Help me choose an APC and degreaser for detailing

S

Surly

New member
Hi all:

Please help me choose new APC and degreasers (and keep me away from well diluted Simple Green).

I have pretty easy access to CG and PB products, but honestly can`t decode the entire CG lineup. What`s the difference between All Clean and All Clean+, for instance? I see PB only has one APC, and it talks about using straight or 1:1 dilution. This is way different than some other products I see out there listing 1:4 to 1:40 dilution rates for use.

In an APC I`m looking for something which is concentrated that I can perhaps dilute to my needs. I`d like to be able to do:

  • diluted cleaning on interiors (vinyl, coated leather, headliners)
  • door jamb/sill wipedown
  • routine cleaning of wheels AND tires (perhaps at a stronger concentration)
  • routine wheel well cleaning
  • spray down to clean salt off of underside of vehicle in spring using foam gun, hose end sprayer or something else? Or should that be a degreaser?
  • first step as light bug cleaning if my shampoo doesn`t take it off

I don`t want to fade plastic, corrode engine/chassis components or damage finishes, but I want to get dirt off. My current vehicle has a lot of aluminum (body, some structural, engine, full suspension). I`d love something that foams well with a foaming trigger sprayer too.

In a degreaser I would also like something which is intended to be diluted to varying ratios depending on task (and has some guidelines on how to do so). I`d like to:
  • clean engine bays
  • heavier cleaning of tires (e.g. strip dressing) and seasonal changeover cleaning of wheels and tires (switching snows and summers prior to LSP)
  • clean salt off of underside of vehicle (or should that be an APC)
  • heavier bug/tar removal from painted surfaces?
  • foam with a foaming trigger sprayer

I`ve seen some "how I did this" photo threads showing a good degreaser really cleaning tire sidewalls. I`ve used Eagle One A2Z and as soon as the foam hit the tire it turned brown with stuff it removed. I`d like that from something more general purpose, if possible.

Thanks for any guidance the group can provide. I tried some searching but "APC", in particular, is too short a word for a lot of the search functionality. Or, I found some reviews of single products (like CG AC+) which didn`t speak in comparison against similarly placed products (like CG AC).
 
Surly- I can`t help because I just don`t know from the CG or PB product lines, but is this for your personal vehicles or for Pro work?

Since I only do ours, I basically have zero use for an APC other than something well-diluted for the interiors of the dog-haulers. Which perhaps *further* disqualifies me from offering any help :o About the only other thing I use APCs for is pre-treating my MFs.
 
Surly said:
Hi all:

Please help me choose new APC and degreasers (and keep me away from well diluted Simple Green).

I have pretty easy access to CG and PB products, but honestly can`t decode the entire CG lineup. What`s the difference between All Clean and All Clean+, for instance? I see PB only has one APC, and it talks about using straight or 1:1 dilution. This is way different than some other products I see out there listing 1:4 to 1:40 dilution rates for use.

In an APC I`m looking for something which is concentrated that I can perhaps dilute to my needs. I`d like to be able to do:

  • diluted cleaning on interiors (vinyl, coated leather, headliners)
  • door jamb/sill wipedown
  • routine cleaning of wheels AND tires (perhaps at a stronger concentration)
  • routine wheel well cleaning
  • spray down to clean salt off of underside of vehicle in spring using foam gun, hose end sprayer or something else? Or should that be a degreaser?
  • first step as light bug cleaning if my shampoo doesn`t take it off

I don`t want to fade plastic, corrode engine/chassis components or damage finishes, but I want to get dirt off. My current vehicle has a lot of aluminum (body, some structural, engine, full suspension). I`d love something that foams well with a foaming trigger sprayer too.

In a degreaser I would also like something which is intended to be diluted to varying ratios depending on task (and has some guidelines on how to do so). I`d like to:
  • clean engine bays
  • heavier cleaning of tires (e.g. strip dressing) and seasonal changeover cleaning of wheels and tires (switching snows and summers prior to LSP)
  • clean salt off of underside of vehicle (or should that be an APC)
  • heavier bug/tar removal from painted surfaces?
  • foam with a foaming trigger sprayer

I`ve seen some "how I did this" photo threads showing a good degreaser really cleaning tire sidewalls. I`ve used Eagle One A2Z and as soon as the foam hit the tire it turned brown with stuff it removed. I`d like that from something more general purpose, if possible.

Thanks for any guidance the group can provide. I tried some searching but "APC", in particular, is too short a word for a lot of the search functionality. Or, I found some reviews of single products (like CG AC+) which didn`t speak in comparison against similarly placed products (like CG AC).
Click to expand...

Depending on the job at hand, our Biodegradable APC may be used straight for the toughest and nastiest jobs like a neglected bar-b-q grill all the way up to 63:1 for cleaning tough films on glass (126:2 on the label so you can easily mix up a gallon). APC is extremely versatile and may be used for a wide range of jobs and dilution ratios. We have even mixed it up with Super Slick & Foam in a foam cannon and made some heavy duty foam soap on steroids. It can handle all of your bullet points with no problems.

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Dwayne- That`s *GREAT* that your dilution ratio works out to 124:2, wish it were more common. Is that dilution still potent enough for (relatively gentle) interior work...also, does it require much in the way of rinsing?
 
Accumulator said:
Dwayne- That`s *GREAT* that your dilution ratio works out to 124:2, wish it were more common. Is that dilution still potent enough for (relatively gentle) interior work...also, does it require much in the way of rinsing?
Click to expand...

I`ve been surprised at what that ratio can still clean. It`s just enough to make the water and your MF towel cut through oily films and grime better. What I do afterwards is take a wet microfiber and wipe the surface to remove any residual APC, then a dry one.
 
Dwayne@Poorboys said:
I`ve been surprised at what that ratio can still clean. It`s just enough to make the water and your MF towel cut through oily films and grime better. What I do afterwards is take a wet microfiber and wipe the surface to remove any residual APC, then a dry one.
Click to expand...

Same as I use it.

(must have been taught by same person)
 
I have had good result with Meguiar`s Detailer line APC. User friendly multiple ranges to meet your needs in regards to dilution ratio. Decent odor and cost effective. Like jricharc i have used it on multiple surfaces like carpets, fabric, leather, etc... with great results.
 
Britemax Degreaser is my go to degreaser and Meguires APC is what I grab for light cleaning. Britemax is safe but strong, it works great on wheels instead of a dedicated wheel cleaner.
 
Poorboys APC+D is some amazing stuff. I`ve been using it at 15:1 for basically everything and it cuts through even the nastiest interior dirt/grime.

It was my cleaner of of choice to clean this truck in my thread from a few weeks ago. Used it for everything except for the upholstery, even then I used it to pre treat some of the nasty stains on the upholstery. All at 15:1.

Trashed grounds maintenance truck

ive just recently started using it in my steamer with detergent injection and can give some more info on that in the future as I`m still playing around with dilutions.

Personally I`d try to stay away from chemical guys. Their products are ok, nothing really bad to say about them, but they market/prey on the uneducated who think they need 5 different APCs or 15 different wash soaps and high tech waxed with mega uber slick high shine glossinator 2.0 super wax.
 
Personally I use 3 different ones...

Exterior - 1Z W99, strip wash, tire and rim cleaner, trim bleeder and engine degreaser. - It is th best APC I`ve ever used and blows away anything by CG.

Interior - Optimum power clean, stained upholestery, heavily soiled carpets, dirty plastic trim. Safe, effective and cost effective.

Heavy duty - HD APC Purple Grand slam, very potent, can be too harsh on bare aluminum but on exhaust gunk or dirty engine parts it`s amazing. The most cost effective!

I may switch from HD to PB, I need to do some reading. My one stead fast product through the years has been 1Z W99 though, it is expensive but has been the most reliable and constant result achieving product I have ever used hands down.

Technically I have a fourth, Megs super degreaser. I only use this for cleaning pads, it`s more effective than anything else I`ve used just on pads. The only draw back is you really need to wear a mask with it. It`s very potent and any atomization of this product should never be breathed inhaled.
 
Thanks for the discussion so far folks.

Accumulator: Personal use. My vehicle plus perhaps some friends. I don`t consume large quantities of the stuff, but when I find something I like I might end up using it all over my house in various ratios.

ShaneB: Interesting comments on CG. I noticed too that there`s too much selection and not enough differentiation. AC vs AC+ for instance. I did locate a car shampoo comparison chart which shed some light on why all the different products, but still...

So - maybe I need some education. Although I haven`t had the selection of products in the past, the way I see things where I`m headed is this - please let me know if I`m misinformed:

  • An APC is more pH neutral, usable on more surfaces, and isn`t always rinsed. It isn`t a super-powerful cleaner, but it has cleaning abilities, lubricity, and can be diluted in various ways. If it`s strong enough for the task - stop here.
  • A degreaser is your next step and is generally alkaline. It is more harsh, directly attacks grease and oil with an alkaline and detergent quality. It should always been rinsed, even if diluted, and you only pull it out if your APC doesn`t do the job.


So - I get the beauty and frugal wisdom of having fewer products. But the chemistry/pH/rinse issue is not one that can be combined into a single product. Is W99 or PB APC+D more degreaser or strong APC, for instance? Would anyone use W99 on an interior and not rinse? I`d really like an APC I can use, for instance, on leather with one of those vinyl/leather brushes to make sure it`s clean. My leather is black right now (not my first choice) and, frankly, I can`t tell when it`s dirty or not. I`d like it clean just to know it`s clean and make sure there`s nothing abrasive damaging the coatings.

Am I overthinking?

Currently researching my availability of W99, Opti PowerClean etc... as additional options. I`m in Canada and it changes the shipping/tax/brokerage/availability/affordability situation.

Thank you
 
Surly- Ya know, I use my APCs more around the house than I do on the vehicles.

On leather, I`d use something mildly acidic after anything ph-neutral (let alone alkaline), something like the Leather Doctor Rinse Agent that I like...forget the exact ph but it`s maybe 3.6-3.9 or so. Probably doesn`t matter much, if at all, on coated leather in great condition, but I`m pretty cautious about such stuff (maybe because most of my leather is far from like-new).

And I too really like OPC for nasty-greasy messes, hardly ever use it more than once (initial cleanup of a new-to-me vehicle) but I like having some around.
 
Hey Accumulator:

My current DD is in great condition, but my life situation doesn`t give me hardly any of the time I`d like for detailing, so even though I keep things "nice", your vehicle will be far cleaner than mine. For this reason, when I do get to clean, I think I need something like an APC instead of just a damp cloth or whatever. I accumulate (ha) more dirt between cleanings even though it`s rarely gruesome. The tail end of winter is pretty bad with salt I suppose (I`m in the Toronto brine belt), but "filth" and "sticky" isn`t a huge problem despite two fairly young kids.

We`ll see what I can find. I bet that I`ll order 16oz of whatever I decide, dilute it one or two ways, and probably won`t need to re-order for a while.

None of this stuff is OTC for me so I`m ordering with shipping charges, and I want to ask around before buying.

Now all that being said, I sometimes help to clean other much grimier vehicles. Simple Green (I know, I know) at 10:1 or so even had a challenge with some of those.
 
I`ve used several all purpose cleaners like blackfire, sonus, meguiars Detailer`s line, and a few others I don`t recall off top of head but best smelling and worked well on light cleaning was sonus, and quick cheap jobs or cigarette smelling cause of the multiple cleaning I use megs, black fire was good just to expensive for the results I was getting. For degreaser on engines and road tar on paint I have used the 3d grand slam with great results although on the rubber hoses on the engine tuff shine is the best. On super greasy nasty interior I use Wolfgang leather cleaner it`s really gentle yet really cuts through years of neglected skin oils and grease


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Surly- OK, understand, and yeah....a retired guy with my facilities is awfully spoiled when it comes to what`s feasible regarding the daily drivers :o

Just watch that you don`t go all alkaline on the leather lest it turn into a genuine "oops!" (to put it politely).

Hey, you`re in Canada...[INSERT even more talk about Leather Doctor, who`s up there too]
 
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