Best Interior APC Cleaner

[Mantilgh]

I agree about following up higher pH cleaners with a rinsing wipe.

In extreme circumstances leftover cleaners can attract dirt.

One of the first cars I did had so much cleaner in the seats and carpet that you could just spray it with water and agitation would produce thick foam.

It could have been from the used lot he bought it from or the previous owner using one of those OTC spray and vacuum up style cleaners.

 

[aztec1987]

I use CG Inner Clean and follow up with either VRP, Hyper Coat G6, or Silk Shine

 

[conman1395]

Thank you for bringing this up - This is a question I think of every time I see people mention using an APC as an interior cleaner.

From reading online and listening to podcasts (Optimum, Ammo, Auto-detailing), my understanding is that most APC's are Alkaline in PH level and if you don't follow it with another product (or at least thorough rinsing), if the surface isn't left PH neutral it will actually attract dirt more readily? Though recently I had seen someone mention that leather surfaces should be left slightly alkaline?

Hopefully my question makes sense. Any time it's been brought up, it's been more informational sounding vs sales-pitchy (buy our extreme cleaner and our PH blaster dressing!).

I've spent all semester dealing with acids and bases... Has me thinking about bringing some different APCs into the lab and using an array of indicators and pH probes... Ugh never mind.

Leaving the surface with APC on it isn't going to attract dirt because the pH is different. It will attract dirt because that's what surfactants (one component that does the cleaning) are meant to do though. Honestly, with leather/vinyl/(they're the same thing when coated) it's not going to make much of a difference. A damp towel or dry towel will do 99.5% of the same thing.

Should leather be left alkaline? Well, leather is tanned (not tan as in color) using alkaline chemicals and I believe products like saddle soap are alkaline as well. But WHEN WE COAT LEATHER IT'S PROPERTIES ARE COMPLETELY CHANGED. This is the reason why so many people think conditioning leather is pointless. Whether or not it is is up for debate.

 

[oneheadlite]

Thanks for the insight!

 

[RippyD]

It will attract dirt because that's what surfactants (one component that does the cleaning) are meant to do though. Honestly, with leather/vinyl/(they're the same thing when coated) it's not going to make much of a difference. A damp towel or dry towel will do 99.5% of the same thing.

Following up to an older post. I was a chem minor, and agree 100%. (Pls don't ask any chem questions - that was 100 years ago and I was not deep on polymers.)

Posted in on of the DG threads but will do so here as well. Had a really dirty back of one seat (leather) and compared Opt PC to DG APC to Blackfire Interior Cleaner. All worked well. But DG at 3:1 vs. Opt at 3:1 was much better. Could be it's just a stronger cleaner - not sure. But it got that stuff clean with very little effort. I went over it with water - didn't want to leave anything too strong on there. Really like OPC and have a gallon. I think DG will be go-to APC after I use up the OPC.

It seems I've also been using my cleaners maybe too diluted. They work, but are taking more effort. For the dash that's just dusty I'll use water only or 20:1 or 30:1 APC. For dirty stuff, I may start using 3:1 rather than 10:1 as a was doing previously. The difference was no small, esp for DG APC.