No.01 • CONTACT FREE ROAD FILM SOFTENERDUE IN BATCH 001
No.01 Pre Rinse and Bug Remover
A low foam pre rinse that loosens road film, traffic grime and bug splatter before you touch the paint. It sheets off cleanly when rinsed, taking the worst of the dirt with it.
Sample size: every formula also comes in a 250ml sample, so you can try it before you commit to a 1L or 5L.
Read the full details ↓- How to use No.01 Pre Rinse and Bug Remover
- Which formula do I need? (S / W / X / D)
- Dilution made simple
- Safety data sheet
- Poisoning and first aid
- Track day car cleaning: before you go and after you get home
- Green laning and off road: how to clean the mud off properly
- Taxi, private hire and delivery drivers: keeping a high mileage car clean
- Winter car care checklist: free printable PDF
- Sunday Service: the weekly two bucket wash routine
- The Two Bucket Gang code, rule by rule
- How to wash a black car without swirl marks
- Two bucket wash kit: what you need and what you can skip
- How to wash a motorbike with the two bucket method
- The two bucket method in winter: washing a salty car safely
- Road salt and your car: the facts and figures
- pH neutral or alkaline snow foam: which should you use?
- Can you wash your car during a hosepipe ban? UK rules and a bucket routine
- How to wash a matt paint or wrapped car safely
- Winter car care in the UK: how to deal with road salt
- Snow foam explained: how to use a foam cannon properly
Full details
Formulas
- Summer (S) Pre rinse and bug remover. Everyday low foam pre rinse that sheets off cleanly. Scent: Blue raspberry ice. Concentrate 1:10, 5L or 1L.
- Winter (W) Winter pre rinse. Extra chelating power to lift road salt and winter grime. Scent: Menthol and berry. Concentrate 1:10, 5L or 1L.
- Extreme (X) Extreme pre rinse. Strong mix for trade use and heavy soiling. Scent: Sour apple. Concentrate 1:5, 5L or 1L.
- Delicate (D) Delicate pre rinse. Low alkalinity for coatings, wraps and matt paint. Scent: Vanilla. Concentrate 1:10, 5L or 1L.
Compare the four formulas
| Formula | Use it when | Mix | In a 1.5L sprayer | Fills, 1L / 5L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Everyday road film and bugs | 1:10 | 135 ml | 7 / 36 |
| Winter | Road salt and winter grime | 1:10 | 135 ml | 7 / 36 |
| Extreme | Trade use and heavy soiling | 1:5 | 250 ml | 4 / 20 |
| Delicate | Coatings, wraps and matt paint | 1:10 | 135 ml | 7 / 36 |
One fill is one 1.5 litre pump sprayer, enough to cover a car. For the whole wash, the car wash product finder lists every step.
Vehicle guide
Yes means made for it. Care means usable within limits. No means not for that vehicle.
- CarYes
- VanYes
- TruckYes
- MotorcycleCare
- Mountain bikeCare
- BicycleCare
Choose a vehicle for the reason and the formula to pick, or see every product by vehicle.
How to use
Dilute as shown for your formula. Apply to a cool, dry car from the bottom up with a pump sprayer or foam cannon, leave to dwell for 2 to 5 minutes without drying, then rinse thoroughly from the top down.
- Work in the shade on cool panels. Do the wheels first so you do not splash dirt back onto clean paint.
- Mix in the Pump Pressure Sprayer. Summer, Winter and Delicate take about 135 ml topped up to 1.5 litres. Extreme takes about 250 ml.
- Spray the dry car from the bottom up. Give the lower sills, bumpers, front end and mirrors the most, because that is where bugs and road film build up.
- Leave it for 2 to 5 minutes to soften the dirt. Never let it dry on the paint.
- Rinse thoroughly from the top down with a pressure washer or a hose.
- Follow with No.02 Snow Foam if you have a pressure washer, then the contact wash with No.05 Contact Shampoo.
- Release the pressure in the sprayer and rinse it through with clean water.
Mixing a different amount? Use the dilution ratio calculator.
Common questions
What is the difference between a pre rinse and snow foam?
A pre rinse is a low foam liquid you spray on from a pump sprayer, so it needs no pressure washer. Snow foam is a thick foam made by a foam cannon on a pressure washer. Both loosen dirt before you touch the paint. On a very dirty car, use the pre rinse first and the foam second.
Can I use a pre wash without a pressure washer?
Yes. Spray it on with a hand pump sprayer and rinse it off with a garden hose, or with a watering can during a hosepipe ban. That makes it the pre wash to choose if you wash with buckets.
How much pre rinse do I need for one car?
One 1.5 litre pump sprayer. At 1:10 that is about 135 ml of product, so a 1 litre bottle makes 7 fills and a 5 litre container makes 36.
How long do I leave it on?
2 to 5 minutes. Long enough to soften bugs and road film, never long enough to dry. In warm weather work in the shade and rinse sooner.
Which formula for a ceramic coating, a wrap or matt paint?
Delicate. It is low alkalinity for coatings, wraps and matt paint.
When should I use the Extreme formula?
For trade use and heavy soiling on sound finishes. It is mixed stronger, at 1:5. Keep it off bare and polished aluminium, and do not use it on motorcycles or bicycles.
Safety
Always read the label and safety data sheet before use. Keep out of reach of children. Do not mix with other products. Safety data sheets are on our Safety Data Sheets page.
