Citric Acid for cleaning

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WashMe

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Does any one have a recipe for using citric acid on paint and rims? One of the larger detailers in my area uses this and said it works well.

Thanks!
 
:welcome: To Autogeek Online! :props:

I've personally never tried it but I'm curious to hear more about it.......:props:
 
Meg's used to have a citric acid-based wheel cleaner, I think it was the Gold Class. They don't seem to have a way to view MSDS at their site anymore, so I can't check it.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Meg's used to have a citric acid-based wheel cleaner, I think it was the Gold Class. They don't seem to have a way to view MSDS at their site anymore, so I can't check it.
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You are correct...looks to be, 1-5% citric acid.

I found the MSDS sheets by going to "Professional Products" and found it along the lower left side of the page, listed by SKU.

Bill
 
Welcome!

I haven't used citric either, but it sounds interesting.
 
Poorboy's Spray & Rinse wheel cleaner is citric acid. I've used it for years and have only praise for it. I used it only on wheels, tires, and fender wells, not painted surfaces.
 
RTexasF said:
Poorboy's Spray & Rinse wheel cleaner is citric acid. I've used it for years and have only praise for it. I used it only on wheels, tires, and fender wells, not painted surfaces.
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Yikes, I don't think that's right, I remember S&R being ABF (ammonium bifluoride) which is basically HF (hydrofluoric acid).

BillE said:
You are correct...looks to be, 1-5% citric acid.
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Ok...just remember citric acid doesn't do nearly the job on brake dust as other acids.
 
RTexasF said:
Poorboy's Spray & Rinse wheel cleaner is citric acid. I've used it for years and have only praise for it. I used it only on wheels, tires, and fender wells, not painted surfaces.
Click to expand...

I actually like PoorBoy's World Wheel Cleaner a lot! It's one of the only products that can be applied and rinsed without scrubbing that works as it's described....:props:

I'm wondering how straight citric acid would compare to it.

These natural juices contain citric acid but if used to clean wheels would more than likely leave a sticky mess....

  • Orange Juice
  • Grapefruit Juice
  • Lemon Juice
  • Lime Juice
 
BobbyG said:
I actually like PoorBoy's World Wheel Cleaner a lot! It's one of the only products that can be applied and rinsed without scrubbing that works as it's described....:props:

I'm wondering how straight citric acid would compare to it.
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I'm sure straight citric acid won't compare at all--because I believe the reason that S&R works so well without scrubbing--is because it's an ABF wheel cleaner.

I think comparing S&R to orange juice is a bad idea and is possibly going to cause people to not take the appropriate safety precautions with an ABF-based cleaner.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
I'm sure straight citric acid won't compare at all--because I believe the reason that S&R works so well without scrubbing--is because it's an ABF wheel cleaner.

I think comparing S&R to orange juice is a bad idea and is possibly going to cause people to not take the appropriate safety precautions with an ABF-based cleaner.
Click to expand...

I agree, no one should assume that any cleaner is as safe as a readily available fruit juices...

What is ABF based wheel cleaner?
 
:welcome:...to AGO!!


I wonder if that detailer in your area is talking about products that contain: D-limonene...
...(a major component of the oil extracted from citrus rind)...
that's used as a solvent in many cleaning products.

When this solvent is combined with a surfactant package,
the concentrations [recipe (?)] of d-Limonene are usually ~5-15%.

:)

Bob
 
I never use anything with any kind of acid in it thats just me.
 
Citric acid is extremely mild and will make a relatively ineffective cleaner in isolation. Dissolving in water will present an immediate problem because it will be horribly bad at wetting the surface - you need to add some detergent. Citrates are chelating agents but they are much weaker than most chelating agents one would find in wheel cleaners and even bodywash products.

If there is a fluoride in a product, there is a good chance that this is doing a lot of the work.

Limonenes are indeed citrus extracts but they are effective against organic contaminants like oils/tar/etc. - they will be all but useless when it comes to things like metallic brake dust. The only chance such a product has of being effective would be if the dust was covered in oily residues.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Yikes, I don't think that's right, I remember S&R being ABF (ammonium bifluoride) which is basically HF (hydrofluoric acid).



Ok...just remember citric acid doesn't do nearly the job on brake dust as other acids.
Click to expand...
Taken from AG product page:
Poorboy’s Spray and Rinse Wheel Cleaner is an aggressive citrus cleaner.</B> The scent is pleasant, though a little strong, so use Poorboy’s in a well-ventilated area.
 
Rsurfer said:
Taken from AG product page:
Poorboy’s Spray and Rinse Wheel Cleaner is an aggressive citrus cleaner.</B> The scent is pleasant, though a little strong, so use Poorboy’s in a well-ventilated area.
Click to expand...

A long time ago, a detailer on another forum, who would certainly now be described as a "famous" detailer (although now perhaps he is a famous drug rep) had a public hissy fit at Poorboy Steve because he was using that "safe" SnR which he found out had ABF in it when he got the MSDS. Now that's not to say that the formula hasn't changed, but any wheel cleaner that will dissolve brake dust without agitation is HF or ABF-based, IMO.

EDIT: From the Poorboy's World site: "Spray & Rinse is a professional grade acidic blended product for the quick and easy removal of brake dust and road grime from most wheels....Use of protective clothing, gloves and goggles is advisable."
 
Setec Astronomy said:
A long time ago, a detailer on another forum, who would certainly now be described as a "famous" detailer (although now perhaps he is a famous drug rep) had a public hissy fit at Poorboy Steve because he was using that "safe" SnR which he found out had ABF in it when he got the MSDS. Now that's not to say that the formula hasn't changed, but any wheel cleaner that will dissolve brake dust without agitation is HF or ABF-based, IMO.

EDIT: From the Poorboy's World site: "Spray & Rinse is a professional grade acidic blended product for the quick and easy removal of brake dust and road grime from most wheels....Use of protective clothing, gloves and goggles is advisable."
Click to expand...
Sounds like an acid to me. I thought only Chemical Guys hyped their product.
 
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