Want water to bead and run off your car after a wash? BEADS Touchless Sealant adds hydrophobic protection with a simple spray-on, rinse-off process. In this video, we demonstrate how to apply it to wet exterior surfaces, why your rinsing technique matters, and how to avoid streaking.
Watch the full BEADS application walkthrough.
What BEADS Adds to Your Wash
BEADS Touchless Sealant adds water-repellent protection after cleaning with a spray-on, rinse-off process. In the demonstration, Bradley compares a flat, wet surface with the tighter water beads that appear after treatment.
The convenient application is the benefit: you can treat compatible exterior paint, glass, trim, grilles, and wheel surfaces without hand-applying a coating to every contour. It is still a protection step after washing, not a cleaner that replaces the wash itself.
BEADS can also supplement compatible existing protection. It does not repair scratches, remove bonded contamination, or restore a physically failed coating. Start with a clean surface and judge the result as a maintenance treatment.
Prepare a Clean, Wet, Cool Surface
Complete your wash and rinse away the dirt and soap first. Leave the panel wet for BEADS. If an area starts drying while you prepare, re-wet it rather than applying the product onto a partially dry, hot surface.
Work in shade and avoid direct sunlight. Have your rinse equipment ready before spraying so you can complete the short application cycle without interruption. Follow the label's skin, eye, and respiratory protection guidance and test a small area.
A normal wash may be enough for a well-maintained car. If the paint remains contaminated, assess whether targeted treatment is needed before protection. Our decontamination guide explains that process; claying is not an automatic prerequisite for every BEADS application.
Use the Current Spray-Bottle Directions
The current BEADS guide specifies three to four sprays per clean, wet panel and a 10–15 second dwell. Shake the bottle well and work one section at a time. The video shows larger spray counts and longer example dwells on some areas; use the current label as your starting point.
- Wet the clean panel. Make sure there is water across the surface before applying.
- Apply a light, even mist. Distribute the specified sprays rather than flooding a single spot.
- Allow the short dwell. Monitor the surface and never let the product dry.
- Start the spreading rinse at the bottom. Use the initial water flow to distribute the treatment across the panel, as directed.
- Rinse thoroughly. After the initial spread, clear remaining product completely.
- Continue section by section. Once all areas are treated, give the vehicle a thorough final rinse and dry it.
Panel shape and conditions can make a smaller working area more comfortable. Complete the rinse before moving on rather than spraying several panels and hoping to reach them all in time.
Why the Initial Rinse Matters
Bradley starts the rinse from farther away so the water helps carry the sealant over the wet surface. He then moves into a thorough rinse. Immediately concentrating the jet into a small spot can wash product away before it has spread across the intended area.
Think of the first rinse as distribution and the following rinse as cleanup. Both are controlled water steps. Do not use a dangerously close or aggressive jet to force the product into the surface, and follow the appropriate pressure-washer precautions for your paint, trim, and film.
Watch the entire panel, including the lower edge and adjacent trim. A change in water behavior is useful feedback, but it does not mean you should skip the full rinse.
Glass, Wheels, and Hard-to-Reach Areas
The video demonstrates BEADS on both paint and glass. The same clean, wet, controlled-section principle applies. Finish the glass until clear and inspect visibility rather than leaving product residue to dry.
On compatible wheels, clean first, apply the light treatment to the wheel surfaces, and rinse as directed. Keep sealant off brake discs, pads, and tire tread. Our carbon ceramic wheel guide explains why the brake system and vehicle instructions still matter when choosing a wheel-care process.
Grilles and intricate shapes are convenient places for a touchless treatment, but their recesses still need a complete rinse. Finish with controlled blower drying where appropriate to clear retained water.
The Optional Foam-Cannon Demonstration
Bradley also shows an off-label method through the DRFT Foam Cannon in cool, shaded conditions. BEADS is not a foaming shampoo; the cannon is being used to distribute it rather than create a thick cleaning foam.
He discusses bottle mixtures around 2:1 to 4:1 in the demonstration, with the result depending on equipment flow and draw. A ratio inside a cannon bottle is not the same as the concentration that reaches the paint after water passes through the system.
For the standard, repeatable starting process, use the current spray-bottle instructions. Do not convert an equipment-specific off-label example into a universal dilution or spray the whole car at once in warm conditions.
Avoid the Most Common Application Problems
- Too much product: use controlled light coverage instead of flooding the panel.
- Drying before rinsing: move to shade, keep the surface cool and wet, and reduce the section size.
- Patchy treatment: check coverage and the spreading rinse before adding more sprays.
- Visible residue: resolve it promptly using the product guidance; do not leave it to bake on the surface.
Dry with clean microfiber or a suitable blower after the final rinse. Our car drying guide compares those methods. Keep wheel-drying material separate from paint towels.
BEADS Questions
Does touchless mean the whole wash needs no contact?
No. It describes the sealant application. The vehicle still needs an appropriate cleaning process before you protect it.
Can I leave it longer for more protection?
Follow the current short dwell. Extending the time until it dries increases residue problems rather than providing a reliable performance benefit.
How long will it last?
Exposure, washing, preparation, and use affect durability. Maintain and reassess the clean surface rather than expecting the same interval on every vehicle.