Bead Maker is a spray paint protectant applied after washing, either onto a wet car during drying or onto dry paint, and buffed off. It is popular because the result is immediate and repeatable: high gloss, very slick paint and strong water behaviour for the ten minutes of effort it takes. It is not a substitute for a ceramic coating on longevity, but as a top-up after every wash it keeps a car looking freshly detailed with almost no skill required.

Brake Buster as the wheel and tyre cleaner, Absolute as the rinseless wash, Bead Maker as the drying-stage protectant, and Carpet Bomber for interiors. That combination covers wheels, wash, protection and interior with products that were designed for volume work rather than for a showroom shelf, which is why they turn up in professional setups. Iron Buster handles bonded iron contamination, and Dream Maker is the gloss amplifier for when appearance is the priority.

Brake Buster is designed as a total wheel cleaner for regular use on standard painted and clear-coated wheels, and it also cleans tyres, which is why it saves a step. As with any wheel cleaner, work on cool dry wheels, never let it dry on the surface, and rinse thoroughly. On bare polished, anodised or highly polished lip finishes, test a small area first. For heavy bonded brake dust, follow with Iron Buster rather than extending the dwell time.

Dilute it in a bucket at the stated ratio, soak a plush mitt or a stack of plush towels, wipe one panel at a time with no pressure, then dry that panel immediately before moving on. There is no rinse stage, so the product has to encapsulate the dirt and let it be carried away in the towel. It is for light to moderate dirt on protected paint. If the car is genuinely filthy, pre-wash first with a pump sprayer of citrus pre-wash.