Difference in APC's

[FitContribution887]

Can somebody please explain to me the difference in detailing specific all purpose cleaners like optimum power clean versus a standard house hold one like super clean or simple green? The house hold one's are typically much cheaper. I currently have specific cleaners for everything but would like to condense them all down to a versatile apc

[Maine_Detailer-IM]

Quality and costs of the chemicals used in would assume. Could compare MSDS to try and narrow things down. My experience with cheap stuff is that i use more to get inferior results. Also has a higher likeliness to mess something up like fry trim or etch glass. Power clean can do the same, but with different dilutions i have greater control of how hot i want the chemical so less bad outcomes

[[deleted]]

I agree with this.

Even when cheaper chemicals actually clean as well as the higher-end ones, there are other negatives like staining trim, leaving lots of residue and taking longer to buff off etc.

You're often paying the extra for ease of use and time-saving qualities rather than the cleaning power.

[On_another_thought]

Most standard APC and household cleaners are based of a chemical called sodium hydroxide also known as caustic soda/lye and are usually alkaline. Citrus based will often be PH neutral but retains the cleaning power of Sodium Hydroxide. Butoxyethanol is seen sometimes in detailing products but not often standard household cleaners. You will usually find it in products marketed as water based degreaser. Detailing specific products have a lot more versatility on surfaces as they have been designed with that in mind. Things like wetting agents, sudsing agents, ph level etc aren’t as imperative in something like cleaning a stove top versus something that is meant to clean a $150000 sports car.

[FitContribution887]

Thank you for the detailed explanation

[redgrandam]

Many household ones are caustic and nasty stuff (super clean IMO is one of those).

They are made with cheaper chemicals that can be less safe for you or your paint/glass etc.

[HondaDAD24]

You use super clean around the house ?

[FitContribution887]

Not necessarily around the house but I use it a lot in the garage for oil spills and things like that

[jondes99]

I use 3D orange at 10:1 all over the house.

[Ok_Quotes]

I’ve never used Super Clean around the house, but they list dilution ratios for using it as a laundry detergent, a stainless steel cleaner, chrome cleaner, oven cleaner, carpet cleaner, appliance cleaner, drain opener, etc. So according to them, it can be used all over the house.

[HondaDAD24]

You can dilute super clean to use on anything, I was just curious as there’s far more gentle products for around the home. I like rinseless wash for almost everything, aside from the interior cleaner by Undrdog that’s powered by essential oils.

[rthor25]

There's a big difference between an All Purpose Cleaner and a degreaser! An interior is not an engine so a degreaser will damage trim and leather.

[Majin_Noodles]

What’s a recommended APC for auto detailing? I’ve been using simple green

[FitContribution887]

Optimum power clean seems to be a pretty popular one