Introduction
Bilt Hamber’s Touch-less is easily the most recommended pre-wash among our users, and for good reason. The number of pre-washes on the market can make choosing one a daunting task – some are ineffective, while others are too aggressive and, in their effort to remove grime, can severely affect the underlying sealant. Touch-less strikes a near perfect balance between the two – owing to its unique formulation; their sugar-based cleaner is both effective at removing dirt and has no effect on the sealant you took so long to apply.
Note: this review is of the original formula, so the dilutions mentioned are in reference to that. Aside from the dilutions, the content of the review still applies.
Cleaning Power
When it comes to showcasing cleaning power, nothing does it better than a good pair of before and after photos. Even better when it’s a filthy white car that hasn’t been cleaned in over 6 months!
Before
Below is a white VW Tiguan, with Touch-less dwelling on every surface, including the wheels. It was applied using a pump sprayer, at 4% PIR and left to dwell for around 3 minutes.
After
And below is how the Tiguan looked after nothing more than a rinse using a pressure washer. At first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking that this is the result following a contact wash – but no, that’s just how effective Touch-less is; even the wheels are significantly improved. During the winter months, where I’m unable (or unwilling!) to do a proper wash, I’ll go to a self-service and do what our users now call a “TL and rinse”. Because it removes almost all the road-grime, a couple of minutes dwelling in Touch-less followed by a rinse is more than enough to get your car 90% back to clean. This is best done with DI water though, to avoid water spots – as you won’t be drying the car (or even touching it). Another nice touch is how easily it rinses off, compared to other pre-washes that create seemingly endless streams of foam from every crevice of the car.
Value
Bilt Hamber’s products are designed and manufactured in the UK, which unfortunately means that their products often have a high markup overseas. Fortunately, Bilt Hamber makes their products highly concentrated, meaning that 5 litres of Touch-less can last you up to 250 washes! That’s assuming you use it the lower end of 2% PIR, but for more heavily soiled vehicles, it can be used at up to 5% PIR. You should experiment to see what % works best for you – just make sure to stay within the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Safety
According to Bilt Hamber’s website, Touch-less “contains no phosphates, solvents, NTA, or caustic soda” and is even bio-degradable. Just in case you think it doesn’t get any better, it even contains corrosion inhibitors, meaning it won’t make your car rust any faster. In terms of paint safety, it should be fairly apparent that it’s extremely safe for your car, given that it won’t even attack sealants. Having used this product countless times on countless different vehicles, I can attest that I’ve not once witnessed any negative effects on any surface. Given how much dirt it safely removes from the paint, it massively reduces the risk of creating swirls when you’re removing the leftovers during the contact wash.
Conclusion
If you’ve made it this far, then you already know how astonishingly good this product is. If you’re just skipping to the end, then please scroll up and read the rest – this product has so many good values to cover, that this conclusion won’t nearly do it justice.
Bilt Hamber Touch-less is currently a complete unicorn in the pre-wash market. I’ve yet to find a product that even comes close to the fine balance Bilt Hamber have achieved between cleaning power, value, and material safety. If you’ve not bought it before and are wondering whether it’s worth it or not – the answer is a resounding yes!
Where do I buy Bilt Hamber Touch-less?
This product is available online from Bilt Hamber in Europe. In Canada and the US, it’s available on Carzilla (link).