ValetPRO Poseidon Carnauba Car Wash review

Price: £6 (500ml)

Contact: 01892 277001, www.valetpro.co.uk

Can a car wash really shine and protect your bodywork for a month? ValetPRO says its updated Poseidon Carnauba Wash does exactly that, and means there’s no need for a separate polish. We used it to shift some filth from our car.

The new formula comes in a smaller bottle than before, and the instructions recommend using about 50ml per five litres of water. But as we were only focusing on cleaning one panel, we added a 10ml tablespoon to our one-litre measuring jug. The childproof medicine cap makes it tricky to open; rival Angelwax’s Superior Automotive Shampoo has a pump-action system that’s much easier to get on with.

When you add water to the formula, Poseidon Car Wash foams up nicely, but this soon disperses when you spread it on to your car with a sponge. The carnauba wax also leaves a bit of a milky residue – so you’ll need to rinse off each panel quickly, as this would leave streaky marks if allowed to dry.

We rubbed the panel with a sponge and the formula lifted stubborn grime without too much effort. Once we’d blasted the car with a pressure washer, the Poseidon wash left an impressive shine. But we’re not sure about the month-long protection claim; two weeks later, water wasn’t beading off the panel. We’d stick to waxing with a dedicated paste after you’ve washed your car.

Verdict

Rating: ★★★
What is it?
Updated Poseidon car wash claims to protect bodywork for a month.
What's good?
Cleans and shines well, plus when used at ratio of 50ml per five litres, a wash costs only 50p.
What's bad?
Tricky cap, doesn’t foam much on car, streaks if left to dry, dedicated waxes offer more protection.