All Purpose Cleaner, created equal?

Hey, I`m shopping around for an APC and found
1. Meg Detailer APC+
2. Meg Detailer APC Degreaser
3. Simple Green

I noticed the Meg`s differ by "Butyl" formulation.... I really want something I could use for the Engine, Tires, Carpets, and Velour. My main concerns are irritant (mostly smell :fart and respiratory). I know most of you guys use the APC+, what are some dilution ratios you use?

On a seperate note, what does engine kote do? I gather its an engine protectant from properautocare. Thanks for all the replies.

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Originally posted by filipzin
Hey, I`m shopping around for an APC and found
1. Meg Detailer APC+
2. Meg Detailer APC Degreaser
3. Simple Green

I noticed the Meg`s differ by "Butyl" formulation.... I really want something I could use for the Engine, Tires, Carpets, and Velour. My main concerns are irritant (mostly smell :fart and respiratory). I know most of you guys use the APC+, what are some dilution ratios you use?

On a seperate note, what does engine kote do? I gather its an engine protectant from properautocare. Thanks for all the replies.

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It is probably a good idea for you to follow Meguiar`s recommended dilution ratios for APC+.

Now, having said that, I happen to use a mix of 10:1 water/APC+ for just about everything. Carpet, mats, cloth upholstery, vinyl, tires, wheelwells, and engine compartment. My vehicles are not usually too dirty and that ratio might not be strong enough for really dirty engines or tires. In fact, I usually can just wash my wheels, tires, and engine with regular car wash soap.
APC+ seems to do it all for me. I think you would be happy with it. The $11 dollar gallon of APC+ makes 10 gallon of cleaning solution so it is priced right for the high volume user as well as us hobby detailers.

Charles

i used to use simple green on everything and never had a problem . keep it simple

Super Clean by Castrol, excellent stuff........

Simple Green though has that tell tale Simple Green smell... :(
I prefer to use AutoMagic`s Red-Hot. It has a pleasant smell, and can be used everywhere from an interior cleaner to a motor degreaser when diluted to the right ratio. I mix it 1 gallon product to 4 gallons water, in 5 gallon dispensers, then mix it 50-50 with water in spray bottles.

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Originally posted by Patrick
Super Clean by Castrol, excellent stuff........

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Is that the stuff they sell at Wally World? You can use it on everything?

great suggestion dr detail reguarding te five gallon mix ratio prep. i will be stealing that idea and put it to use on monday. one other suggestion is to purshase the siple green from your do-it yourself store in the industrial strenght/commercial one gallon size,rather than the smaller concentrete or premixed ones offered at wallmart.i beleive that your club/membership outlets carry them as well. do you guys know if simple green offers their product in a five gallon size? i always go with the fives, the will pay off in the long run and you will go through tis stuff if you use it as mucjh as i do.i stand behind simple green after trying allthe other products out there.and yes the smell is very original, red-hot is nice smell though, but we aren`t using it as air freshener,and they dont linger,and automagic although superior in some cases dosen`t seem to do anything better than good old simple green. thats just my opinion and opinions are like....
rob

I use Simple Green for my fender walls. Remove dirt and grime with little effort.

I looked around and am still interested in either simple green or APC+.... if you buy a lot of simplegreen products, you can trade the upc for points.... 35 points gets two dilution bottles with sprayer (i`ve been going crazy trying to find some of those) :D $3 for S+H of course

I use some stuff by Castle called 2-22. It`s purple and has a chemically smell but it does the job. For $40/5 gal of concentrate it`s the cheapest I`ve seen. I miss Auto Magic Red Hot. The distributor just stopped showing up for some reason and haven`t bought AM in over a year. I`d say my favorite in the end is Ardex New Wave. It works just as good as Red Hot and the smell is just great.

the stuff some of you mention the castrol APC or that purple stuff from wally world works great not all that exspensive either

I like the Kirkland (Costco) brand APC. Its something like $6.XX for 1.25 gallons and I can just pick it up when I am on my weekly run for 5lb tubs of mayo.

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Originally posted by ottoman
I can just pick it up when I am on my weekly run for 5lb tubs of mayo.

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5 lbs. of mayo a week???? You do have a restaurant, right?

Charles

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Originally posted by CharlesW
Now, having said that, I happen to use a mix of 10:1 water/APC+ for just about everything. Carpet, mats, cloth upholstery, vinyl, tires, wheelwells, and engine compartment.

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Ditto. The same general dilution covers almost all my needs as well. At 10:1 APC+ is even safe if you get it on painted surfaces (although I still wouldn`t let it sit there too long). If used for engine degreasing a stronger, 4:1 dilution will work better.

I`ve found a different Meg`s Detailer Line product for use on wheels that I like better than APC+. Meg`s Citri-Gel diluted at 1:1 works very well on wheels/brake dust and is supremely safe. Plus since it is a gel like product it clings to vertical surfaces instead of running off like APC+. The cling helps dwell time and allows the product to do the work instead of the detailer and a scrub brush.

Between APC+ and Citri-Gel all bases are covered.

Charles,
I just like mayo on everything. Of course I am just joking around. I always end up buying the big, bulk-sized items and I never get around to finishing it before it goes bad. Really hard to limit yourself at a place like Costco or Sams. Especially the bakery items!!!