Resorting to the typical car comparisons for car cleaning products, all-purpose cleaners (APC) are the humble VW Golfs. A solid and very capable choice, even if it's not the most exciting or dramatic.
With the plethora of car cleaning products with different purposes on sale, you'd be forgiven for wishing there was one product that could do most, if not all, jobs. From glass cleaners to bird poo removers, there really is no shortage of car cleaning niches on the market.
This means that in a world of exciting snow foam and other suitably colourful cleaning products, it can be easy to overlook how good APC is. After all, this dilutable cleaner is powerful. Powerful enough to degrease an engine bay while being gentle enough to give your fabric seats a little lift.
The best all-purpose cleaners at a glance:
Editor's pick: Bilt Hamber Surfex HD - Buy from Amazon
Best budget APC: CarPlan Demon Super Active Cleaner - Buyfrom Amazon
Best pre-wash and APC combination: Autobrite Direct LTD Citrus Wash - Buy from Euro Car Parts
We're here to rectify this. We're making the case for the single all-purpose cleaner because it can be used to clean pretty much any surface. We consider it pretty essential and should find itself on your shopping list. We've listed our favourite APCs currently for sale, factoring in price, quality, whether it's kind to the planet, and how many surfaces it can be used on to determine the best one for sale. After all, it's nice to have a single spray to clean things before whipping out the microfibre towel.
The best all-purpose cleaners for your car
Editor's pick
Via Bilt HamberDescription
Our top choice for APC is from Bilt Hamber. Entirely water-based and biodegradable, this powerful cleaner is suitable for use on pretty much any surface you'll find in a car, including fabric upholstery.
It's recommended you dilute it for lighter cleaning tasks, which means a one-litre bottle should last you ages. Even better, it can also be used as a degreaser when used in a more powerful dilution.
Pros
- Impressive cleaning
- Good value for money
Cons
- Not a replacement for all cleaning products
Best APC for beginners
Via AutoglymDescription
One of the most significant drawbacks of traditional APCs is the requirement to decant and dilute the cleaner into a spray bottle with water to get your desired cleaning strength. Autoglym solves this issue with a pre-mixed APC that can work effectively on all surfaces without the need to be diluted.
It works as a pre-wash on exterior surfaces, including wheels, loosening dirt prior to a wash and as a heavy-duty interior cleaner, all without needing to add water. The spray nozzle ensures that dirt traps like the fuel filler cap and door sills can be properly treated, and it leaves behind a refreshing orange scent once applied. If you're new to the world of APC, Autoglym's product is the best place to start.
Pros
- perfect for most cleaning tasks
- Lovely zesty fragrance
Cons
- Not recommended to be used as a quick interior cleaner
Best pre-wash and APC combination
Via Autobritewww.eurocarparts.com
Description
Working as both a pre-wash and an APC, Citrus Wash from Autobrite Direct is a clever and hassle-free way of preparing a car for shampooing or simply removing excess dirt. It even comes in a healthy 1-litre bottle, so it'll last a decent amount of time.
Made with citrus oils to help enhance its cleaning ability, the Citrus Wash is both effective as pre-washing a vehicle and cleaning the greasy grime off it too.
Pros
- Excellent and versatile cleaning ability
- Good value for money
- A genuine alternative to snow foam
Cons
- Strong smell before dilution
Best bulk-buy APC
Via GtechniqDescription
This giant five-litre bottle of biodegradable APC will leave you enough diluted cleaner to clean an ocean tanker, so a fleet of cars will be a doddle. Like the other examples here, it's dilutable depending on your cleaning needs, from neat down to 10:1 for shifting lighter grime. It's also safe to use at any dilution on any wax or sealant applied to a car.
It's not just designed for car materials. Gtechniq proudly boasts that this APC is suitable for cleaning concrete and furniture, which makes it a clever cleaning option for around the home too. It only has a 12-month shelf life after being opened but is available in a 500ml bottle too.
Pros
- Big bottle
- Biodegradable
- Dilute depending on your needs
Cons
- Short shelf life once opened
Best budget APC
Via CarPlanDescription
This CarPlan cleaner isn't quite on the same level as other APCs simply because it can't be used on soft surfaces (like your car's seats). That being said, for use on hard surfaces, including glass, it's still a solid choice for cleaning and can cut through grease and grime with ease.
It's good value for money too. And perhaps the most pleasing of all, it will leave a refreshing citrus scent once you're done. If anything, it's an AAPC (almost all-purpose cleaner).
Pros
- Nice scent
- Works well with ease
Cons
- It can't be used on soft surfaces
Best premium APC
Via Meguiar'sDescription
Albeit it's not as environmentally conscious as others, this APC from Meguiar's is still a very good choice for cleaning your car. It can be used inside and out on hard and soft surfaces and is effective on grime and grease.
It can be applied to a wide range of surfaces, including wheels, rubber, chrome, and even your interior. If you need to hastily clean parts of your car after just arriving at a show, then the Meguiar's bottle is perfect for it. It's just a shame that it doesn't come in larger bottles than a mere 710ml.
Pros
- Very effective APC on grease and grime
- Leads to incredible results
Cons
- 710ml can be chewed through relatively quickly
What you need to know about all-purpose cleaners (APCs)
What is APC?
All-purpose cleaner is, basically, an all-purpose cleaner. Designed to remove grime, grease and dirt from pretty much any surface you can think of. From an effective glass cleaner to a whole bunch of other things, APC is a generalised cleaner that's almost a Jack of all trades. Often alkaline-based (it's safer for cleaning cars than acid) and bleach-free, they're safe to use in a car.
Many APCs can also be diluted depending on the scale of cleaning required too. Expect heavy dilutions to be perfect for shifting baked-in gunk and lighter mixes to be more useful at lifting stains. However, for shifting sticky stains such as tar, APCs won't be as effective as a bottle of tar remover.
Does that mean I should keep my other cleaning products?
Basically, yes. Just because APC can be used on almost all surfaces to clean them doesn't mean you won't need other cleaning products. Specialised products will better clean and protect surfaces even if APC can be used to quickly give them a spruce up. A big bottle of car shampoo will be your best friend for a proper, deep wash of your bodywork. And it will do it more effectively than APC could only dream of.
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Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tools Editor for CAR, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. With an MA in Automotive Journalism, when he's not testing buckets he can be found looking at old Porsches.