You’ll realise the value of a good APC (all purpose cleaner) because, bottle after bottle, you’ll notice that car cleaning products are more than just washing-up liquid and T-Cut nowadays. There is a plethora of specialised detailing products that’ll make your car look great but spend most of their life taking up shelf space in your garage – talk about a shelf life (sorry).
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a single product that can give every surface in your car a quick spruce up without the need to grab the whole car cleaning kit and set aside an hour from your day? APCs sound like the perfect solution, a near-universal cleaner that can be used for your car’s interior and exterior.
While there’s no hard rule for what an all purpose cleaner is, there are common features present in the best examples. Unlike car shampoo, an APC will be diluteable for different cleaning tasks, with stronger formulas for degreasing engines and weaker ones for fabric cleaning. More often than not, all purpose cleaners will also be made up of a mixture of surfactants and solvents to perform the cleaning tasks. We’ve selected our favourite APCs so you can add a new garage essential to your cleaning arsenal.
The best APCs at a glance:
Editor’s pick: Bilt Hamber Sufex HD – Buy from Amazon.
Best APC for detailing: Meguiar’s D10101 All Purpose Cleaner – Buy from Amazon.
Best APC for interiors: ValetPRO Classic All Purpose Cleaner – Buy from Amazon.
The best APCs for car care:
Editor's pick
While you'll probably need to dilute it for light-duty cleaning, it's still our top choice, and one bottle should last ages. The fact it can be used as a degreaser too, is a bonus.
Pros
- Very versatile cleaner
- Biodegradable
Cons
- Needs something to decant the product into
Best bulk-buy APC
Like Bilt Hamber Surfex-HD, the W5 All Purpose Cleaner can be used on a range of surfaces (including fabrics) and is biodegradable.
Pros
- Biodegradable formula
- Excellent cleaner
Cons
- You'll need to store this big bottle
Best APC for interiors
Dilute it to 1:10 for cleaning, which means this bottle should give you roughly 10 litres of cleaning product.
Pros
- Great for interiors
- Can also be used externally too
Cons
- Only one dilution ratio
Best budget APC
Pros
- Value for money
- Leaves a citrus scent
Cons
- Not suitable for soft surfaces
Best APC for detailing
Rrp: $34.90
Rrp: $34.90
It acts as not only an effective pre-wash but also an ideal interior cleaner as well, designed to tackle a wide array of surfaces. These include paint, wheels, rubber, glass, and most interior surfaces like leather, fabric and carpet.
Pros
- Excellent all purpose cleaner
- Works on most surfaces
Cons
- Doesn't include spray bottle, which you might need
Best APC spray for beginners
While it can be used to clean your car's interior, too, Autoglym states that it should only be used for a deep clean once or twice a year. Mainly because the brand already provides an interior shampoo for regular cleaning purposes.
Pros
- Very effective APC
- Tackles a number of different jobs
Cons
- Not recommended for regular cleaning in the cabin
What you need to know about APC
What should I use an APC for?
An all-purpose cleaner pretty much sums up what it is. A generalised cleaner that’s designed for cleaning both the inside and outside of your car. They act as all-in-one solutions that combine anything from alloy wheel cleaners to interior detailers.
They’re great for dissolving grease and lifting marks. APCs are often alkaline-based while also bleach and ammonia-free. Larger containers will often need to be diluted and decanted into a spray bottle for use. Only then can you perhaps get the wash mitt out.
Do I still need other cleaning products?
Despite the name, APC won’t isn’t the only cleaning product you could ever need. Properly cleaning and detailing your car takes several different cleaning products. For example, with convertible cars with soft top roofs, a dash of dedicated soft top cleaner for them is ideal. But for a quick spruce-up, APC is a really good choice and can save you lots of time.
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tools Editor for Parkers, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. A veteran car cleaner; if it details, waxes or washes he’ll be on hand to make sure it’s worth your money.
Sign up to the Parkers Newsletter to keep up to date with more of the latest reviews, news, and recommendations from the Parkers team.
Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections – read why you should trust us.
