Understanding the Strengths and Purposes of Different Degreasers and Cleaners
Basically, there are 6 categories of degreasers and cleaners:
- Wheel Cleaners
- Solvent Cleaners
- Degreasers
- All Purpose Cleaners
- Interior Cleaners
- Stain/Spot Removers
All PDP degreasers and cleaners, other than solvent cleaners, are liquid concentrates, meant to be diluted with water, according to the job.
In general, wheel cleaners are the harshest and most aggressive, then solvent cleaners for tar and paint contaminants, then degreasers which are ratioed with water to clean engines and other exterior surfaces, followed by all-purpose cleaners which can effectively clean both exterior and interior, and finally interior cleaners and spot removers which need to be strong enough to clean interiors, but delicate enough so as not to damage fabric, leather, or vinyl.
All encapsulate and lift dirt and grime, but of course, have other important distinguishing properties.
Some are more alkaline than others, making them stronger and harsher cleaners. But stronger is not always better, particularly in the interior, or when dealing with expensive or uncoated wheels.
Wheel cleaners have the widest range of pH levels. The pH scale rates a cleaner from Acidic to Alkaline, with acids being on the low end of the pH scale, and alkalines being on the high end.
Acid Wheel Cleaners are the most aggressive, but they can damage an uncoated wheel or a clear-coated wheel that has nicks in it. High Alkaline Wheel Cleaners are also very aggressive and not as prone, as acid, to damage a wheel. PPE (safety goggles and gloves) must be worn.
The latest Wheel cleaners are Iron Removers, using a special pH-neutral raw material that encapsulates and identifies ferrous particles by turning them reddish purple. In all cases, the wheel should be cool to the touch before applying the chemical.
Degreasers are more suited to hard surface cleaning. The concentration of aggressive raw materials in a degreaser will rinse free off metal, paint, or hard surfaces, but when a degreaser is used on a carpet, the soap may not be able to be fully lifted or rinsed out. And applying water to the carpet a month later may still produce suds- not a good thing.
All Purpose Cleaners can be used for a variety of jobs, and span the spectrum as an interior and exterior cleaner, even a wheel cleaner. They may be on the strong side for interiors, if not diluted with water. And they may need to be used straight or cut 1:1 for wheels that are not too hard to clean. A true all-purpose will not be super high alkaline, and will have the rinseability of an interior cleaner, while being strong enough for most exterior jobs like engines and jambs.
Interior Cleaners and Stain Removers are formulated to effectively clean vinyl, leather, or carpet without leaving a residue of chemicals. They rinse free, leaving a clean surface. If chemical residue is left on fabric or carpet, it will attract dirt faster and will create a magnet for further dirt and debris.
Wheel Cleaners
Acids must be respected and used with care, and should be used on wheels that no other cleaner could clean. Using AF901 Acid Free Wheel Cleaner or R300 Iron Wheel Gel will be your best bet for daily use.
Acids
A90 Acid Cleaner is the strongest and harshest wheel cleaner, and is on the lowest end of the pH scale. One of its ingredients is Hydrofluoric Acid, which is actually toned down with other, milder acids. A90 is an acid that must be respected and used with care. It is only for professional use, and gloves and goggles must always be used. It was originally used on spoke wheels that were hard to reach with a brush, and has always been used on aluminum truck bodies. The wheel must be cool to the touch before applying, since this is a “hot” cleaner that will clean instantly. Do not allow it to dry on the wheel, but flush with cool water immediately. Take care with uncoated wheels. It may damage the clearcoat of a wheel if it is nicked and gets in behind the clearcoat.
A95 Silverado is also a strong HF acid cleaner, low on the pH scale, and a bit less harsh for wheels and humans than A90 Acid Cleaner, but still a very strong acid that will do the job. Again, take care and use gloves and goggles in a well-ventilated area.
Alkalines
AF701 Fireball is a very high alkaline wheel cleaner, a “nasty” cleaner designed for the filthiest baked-on brake dust residues that are common to some older models of Volvo and BMW, and certainly a strong enough brake dust buster for all wheels.
AF801 Gel is a very high alkaline cleaner and a unique wheel cleaner that utilizes 12 different raw materials. In addition to its unique alkaline content, it contains d-limonene for grease removal and a thickening agent to increase dwell time.
AF901 Acid Free Wheel Cleaner is a high alkaline wheel cleaner with d-limonene terpenes that break down heavy brake dust and grime. Non-corrosive and safe for all types of rims, including aluminum, chrome, painted, and alloy wheels. D-limonene is a natural citrus solvent derived from orange peels and enhances grease-cutting power.
DC1O1 Free Ride is a mid-alkaline cleaner that effectively removes brake dust and grime from wheels that are maintained on a regular basis. It is formulated with no caustics, so it is safe for all rims and is a non-toxic cleaner to work with. Considered an all-purpose cleaner, it can be used for a multitude of jobs.
pH Neutral
R300 Iron Wheel Gel is the latest cutting-edge wheel cleaner that thoroughly cleans all metal particles and brake dust, imparting a thoroughly clean rim with little or no scrubbing, and is also pH-neutral and safe for every kind of wheel finish. It uses the color-changing technology, which lifts ferrous particles and turns them reddish-purple. Iron Wheel Gel has a thickening agent that foams and clings to vertical surfaces, with an almost indefinite dwell time that allows the chemical to work longer and allows you to use less! And all other Iron Removers that use this particular raw material have a pungent sulfur smell that lingers on your hands, clothes, and in your garage, but R300 Iron Wheel Gel is the first and only to have virtually no sulfur smell!
Solvent Cleaners
R95 Supersol and R105 Dissolve are great choices for strong solvent cleaners for tar and paint contaminants, while R125 Concentrated Orange is a unique blend of Citrus Terpenes that also removes tar and paint contaminants, and can be cut with water.
R95 Supersol is an advanced solvent formula with extra additives that deliver extra punch and cleaning power to remove tar, road grime, polish residue, stubborn adhesive residue, and paint contaminants. Supersol is always a good idea to use before applying wax or paint sealant, so there are no contaminants in the paint that get between the bond that creates a longer-lasting shine and protection. Supersol is also a good prep cleaner to use in the initial phases of a ceramic coating job, in order to thoroughly clean and prepare the paint surfaces.
R105 Dissolve has even more active ingredients than R95 Supersol, for those extra tough contaminants that are super hard to remove. Dissolve is an advanced, heavy-duty solvent cleaner that will tackle the most stubborn tar, adhesives, resins, and bonded residues. This industrial-strength formula contains a concentrated blend of highly active solvents that work together to break down the toughest contaminants.
R125 Concentrated Orange is an amazing blend of D-Limonene, a citrus terpene, combined with proprietary surfactants and emulsifiers that is totally unique in the detailing industry. D-Limonene is a powerful natural solvent excellent at dissolving adhesives, tar, and oils. R125 is a high-solid product, a super concentrate, effectively ratioed at 100:1 for many jobs. Not only is it an industrial-strength solvent cleaner tackling the toughest jobs, but it is the only water-based solvent cleaner, a solvent formula that you can cut with water, making it a wise, economical choice. A gallon of Concentrated Orange will last a professional detailer several months longer than a standard solvent formula. It will clean just about anything, from contaminated paint surfaces to filthy carpets. A sleeper of a product that can be used for a multitude of jobs. Plus, its pleasant citrus fragrance makes it easier to work with, and also leaves a pleasant scent for the driver.
Degreasers (alkaline):
Our recommendation is MP50 Orange Power or J30 Greenstuff, formulated with power and efficiency, and proven to do the job, with decades of satisfied users.
Degreaser - Order of strength >>>>
DP100 Deep Purple >> J35 White Lightning >> H96 Hotstuff >>> >> J30 Greenstuff >>> MP50 Orange Power
MP50 Orange Power is our most popular, powerful, and concentrated alkaline degreaser. It has a great affinity for grease as well as dirt, and is a high solids product that you need to cut with water, according to the job. It is formulated with d-limonene for more grease-cutting power, and can be used on engines, tires, jambs, and diluted generously, up to 30:1.
J30 Greenstuff has been a staple of the PDP line-up of degreasers since 1983, being one of the first 5 products manufactured. It remains a super powerful alkaline degreaser, a high solids concentrate that tackles grease, dirt, road film, on engines, tires, and jambs, and has had a loyal following of satisfied users for decades. Cut with water up to 30:1, according to the job.
H96 Hotstuff is a high pH alkaline economical alternative for a degreaser, that removes tough dirt and grease. Commonly used by dealerships and used car lots, users need to cut generously with water and take care to use only on engines and tires, never interiors, as it may leave a white caustic sediment behind on carpets. Can be corrosive to aluminum. Cut up to 20:1.
DP100 Deep Purple is a strong, high pH alkaline degreaser, and economical for commercial applications. Be sure to dilute with water according to the job, up to 15:1. A very caustic product and can be corrosive to aluminum. Great for degreasing engine bays and tires. Be sure to flush with plenty of water.
J35 White Lightning is another economical choice for an alkaline degreaser that cuts grease and road grime off engine bays and tires with ease. Formulated with special surfactants that have an extra affinity for grease.
Specialty Degreasers
M98 All Prep is a high alkaline specialty cleaner used for quick clean up of the paint, wheel wells, wheels, and tires of used vehicles that haven’t been maintained. Very concentrated product, cut generously with water, up to 50:1, before using. Perfect for used car lots to spray down and pre-soak the entire exterior, and then flush off with a pressure washer. Saves a lot of pre-cleaning and enables the detailer to start their specific processes sooner.
BR215 BugMelt is a 10:1 concentrate emulsifier, uniquely formulated for bug residue. Spray onto the finish and wash or wipe, and worst bug residue you can find, even years of encrusted buildup is gone! There is nothing like BugMelt on the market today!
All-Purpose Cleaners
When you need one product to clean just about everything, inside and out, you can’t go wrong with DC103 Free and Clean!
DC103 Free and Clean is a true APC- All Purpose Cleaner and Degreaser that is non-toxic – it contains no caustics, and can tackle any job. You will be amazed at how well FREE AND CLEAN cleans engines, floors, door jams, any hard surface, and also carpets, fabric, vinyl, Formica, and wood. Tough enough to clean engines and wheels, but will clean vinyl and fabric without leaving a film! It rinses and wipes off free and clean. And, you can spray down an interior and get close to your work without inhaling hazardous vapors! Free and Clean is a non-caustic, non-butyl, non-toxic cleaner that will not produce "THE COUGH" or irritate your skin. It is geared for the high-volume, fast production shop or car dealerships. Run through a water proportioner at 32:1, or cut with water according to the job.
Interior Cleaners
All-purpose cleaners and interior cleaners combine cleaning power with great rinseability. DC103 Free and Clean and P99 Pinkstuff both work great on interiors, and for gentler leather interiors, use P102 Leather Cleaner.
P99 Pinkstuff is our most popular interior cleaner: strong, effective, and safe. The beautiful thing about PINKSTUFF: It leaves no film. After cleaning fabric, carpet, floor mats, vinyl, plastic, aluminum, furniture, Formica, wood, and bathrooms, you will have a clean surface free of any residue. This strong all-purpose deep cleaner should be diluted 30:1 for light jobs, 15:1 for medium, and 5:1 for heavy dirt. Apply with a sprayer or sponge. Agitate stubborn dirt with a brush. One of the 5 original PDP products, with loyal users since 1983.
P102 Leather Cleaner is a pH-balanced formula designed to deep clean car leather quickly, safely, and thoroughly. This car leather cleaner lifts away dirt and oil build-up on fine leather quickly, and rinses or wipes off easily, without leaving any film behind. Non-caustic and non-toxic. Cut up to 15:1.
DC102 Free & Easy is a strong, effective, non-toxic interior cleaner. You'll be amazed at the cleaning capability of this product, and it wipes clean, leaving no film or residue. Dilute with water according to your needs. Non-flammable and non-caustic, Free & Easy is a pleasure to work with: there's no cough when you spray it! Safe around foodstuffs, and safe to use all around the house. Cut up to 15:1 according to the job.
EC30 Excel is a strong and safe formulation to use in all carpet extractors:
- a high solids product-ratio to 30:1 solution;
- cleans the worst stains, grease, and dirt without leaving any film behind;
- a low-sudsing formula;
- a safe, non-toxic formula. Because of Excel's 100% non-caustic formula, it will not create any sediment that sits in the machine!
Stain and Spot Removers:
TC110 Enzyme Cleaner Concentrate is a highly effective enzyme cleaner and stain remover that breaks down organic stains to thoroughly clean carpet or fabric. It breaks down protein-based stains to remove them permanently. It is a car interior stain remover and deodorizer recommended for spots. TC110 penetrates the surface to lift and suspend soil, even old stains. Allow the enzymes 5 minutes to dwell on the area and do their work, then scrub. It is safe and also widely used on vinyl or any part of the car's interior. The product of choice for the Tornador cleaning tools. 16:1 concentrate.
R126 Citrus Blast cleans filthy carpets and floor mats to “like new”! A unique formula, containing a high percentage of the natural citrus terpene d-limonene, Citrus Blast is a strong cleaning solvent, more powerful than most citrus degreasers. It removes tar, grease, and glue, as well as dirt.
SSR95 Assault removes salt stains, brine, and ice-melt residue from carpets and floors by suspending the calcium chloride deposits so they can be removed and not reappear in an unsightly white crust or film.
There are many different cleaners- it’s important to distinguish between them to determine the proper chemical that is suited for your job. Don’t hesitate to contact us at info@professionaldetailingproducts.com or at 330-454-5105 for more information!