Thanks for the compliments everyone, I can now lift my hood and not be ashamed.
I got the degreaser and APC from the dealership I work at. The company that supplies them is CarBrite. I used their Varsol degreaser and a product called "Hot Stuff" which is a strong APC.
My process was:
Spray Varsol Degreaser on first, cover entire engine compartment and hood
Spray Hot Stuff APC on top of that
Let stand for 5-10min while agetating select areas, Valve cover, intake manifold, anything that can be scrubbed with a brush basically.
Power Wash engine compartment and hood
I avoided spraying directly at the fuse box, alternator and ignition system.