AutoBead Heavy Dirt Citrus Pre Wash

Citrus pre-wash for heavy road grime

AutoBead Heavy Dirt Citrus Pre Wash

SKU AB2021HEAVDIR1L Rated 5.0 out of 5.0. 1 review Ask a question

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£12.95

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Size 1L

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AutoBead Heavy Dirt Citrus Pre Wash AutoBead Heavy Dirt Citrus Pre Wash £12.95

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Autobead Heavy Dirt is a highly concentrated citrus pre-wash that removes bugs, bird lime and stubborn contamination from all exterior surfaces. It is also a strong all-rounder for door shuts, engine bays, hard plastics and rubber, and it is wax and sealant safe at the right dilution.

  • Shifts bugs and bird lime
  • Safe on wax and sealants
  • Pre-wash or spot cleaner
  • Can be used as a snow foam
  • Great for door shuts
  • Concentrated for value
  • Removes stubborn contamination
  • Cleans hard plastics and rubber
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Full Description

Autobead Heavy Dirt is a highly concentrated citrus pre-wash that removes bugs, bird lime and stubborn contamination from all exterior surfaces. It is also a strong all-rounder for door shuts, engine bays, hard plastics and rubber, and it is wax and sealant safe at the right dilution.

Dilute it 10:1 for heavy soiling and 25:1 for everyday use, spray it on and give it 3 to 4 minutes to work. Autobead adds that it can go through a snow foam lance at 1 part to 4 parts water, as an alternative to Autobead Snow Foam.

Key Features

  • Concentrated citrus pre-wash
  • Removes bugs, bird lime and grime
  • Wax and sealant safe when diluted
  • 10:1 heavy, 25:1 everyday
  • Works through a snow foam lance
  • 1L and 5L

More in Citrus Pre-Wash and from Autobead.

Royal Mail Tracked 24 from £3.95, free over £100.Delivery details

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Key features

  • Citrus Pre Wash
  • Traffic Film Removal
  • Contactless Cleaning
  • Safer Washing
  • Heavy Dirt Removal

The Drivers HQ

Expert Notes

Removing heavy dirt before the contact wash goes a long way towards avoiding wash marring. A citrus pre-wash softens bugs, bird lime and road grime, so they rinse away rather than being rubbed into the paint.

Because it is wax and sealant safe at the right concentration, Heavy Dirt can be used on every wash without stripping the protection you have applied. It also works through a dedicated snow foam lance at 1 part to 4 parts water, a useful stand in when you run out of Autobead Snow Foam.

Perfect For / Suitable Surfaces

  • All exterior surfaces
  • Door shuts
  • Engine bays
  • Hard plastics and rubber

Caution: Use at the stated dilutions. Rinse thoroughly and do not let it dry on the surface.

Technical Specifications

Product Type
Citrus Pre-Wash
Dilution
10:1 Heavy, 25:1 Everyday
Snow Foam Lance
1 Part To 4 Parts Water
Dwell Time
3 To 4 Minutes
Wax And Sealant Safe
Yes, When Diluted
Sizes
1L, 5L
Scent
Citrus
Also For
Door Shuts, Engine Bays, Plastics, Rubber
Brand
Autobead

How To Use

Pre-wash

  1. Dilute 10:1 for heavy soiling or 25:1 for everyday use.
  2. Spray generously onto the surfaces.
  3. Allow 3 to 4 minutes of dwell time.
  4. Agitate heavily contaminated and intricate areas with a wash mitt or soft detailing brush.
  5. Rinse thoroughly.

As a snow foam

  1. Mix 1 part Heavy Dirt to 4 parts water in a snow foam lance bottle.
  2. Foam the car, let it dwell, then rinse off.

Top Tip: Use it before the contact wash, so the worst of the dirt is gone before a mitt touches the paint.

Performance Benefits

  • Softens road grime before contact washing
  • Reduces the amount of dirt left for the wash mitt
  • Helps lower wash mark risk
  • Works as part of a safer wash process
  • Useful during winter and heavy road film build-up
  • Rinses away before shampoo washing

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Heavy Dirt strip my wax?

No. Autobead says it is wax and sealant safe when used at the correct dilution.

What dilution should I use?

10:1 for heavy soiling and 25:1 for everyday use.

Can I use it in a snow foam lance?

Yes. Mix 1 part Heavy Dirt to 4 parts water in the lance bottle.

How long should I leave it?

Allow 3 to 4 minutes of dwell time, then agitate and rinse.

Can I use it on engine bays?

Yes. Autobead says it is exceptional for door shuts, engine bay cleaning, hard plastics and rubber.

Who sells Autobead in the UK?

The Drivers HQ is the exclusive UK reseller of Autobead.

HQ Suggests Tips & Insights

  1. Work on a cool car, out of direct sun.
  2. Do not let it dry on the paint.
  3. Use a soft brush around badges and grilles.
  4. Use 25:1 for routine washes.
  5. Clean door shuts with a soft brush.
  6. Rinse thoroughly after the dwell.
  7. Keep a 1 to 4 mix for the lance.

From the Advice Centre

Guides Featuring This Product

Visit the Advice Centre
How to clean wheel arches: the TDHQ tyre brush on The Drivers HQ display plinth in front of a white Mazda CX-5 How to Clean Wheel Arches: Plastic and Carpeted Arch LinersWe explain how to clean plastic and carpeted wheel-arch liners, choose a suitable brush and remove trapped mud without unnecessary force. The... How to remove bird poo and bugs from car paint: AutoBead Heavy Dirt Citrus Pre Wash on The Drivers HQ display plinth in front of a white Mercedes-Benz GLC How to Remove Bird Poo and Bugs from Car Paint SafelyWe explain how to soften and remove bird droppings and bug splatter, choose a suitable cleaner and avoid dragging grit across paint.... How to protect your car in winter: AutoBead Spray Sealant on The Drivers HQ display plinth in front of a grey Skoda Kodiaq How to Protect Your Car in Winter: Paint, Wheels and GlassOur practical winter car-care routine covers paint protection, wheel sealants, road-salt removal, clear glass and fabric roofs. We explain how to maintain...

The Brand

Autobead

Autobead (also written AutoBead or Auto Bead) was founded on simplicity and efficiency: car care products that get a car clean and protected with as little wasted effort as possible. It has supplied car cleaning and maintenance products to drivers in Germany, Switzerland and Austria since 1999, and its range now covers every stage of a detail, from citrus pre-wash and shampoo to compounds, polishing pads and Silex ceramic coatings.

The Drivers HQ is the exclusive UK reseller of Autobead. We keep the range on the shelf at our Ilkeston shop and deliver it across the UK.

Our customers' favourites are Heavy Dirt citrus pre-wash, Pure Shampoo, Snow Foam and the two wheel cleaners, Alloy Cleaner and Acid Wheel Cleaner.

Shop all Autobead
Autobead Downforce Heavy Cut and Fine Cut foam pads with Autobead Finishing Compound and Quick Detailer on a black display plinth in a photo studio

Autobead products by job

Pre-wash and wash. Heavy Dirt is a concentrated citrus pre-wash for bugs, bird lime and road grime, and it is safe on wax and sealants: dilute it 25:1 for everyday use or 10:1 for heavy dirt, and it also cleans door shuts, engine bays, plastics and rubber. Snow Foam is mildly alkaline and goes in the lance at 1 part to 4 parts water. Pure Shampoo is a pH-neutral 2300:1 shampoo with no gloss enhancers or waxes, so it will not mask or break down existing protection, and Ceramic Shampoo builds up a layer of ceramic protection with regular use.

Wheels. Alloy Cleaner is a ready-to-use, non-acidic wheel cleaner that is safe on all wheel types, and Alloy Cleaner Concentrate is a concentrate you dilute to suit how dirty the wheels are. For neglected wheels with baked-on brake dust, Acid Wheel Cleaner is a gel used at 1:3, but not on sensitive finishes or damaged wheels. Finish with Tyre Dressing, a gel that does not sling.

Decontamination. Iron Fallout Remover is a pH-neutral gel that turns purple as it dissolves iron particles on paint and wheels, and Tar Gel lifts tar spots with less run-off than a liquid. Keep tar removers off plastics and rubber.

Paint correction. The three compounds are graded by the sanding marks they remove: Heavy Cut up to 1500 grade, Medium Cut up to 2500 grade and Finishing Compound up to 3000 grade, each with a Downforce foam pad of the same cut (heavy, medium, fine) for dual action or rotary machines. Surface Prep removes silicones, wax and sealant before a coating.

Protection. Lance Sealant gives up to three months of protection from a foam lance, Spray Sealant is a silicone polymer and silica resin sealant, and the waxes include a Matte Wax for matt paint and wraps. Between washes, Quick Detailer and Ceramic Quick Detailer top up the gloss.

Interior. Interior Detailer leaves plastics, vinyl and leather with a matt, factory-look finish, Leather Cleaner is a pH-neutral cleaner and conditioner, and All Purpose Cleaner dilutes from 5:1 to 30:1 for everything from carpets to wheel arch liners.

Shop Autobead by type: citrus pre-wash, snow foam, car shampoo, wheel cleaners, compounds and polishes, polishing pads and ceramic coatings.

Autobead Finishing Compound and a Downforce Heavy Cut pad with a dab of compound on a detailing trolley in front of a dark blue Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk7 in a home garage

Choosing an Autobead ceramic coating

Autobead's Silex ceramic coatings come in two families:

  • Silex Series: the 1 Year Paint Coating and 2 Year Paint Coating, titanium ceramic coatings designed to be applied outdoors in a single, self-levelling layer. They resist chemicals from pH 2 to pH 12.
  • Silex Pro: the 3 Year and 5 Year Paint Coatings and the 5 Year Graphene Coating, for longer protection.

Autobead also makes coatings for alloy wheels, glass, leather and fabric.

Autobead's coating warranty matches each paint coating's labelled durability. It applies when the coating is installed by an Autobead Accredited Detailer, the warranty is registered within seven days and the car has a yearly inspection with the installer.

Whoever applies it, the paint needs to be washed, decontaminated and, if needed, polished first, then wiped with Surface Prep so the coating can bond. Do not wash the car with detergent for the first 10 days, then keep it clean with Pure Shampoo or Ceramic Shampoo.

Autobead also trains detailers through its Detail Like a Pro courses (a Foundation Day, an Advanced Day and a four-day Masterclass) and its Silex accreditation for professional coating installers.

Need a hand choosing? Visit our Ilkeston shop or send us a WhatsApp. We deliver Autobead across the UK by Royal Mail Tracked 24, free on orders from £100, or you can order online and collect from the shop.

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  • Shop in StoreBrowse products and speak to the team in Ilkeston.

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Customer Reviews

5.0 / 5

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  1. DATCVerified buyer

    we love this citrus cleaner! highly dilutable makes this so cheap per use

    Review from Detailing & Training Centre, a business connected to The Drivers HQ

    Reply from The Drivers HQ

    Thanks for the review, really glad you’re loving the AutoBead Heavy Dirt Citrus Pre Wash.

    That’s exactly why products like this have become so popular with both detailers and weekend warriors alike. You can dilute it heavily, it lasts ages, and yet it still cuts through road grime properly instead of just politely introducing itself to the dirt and giving up.

    People often assume stronger cleaning means using loads of product, but a good citrus pre wash should work intelligently, not just aggressively. The AutoBead Citrus manages that balance brilliantly, which is why it ends up being surprisingly cheap per wash once you work out the dilution ratios properly.

    Really appreciate the support and feedback.

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