Bilt Hamber Auto-Wash | pH-Neutral Shampoo Concentrate
The economics are the story
5ml — one teaspoon — per 10 litre bucket. That is a dilution of roughly 1:2000, and it is why Bilt Hamber can claim up to 100 washes from a 500ml bottle. The maths is consistent: 5ml × 100 = 500ml. Most "concentrated" shampoos are asking for 30–50ml a bucket. This one is genuinely concentrated.
The surfactant system
Bilt Hamber's SDS declares cocamidopropyl betaine (1–5%) — an amphoteric — with sodium laureth sulfate (1–5%) anionic and a trace of cocamide DEA. Amphoteric plus anionic is a classic pairing: the betaine moderates the harshness of the sulfate and improves foam quality, which is how you get lubricity and cleaning at a dilution this extreme.
pH is approximately 7. Genuinely neutral, per the SDS — not "pH balanced" in the marketing sense. The mixture carries no CLP hazard classification whatsoever.
Where it belongs in your process
Auto-Wash contains no wax, no gloss additive and no filler. That is exactly what you want in a maintenance shampoo, because those additives interfere with what comes next — a coating, a sealant, a wax, or a paint correction. Bilt Hamber also position it as salt-free and suitable for bare steel, which matters if you're washing a project car.
Wash after your pre-wash — Touch-Less or Auto-Foam — not instead of it.
How to use it
Pour the 5ml of concentrate into an empty bucket first, then fill with fast-flowing warm water to generate the foam. Filling first and dosing after gives you a flat, disappointing bucket. It can also be used neat as a spot pre-cleaner on stubborn marks.
One honest note
Bilt Hamber's product page states Auto-Wash "contains no colourants, waxes, perfumes or thickeners." Their own safety data sheet lists perfumes in the contents declaration. Those two statements contradict each other, and rather than pick whichever suits us, we're telling you the contradiction exists. If a fragrance-free wash is a hard requirement for you, ask us and we'll get it in writing from Bilt Hamber before you buy.
Safety Data Sheet (Australia)
Download the Bilt Hamber Auto-Wash SDS (PDF)