Bilt Hamber Phat-Neut is a pH-neutral, multi-mode rinseless wash that will remove real-world traffic film with cleaning power surpassing all other pH7 cleaners. Using Bilt-Hamber’s Lift-Mode® Technology, Phat-Neut® lowers surface tension to wet, encapsulate and lift mineral-rich road film, brake dust, tyre residue, insects, bird lime and general grime away from the surface without relying on caustic alkalinity, solvents or aggressive chemistry. It can be used as a rinseless wash, waterless cleaner, pressure-washer or pump-spray pre-wash, wheel cleaner, or targeted contamination remover. Its optional Dry-On® Mode allows cleaning activity to intensify as water evaporates, making it especially effective in warm conditions or where water use is limited. With no hazard or precautionary labelling, Phat-Neut® delivers safe, powerful neutral cleaning performance.

Coming summer 2026

What is Dry-On®?

Dry-On® is an optional severe-dirt cleaning mode built into Phat-Neut®.

Unlike normal cleaners, Phat-Neut® can be allowed to visibly dry into heavy, continuous dirt film. This allows the product to remain active within the contamination for longer, helping to lift, loosen and release traffic film before rinsing.

Dry-On® is possible because Phat-Neut® is a neutral-pH cleaner and because of the way it wets, buffers water and captures ions. However, Dry-On® should not be abused or treated as a general instruction to let product dry on any surface. Always follow the instructions and use it only in the correct conditions.

Dry-On® is only for heavily soiled exterior surfaces where there is enough dirt film for the product to dry into.

What is Lift-Mode®?

Lift-Mode® is the normal wet application method. Phat-Neut® wets, lifts, encapsulates and isolates contamination from the surface, helping dirt release safely during rinsing or the bucket wash stage.

Use Lift-Mode® where the dirt level is not heavy enough for Dry-On®, or where the product should remain wet during use.

When to use Dry-On®

Use Dry-On® only on exterior surfaces with heavy, continuous, absorbent dirt film.
Suitable examples include:

• Heavy winter road film
  
• Dirty lower panels
  
• Heavily contaminated wheels
  
• Panels with a continuous, visible dirt layer

Dry-On® suitability test

Before using Dry-On®, first check that the level of dirt is sufficient.

Mix Phat-Neut® at 2-4% and place a small drop onto the target dirt film.

If the drop begins to spread as it infiltrates the dirt and is absorbed into the film, the dirt level is suitable for Dry-On® use.

Allow the test area to visibly dry, then rinse or wipe the test area and inspect carefully. If the surface is unaffected by Dry-On®, proceed.

If the drop does not spread into the dirt film, or the surface is only lightly or patchily soiled, use Lift-Mode® instead.

When not to use Dry-On®

• Do not allow Phat-Neut® to dry on:
  
• Clean panels
  
• Lightly soiled panels
  
• Patchy dirt
  
• Recently rinsed surfaces
  
• Exposed finish areas where there is insufficient dirt film
  
• Interior surfaces
  
• Leather, faux leather, screens, or delicate trim
  
• Soft furnishings
• Any surface where a change was noticed during the Dry-On® pre-use test

For normal rinseless washing, light hard-surface cleaning, or hard-surface use, Phat-Neut® should be used in Lift-Mode® and should not be allowed to dry. Phat-Neut® cannot be used on soft furnishings.

Panel temperature and sunlight

Dry-On® may be used on warm dirty-filmed exterior panels, provided the panel temperature does not exceed 50°C. Do not use Dry-On® where the panel feels hot or uncomfortably hot to the touch. Phat-Neut® can buffer water and capture ions present in water, helping to make Dry-On® use safe when used correctly at the specified 2-4% dilution on suitable heavy dirt film.

Optimum method for vehicles with dirty lower panels

For a vehicle with heavy dirt on the lower panels, wheels and sills, and lighter contamination on the upper panels, use a combined Dry-On® and Lift-Mode® process.

1. Test first

Use the Dry-On® suitability test on the dirty lower panels or target area. Only proceed with Dry-On® if the dirt film is heavy and absorbent enough for the drop to spread into the contamination.

2. Pre-treat the dirtiest areas with Dry-On®

Apply Phat-Neut® at 2-4% to wheels and heavily soiled lower panels. Allow it to visibly dry into the dirt film.

3. Treat the upper panels with Lift-Mode®

Then apply Phat-Neut® to the upper panels using Lift-Mode®. Work from the upper panels downwards, applying over the Dry-On® pre-treated areas as you come down the vehicle.

4. Rinse or continue with bucket wash

For best results, pressure wash or rinse immediately after the wet application of Phat-Neut® has been applied.

Where pressure rinsing is not available, the dirt will now be very loose. Rinse at low pressure if possible, then clean using the Phat-Neut® bucket method to remove the released dirt film safely and fully. If low pressure rinsing is not available, the bucket method will still be much safer than alternative wash methods.

How to use Dry-On® correctly

1. Shake and mix properly

Shake the bottle well for 10 seconds before use. After adding Phat-Neut® to water, mix or shake the dilution vigorously for 20 seconds. Phat-Neut® is highly concentrated and must be fully dispersed before application.

2. Apply to heavy dry dirt film

Use 2-4% dilution, equivalent to 1:50 to 1:25. Apply using a pump sprayer, preferably, or a trigger spray. Apply only to heavy dry dirt film. Do not apply Dry-On® mode to clean or lightly soiled areas.

3. Allow to visibly dry into the dirt film

Allow Phat-Neut® to visibly dry into the dirt film. This drying stage is what increases cleaning power. The product should be drying into contamination, not onto bare exposed finish.

4. Rinse immediately after drying

Once visibly dry, rinse immediately. Pressure rinsing is preferred. Where pressure rinsing is not available, low-pressure rinsing may be used, followed by the bucket-stage wash to remove the released dirt film safely and fully.

5. Continue with the normal wash if required

After rinsing, continue with a normal wash or rinseless bucket stage if required. For rinseless washing, use Phat-Neut® at 0.4% in the bucket, or 0.5% where extra lubrication is wanted. Do not use Dry-On® during the rinseless wash stage.

Why Dry-On® is different

Most neutral-pH cleaners rely heavily on contact, agitation, or weak surfactant cleaning. Phat-Neut® is designed to remove real exterior traffic film at neutral pH using very low surface tension and lubricious encapsulation.

Lift-Mode® helps wet, lift and isolate contamination from the surface.

Dry-On® extends the cleaning action in heavy dirt film, allowing Phat-Neut® to work deeper into the contamination before rinsing. This is why Dry-On® should be tested on genuine traffic film, not artificial dirt, interior trim, or subjective foam/slickness comparisons.

Quick rules

- Use Dry-On® only on heavy, continuous exterior dirt film.
- Test first with a small drop of 2-4% Phat-Neut® on the target dirt film.
- If the drop spreads and absorbs into the dirt, Dry-On® may be suitable.
- If the drop does not absorb into the dirt film, use Lift-Mode® instead.
- Do not use Dry-On® on clean, lightly soiled, patchy, recently rinsed, or interior surfaces.
- Do not use on soft furnishings.
- Do not exceed 50°C panel temperature.
- Do not use where the panel feels hot or uncomfortably hot to the touch.
- Lower dilutions should not be allowed to dry.
- Allow to visibly dry into the dirt film, then rinse immediately.
- Pressure rinsing is preferred.
- Low-pressure rinsing is possible if followed by the bucket-stage wash.
- For normal rinseless washing, use Lift-Mode®, not Dry-On®.

Dry-On® is a controlled severe-dirt function, not a general drying instruction. It should only be used where Phat-Neut® can dry into a continuous heavy dirt film. Used correctly, it substantially increases cleaning power while retaining the benefits of a neutral-pH cleaner.