wheel, agitate if needed, rinse when it stops reacting
Contact Wash
Auto-Wash Concentrate or Auto-Foam, two-bucket method
Iron Remover
Korrosol, every 6–12 months or when contamination is felt
Clay
Auto-Clay, only if paint still feels rough after washing
Polish
Cleanser-Polish, removes old wax and light oxidation before protection
Protection
Double Speed-Wax or Auto-Balm, thin coats by hand
Maintenance
Touch-On between full washes to top up protection
PIR Foam Cannon Calculator
Work out exactly how much Touch-Less or Surfex HD to add to your foam cannon, use our PIR Foam Cannon Calculator. It includes the interactive tool, a 4-step measurement guide, and PIR reference tables for common bottle sizes.
Which Products Should You Buy?
Five products cover a complete basic routine, everything else is a specialisation of one of these jobs.
- Auto-Wash Concentrate: your everyday wash shampoo, extremely economical at 5ml per wash.
- Korrosol Fallout Remover: the decontamination step that makes the biggest visible difference, run it every 6–12 months.
- Auto-Wheel: dedicated wheel cleaning rather than asking your shampoo to do double duty.
- Double Speed-Wax: an award-winning, easy first step into paint protection.
- Trace-Less Glass Cleaner: one bottle for a genuinely streak-free finish on glass.
Want protection that tops up in seconds rather than a full wax session? Swap Double Speed-Wax for Touch-On, a spray-on hydrophobic treatment with no buffing required.
Recommended Starter Kits
Not every vehicle or owner needs the full range. Pick the tier closest to your situation.
Beginner Kit
Weekend Enthusiast
Our Recommended Bilt Hamber Products
Not sure where to start? Find your situation below and shop the products we recommend for it.
Best Bilt Hamber Products for Beginners
- Auto-Wash Concentrate – Simple, economical and safe for regular washing.
- Auto-Wheel – Makes wheel cleaning safer and more effective.
- Touch-On – Adds noticeable protection with no buffing required.
Best Bilt Hamber Products for Rust and Corrosion Protection
If We Could Only Buy Three Products
01 · Washing
Touch-Less V2 Snow Foam Pre Wash
No-touch pre-wash foam that loosens grime before the mitt touches the paint, gentle enough to make part of your weekly wash rather than an occasional deep-clean step.
Pros
- Biodegradable, sugar-based formula
- Contains corrosion inhibitors
- Free-and-easy rinsing, eases the bucket wash after it
Cons
- Produces less foam than Auto-Foam
- Dilution through pressure washer equipment needs calculating, use our PIR Foam Cannon Calculator to skip the trial and error
Perfect for: beginners, weekend detailers, ceramic coated cars, anyone wanting a weekly-safe pre-wash.
Common mistakes: letting it dry on the panel, using too strong a dilution for a light maintenance wash, skipping the rinse-off step.
- Auto-Foam: thick foaming wash shampoo for bucket or foam cannon use.
- Auto-Wash Concentrate: ultra-concentrated shampoo, roughly 100 washes per bottle at 5ml a wash.
Surfex HD
Concentrated all purpose cleaner and degreaser for engine bays and heavy grime, adjustable from light cleaning up to full-strength on stubborn oil and grease.
Pros
- Extremely economical, dilutes up to 1:100 for light work
- Biodegradable, water-based
- Safe on paint, plastic, rubber and metal when correctly diluted
Cons
- Highly alkaline concentrate, requires care and PPE when handling neat
- Not for use on delicate or unsealed surfaces without a spot test
Perfect for: weekend detailers and professionals with engine bays, wheel arches or undercarriage jobs.
Common mistakes: letting it dry on the surface before rinsing, which can cause staining, and using too strong a dilution on interior or delicate surfaces.
02 · Decontamination & Wheels
Auto-Wheel
Non-acid, non-alkaline, pH-neutral wheel cleaner safe on alloy, aluminium and steel wheels. Reacts with iron fallout, seen as a colour change from clear to deep red.
Pros
- Safe on lacquered and painted wheel finishes
- Usually needs no agitation
- Award-winning, proven track record
Cons
- Not recommended on chrome-look plastic or plated wheel trims
- Mostly used neat, so it's a pricier per-wash cost than a diluted shampoo
Perfect for: beginners, weekend detailers, fleet vehicles.
Common mistakes: applying to hot wheels straight off the road, and using it on chrome-plated plastic trims it isn't designed for.
Korrosol Fallout Remover
Changes colour as it reacts with embedded iron on paint and wheels, so you can see it working.
Pros
- Visible colour-change confirms it's working
- Can be diluted roughly a third to extend the bottle
Cons
- Only needed every 6–12 months, easy to forget
Perfect for: neglected daily drivers, coastal or high-fallout areas, pre-coating prep.
Common mistakes: applying to hot panels, and rinsing before the colour-change reaction has finished working.
- Auto-Clay: clay bar in Soft, Medium and Regular grades for bonded surface contamination.
03 · Anti-Corrosion & Rust Proofing
- Atom Mac: corrosion inhibitor that converts and protects rust-affected metal.
- Dynax-UC: transparent, high-protection rust proofing film for cavities and box sections.
- Deox Dynax UB: aerosol underbody rust proofing for the underside of the vehicle.
04 · Waxes & Protection
Double Speed-Wax
Fast-curing hard wax, winner of 4 Auto Express awards, applied thin and buffed to a deep gloss with strong detergent resistance.
Pros
- Typically several months' durability
- Detergent-resistant, holds up to frequent washing
- One tin covers many applications when applied thinly
Cons
- Hand application only
- Best results need clean, cleansed paint first
Perfect for: daily drivers, weekend detailers, show car finishing.
Common mistakes: applying too thick a layer, which makes buffing harder without improving durability, and skipping the Cleanser-Polish prep step.
- Auto-Balm: wax and sealant hybrid protectant for an easier application than a traditional hard wax.
- Cleanser-Polish: pre-wax cleanser that removes old wax and light oxidation before reapplying protection.
Touch-On
Crystalline hydrophobic spray treatment, a quick top-up between full wax applications, designed to pair with the Touch-Less pre-wash for the best bonding.
Pros
- No buffing required
- Fast to apply after a wash
- Works on more than just paint
Cons
- Shorter-term protection than a full wax or coating
- Best results depend on clean, decontaminated paint first
Perfect for: beginners, weekly maintenance, ceramic coated cars needing a top-up.
05 · Glass
- Trace-Less: super wetting glass cleaner for a genuinely streak-free finish.
- Re-View: deep cleaning glass polish for wiper marks and etching.
06 · Accessories
- Dosing Hand Pumps (10ml/30ml): precision dosing pump for Bilt Hamber's concentrated formulas, removes the guesswork from dilution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bilt Hamber made?
Bilt Hamber products are formulated and manufactured in Essex, England.
What awards has Bilt Hamber won?
Double Speed-Wax has won 4 Auto Express awards, Auto-Wheel has taken the Auto Express Best Buy Wheel Cleaner Award eight years running, and Surfex HD has won 3 Auto Express awards as an all purpose cleaner and degreaser.
Is Touch-Less safe on ceramic coatings?
Yes. Touch-Less is a pH 10–11 pre-wash foam designed to rinse cleanly and ease the bucket wash that follows, making it suitable for use ahead of a ceramic coated wash routine.
What is the difference between Auto-Wash and Auto-Foam?
Auto-Wash Concentrate is an ultra-concentrated bucket shampoo dosed at around 5ml per wash. Auto-Foam is a thicker foaming shampoo suited to bucket washing or use through a foam cannon, and produces noticeably more foam than Touch-Less.
What is the difference between Double Speed-Wax and Auto-Balm?
Double Speed-Wax is a traditional hard wax formulated for fast curing and easy buffing, typically lasting several months. Auto-Balm is a wax and sealant hybrid, offering an easier application with different durability characteristics to a pure hard wax.
How long does Double Speed-Wax last?
Real-world durability varies with wash frequency, but Double Speed-Wax is formulated to be detergent-resistant and commonly lasts several months on a regularly washed vehicle when applied correctly over cleansed paint.
What is Bilt Hamber Touch-On?
Touch-On is a crystalline hydrophobic spray treatment, used as a quick protection top-up between full wax or balm applications, with no buffing required. It's designed to be applied after Touch-Less for the best bonding.
Is Bilt Hamber Auto-Wheel safe on all wheel finishes?
Auto-Wheel is a non-acid, non-alkaline, pH-neutral formula designed to be safe on alloy, aluminium and steel wheels. It's not recommended on chrome-look plastic or plated wheel trims, which can be dulled by the active ingredients.
Can Auto-Wheel replace an iron remover like Korrosol?
Auto-Wheel is formulated specifically for wheel surfaces and reacts with iron fallout there. Korrosol is the dedicated fallout remover for paint as well as wheels, and is recommended every 6–12 months as part of a full decontamination routine, rather than as a wheel-only product.
What is Korrosol used for?
Korrosol is an iron fallout remover. It changes colour as it reacts with embedded iron contamination on paint and wheels, so you can see it working. Bilt Hamber recommends using it every 6–12 months, or whenever contamination can be felt on the surface.
Does Bilt Hamber make rust proofing products?
Yes. Atom Mac is a corrosion inhibitor for metal surfaces, Dynax-UC is a transparent rust proofing film for cavities and box sections, and Deox Dynax UB is an aerosol underbody rust proofing product.
What dilution should I use for Surfex HD?
Surfex HD can be diluted anywhere from around 1:100 for light cleaning up to neat for heavy grease and oil removal, with roughly 10:1 for general exterior cleaning and 5:1 for engine bays and undercarriage work being common starting points. Always spot test on delicate surfaces first.
What is the best Bilt Hamber product for beginners?
Auto-Wash Concentrate, Auto-Wheel and Touch-On cover a complete, simple wash and protect routine to start with, without needing to learn dilution ratios for a concentrate like Surfex HD.
Is Bilt Hamber Auto-Clay safe on ceramic coated paint?
Auto-Clay is available in Soft, Medium and Regular grades. The Soft grade is the gentlest option and generally the safest starting point on a coated vehicle, always used with a clay lubricant to avoid marring.
How often should I clay bar my car?
Clay is only needed when the paint still feels rough or gritty after a normal wash, not on a fixed schedule. For most daily drivers this is a few times a year at most.
Can I use Surfex HD on interior surfaces?
Surfex HD can be used on interior surfaces at a much lighter dilution than exterior degreasing jobs, since its concentrate is highly alkaline. Always dilute well down and spot test on trim, carpet or upholstery before wider use.
How do I work out the right dilution for my foam cannon or pressure washer?
Use our PIR Foam Cannon Calculator, which works out the exact mix for Touch-Less, Surfex HD or any other PIR-rated product based on your specific equipment.
Does Bilt Hamber offer trade or bulk sizes?
Several Bilt Hamber products, including Auto-Wash Concentrate, Auto-Wheel and Surfex HD, are available in larger sizes suited to frequent or professional use. Check the size options on each product page.
Why Buy From Detailing Shed
Australian Stock
Held locally, no waiting on overseas shipping.
Fast Shipping
Same-day dispatch on orders placed by 12pm weekdays.
Expert Advice
Real product knowledge, not just a listing.
Genuine Products
Authentic Bilt Hamber, sourced directly.
Tested By Professionals
Used across daily drivers, coated cars and professional jobs.
Still not sure which product fits your car? Tell us what you drive and how you detail it and we'll point you to the right bottle.
Ask Us Shop Bilt Hamber