How To Use: PHAT-NEUT

New from Bilt-Hamber, Phat-Neut has been causing quite a stir online.

Bilt-Hamber new releases are always highly anticipated and sought after with Phat-Neut being no exception. We've put together this handy user guide to give you a little bit more know-how on applying the product, the different modes of use, rules and guidelines, and the benefits. 

The Basics

• Dilute Phat-Neut® at 2-4% (equivalent to 1:50 to 1:25).
• Lift-Mode® refers to the normal wet application method.
• Dry-On® refers to the unique method of cleaning for this product only which allows it to dry on the surface whilst remaining active.
• Pressure washer rinsing is preferred.
• Low-pressure rinsing (with a hose) is possible if followed by a bucket-wash.

Quick Rules

• Only use Dry-On® mode on heavily contaminated exterior surfaces.
• Test on target area before using Dry-On® mode (read Dry-On® Suitability Test below).
• 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 uncomfortably hot to the touch.
  
• Allow to visibly dry into the dirt film, then rinse immediately.
• Lower dilutions should not be allowed to dry.
• For normal rinseless washing, use Lift-Mode®, not Dry-On®.

What is Lift-Mode®?

Most cleaners should not be allowed to dry on the surface of your paintwork. Lift-Mode® is the normal wet application method that you will be used to.

Phat-Neut® wets, lifts, encapsulates and isolates dirt particles from the surface, helping to release them safely during rinsing or the bucket wash stage.

Lift-Mode® should be used when contamination levels are light, or where the product should remain wet during use.

What is Dry-On®?

Bilt-Hamber's Dry-On® optional dirt cleaning mode built into Phat-Neut® breaks the norm. Phat-Neut® can be allowed to dry on heavily contaminated exterior surfaces.

The product will remain active within the dirt particles, helping to loosen them and lift them from the surface before rinsing.

Dry-On® can only be used when there is enough dirt covering the surface for the product to dry into. Dry-On® should not be abused or treated as a general instruction to let product dry on any surface.

When to use Dry-On®

The Dry-On® method should only be used on exterior surfaces with heavy, continuous, absorbent dirt film such as:

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

When to NOT 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.

Dry-On® Suitability Test

Always check that the level of contamination is suitable before using the Dry-On® method.

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

Panel Temperature and Sunlight

You may use the Dry-On® method on warm dirty-filmed exterior panels, provided the panel temperature does not exceed 50°C. Do not use Dry-On® if the panel feels 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

Lower panels of the vehicle are more subject to grime, traffic film, and other contaminants. For a vehicle with heavy dirt contamination on lower panels, wheels, and wheel arches, and lighter contamination on upper panels, you should combine Dry-On® and Lift-Mode®.

1. Test first

Use the above Dry-On® suitability test on lower panels. Only proceed with Dry-On® method if the contamination level is heavy and absorbent enough for the test drop to spread into the contamination.

2. Pre-treat heavily contaminated 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 upper panels with Lift-Mode®

Apply Phat-Neut® to the upper panels using Lift-Mode®. Work from top to bottom, 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 wet application. 

Where pressure washing is not possible, the dirt will be loose enough to rinse at low pressure (with a hose). Follow by cleaning using the bucket method to remove the released dirt film safely and thoroughly.

How to use Dry-On® correctly

1. Mix dilution

Shake Phat-Neut® bottle well before use. Add Phat-Neut® to water, mix or shake the dilution vigorously for ~20 seconds. Phat-Neut® is highly concentrated and must be fully diluted 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 (preferred) 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

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

4. Rinse immediately

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

5. Continue with normal wash

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 pH neutral cleaners rely heavily on contact, agitation, or weak surfactant cleaning. Phat-Neut® is designed to remove real exterior traffic film at a 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.

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.