What Is an All Purpose Cleaner?
An all purpose cleaner (APC) is a concentrated multi-surface cleaner designed for automotive use. You dilute it with water to suit the task: stronger for greasy engine bays and tyres, weaker for delicate interior surfaces. Unlike household cleaners, a car APC is formulated to be safe on automotive plastics, rubber, vinyl and fabric when diluted correctly.
What Can You Use an APC On?
| Area |
Typical uses |
Dilution strength |
| Engine bay |
Oil, grease and road grime on plastics and covers |
Stronger |
| Tyres and wheel arches |
Old dressing, browning and road grime |
Stronger |
| Door jambs and fuel flap |
Built-up grime and grease |
Medium |
| Exterior plastic trim |
Dirt and old dressing before re-protecting |
Medium |
| Interior plastics and vinyl |
Dash, door cards, consoles and touchpoints |
Weaker |
| Carpet and fabric |
Spot cleaning and stain pre-treatment |
Weaker; test first |
Always follow the dilution guide on the label, as strengths vary between products.
What Makes the Best All Purpose Cleaner?
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Concentrated: dilutes to many litres of ready-to-use cleaner, keeping the cost per job low.
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Adjustable strength: one product for heavy degreasing and gentle interior cleaning.
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Surface-safe: won't stain or dry out plastics, rubber and vinyl at the right dilution.
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Rinses or wipes clean: no sticky or greasy residue.
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Pleasant to use: low odour for interior work.
How to Use an All Purpose Cleaner
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Dilute the APC into a labelled spray bottle at the right strength for the job.
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Test first on a small, hidden area, especially on interior surfaces.
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Spray onto the surface or onto a brush or microfibre cloth for interiors and electronics.
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Agitate with a detailing brush to lift dirt from textures and crevices.
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Wipe or rinse away the residue before it dries.
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Protect the cleaned surface with a trim, tyre or interior dressing.
Where Not to Use an APC
Avoid strong APC dilutions on leather, Alcantara and suede, touchscreens, piano-black trim and unprotected aluminium. Use a dedicated leather cleaner, alcantara cleaner or interior detailer instead. An APC isn't a replacement for car shampoo on paint, because stronger dilutions can weaken wax and sealants.
APC vs Dedicated Cleaners
An APC covers most general cleaning jobs, which makes it great value and ideal for a compact kit. Dedicated products still do certain jobs better: engine bay degreasers for heavy oil, carpet and fabric cleaners for deep stains, and wheel cleaners for brake dust.
Why Buy All Purpose Cleaner From Car Care Products Australia?
Car Care Products Australia has supplied detailing products to enthusiasts and professional detailers since 2007. We're the official Australian distributor for GYEON and stock all purpose cleaners from leading brands, including Dodo Juice. Not sure which is right for you? Visit our showrooms in Leichhardt, Sydney or Murarrie, Brisbane, call 1300 006 007, or contact our team. Free shipping on orders over $150 (conditions apply).
All Purpose Cleaner FAQs
What is an all purpose cleaner used for in car detailing?
An all purpose cleaner (APC) is used for general cleaning on many surfaces, including interior plastics, door jambs, engine bays, tyres, wheel arches, exterior trim and fabric. It's diluted stronger or weaker depending on how dirty and how delicate the surface is.
What is the best all purpose cleaner for cars?
The best APC for cars is concentrated, dilutes to different strengths, cleans effectively without leaving residue, and is safe on automotive plastics, rubber and vinyl at the recommended dilution. A low-odour formula is ideal for interiors.
How do I dilute an all purpose cleaner?
Follow the dilution guide on the label. As a general rule, use stronger dilutions for greasy engine bays, tyres and wheel arches, and weaker dilutions for interior plastics and fabric. Label your spray bottles so you don't mix them up.
Can I use APC on my car interior?
Yes, at a weaker dilution. APC is great for interior plastics, vinyl, door cards and fabric spot cleaning. Spray onto a cloth or brush rather than directly onto electronics, and avoid using it on leather, Alcantara and screens.
Is APC safe on car paint?
A diluted APC can be used to spot-clean paint or door jambs, but it isn't a replacement for car shampoo. Stronger dilutions can weaken wax and sealants, so rinse thoroughly and re-apply protection if needed.
Can I use APC to clean tyres?
Yes. A stronger APC dilution and a stiff brush remove old dressing and browning from tyres. Scrub until the foam runs white, rinse, and let the tyre dry before applying tyre dressing.
Can I use household cleaners instead of a car APC?
It's not recommended. Household cleaners can be too harsh or leave residue, and may stain or dry out automotive plastics and rubber. A car APC is formulated for automotive surfaces and can be diluted for each job.
