Interior Care
The Best All-Purpose Cleaner for Cars in 2026
An all-purpose cleaner is a concentrate, and the dilution decides whether it is an engine degreaser or a seat cleaner. Four of these five never say what that dilution is.
By Sawyer V. · Last verified 2026-09-10
We have not tested any of this. Everything below is compiled from published manufacturer specifications, and the arithmetic is printed so you can check it. This page carries affiliate links: if you buy through one we earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and it does not change the order of the picks. Full disclosure.
| # | Pick | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gtechniq W5 Citrus All-Purpose Cleaner Gtechniq | The only all-purpose cleaner here with a published dilution | 8.6/10 | Check price on Amazon |
| 2 | Adam's All Purpose Cleaner Adam's Polishes | One concentrate from grease to leather, diluted | 7.2/10 | Check price on Amazon |
| 3 | Chemical Guys All Clean+ Citrus All Purpose Cleaner Chemical Guys | Nothing here, on published information | 7.1/10 | Check price on Amazon |
| 4 | Mothers Professional All-Purpose Cleaner Concentrate Mothers | A surface list split by strength | 7.0/10 | Check price on Amazon |
| 5 | 3D All-Purpose Cleaner 3D Car Care | Organic stains and the smells that come with them | 6.2/10 | Check price on Amazon |
No live price is currently verified, so every button here reads Check price rather than a number we cannot stand behind. Why we do it that way.
The dilution is the product
An all-purpose cleaner is sold strong so that one bottle can do everything, and water is how you turn it down. The concentrate that lifts grease from a fender well will stain a delicate surface at full strength, which is why the ratio is the most important number an APC maker can publish.
One maker here publishes one. Gtechniq state W5 goes on neat for serious messes or diluted 10:1 for lighter cleaning. Adam’s say theirs is gentle enough for body panels, interior components and even leather when diluted, without saying by how much. Mothers describe uses at higher concentration without a ratio, 3D say theirs can be diluted to best fit the job, and Chemical Guys say to dilute All Clean+ to clean various surfaces.
| Cleaner | Sizes | Published dilution | Cheapest per oz | Stated surfaces |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gtechniq W5 | 500ml / 1 liter / 5 liters | Neat, or 10:1 for lighter cleaning | $0.30 | Engine bays, wheel wells, carpets, interior fabrics |
| Mothers Professional | 1 gallon / 5 gallons | By strength, no ratio | $0.17 | Carpets, fabrics, vinyl upholstery, engine compartments, fender wells, door jambs |
| Adam's All Purpose Cleaner | 16 oz / gallon / 5 gallons | Not published | $0.27 | Body panels, interiors, leather when diluted, and thirteen more named |
| 3D All Purpose Cleaner | 16 oz / gallon | Not published | $0.27 | Leather, vinyl, rubber, plastic, cloth seats, door panels |
| Chemical Guys All Clean+ | 16 oz / gallon | Not published | $0.41 | Plastic, vinyl, carpets |
Strong enough for an engine is too strong for a dashboard
Mothers are the most explicit about strength: carpets, fabrics, vinyl upholstery, engine compartments, fender wells and door jambs at normal use, and wheels, tires, whitewalls and carpet pre-spotting at higher concentration. A surface list split by strength is the next best thing to a ratio.
Adam’s publish the most careful instruction: rinse and dry immediately, and on a delicate surface follow with a microfiber towel dampened with water to avoid staining. An APC left to dry is how it stains, whichever bottle it came from. For screens, piano black and soft-touch dashboards, a dedicated interior cleaner is the safer tool.
Only one maker addresses your wax
Gtechniq state W5 is safe for sealants, waxes, trim and chrome and cleans without stripping protection. None of the other four addresses protection at all, which matters on a waxed or coated car: a cleaner strong enough to degrease can be strong enough to shorten a wax.
3D’s enzyme is aimed at a different mess
3D state their cleaner contains an enzyme that removes biological and organic stains and their odors, alongside inorganic stains such as make-up, motor oil, grease and tar. That makes it the one here aimed at the back seat after children or dogs rather than the engine bay. Removing odors from a car covers the rest of that job.
What to buy
- The only published dilution, and cheap to try: Gtechniq W5, $7.95 for 500ml.
- Volume, with a surface list split by strength: Mothers Professional, $21.59 a gallon.
- The longest surface list, from exhaust tips to canvas tops: Adam's All Purpose Cleaner, $12.99 for 16 oz.
- Organic stains and the smells that come with them: 3D All Purpose Cleaner, with its enzyme.
- Engine bays specifically: a degreaser sold for the job, compared in the engine bay roundup.
Every pick, with the working
Each entry lists the specifications the maker publishes, the axis scores those specifications produce, and what you give up. Rows that read “Not published” are not omissions on our side: they are figures the maker will not commit to in writing, and they cost the product points on the transparency axis.
Our pickThe only all-purpose cleaner here with a published dilution
Gtechniq W5 Citrus All-Purpose Cleaner
Gtechniq
$7.95 for 500ml, biodegradable and citrus-based, and Gtechniq publish how to use it: neat for heavy soiling or diluted 10:1 for lighter jobs. That ratio is the figure an all-purpose cleaner most needs, and nobody else on this page gives one.
- Sizes
- 500ml ($7.95), 1 liter ($13.95), 5 liters ($49.95)
- Dilution
- Neat for heavy soiling; 10:1 for lighter cleaning
- Chemistry
- Biodegradable, citrus-based
- Stated surfaces
- Engine bays, wheel wells, carpets, interior fabrics
- pH
- Not published
What it does well
- Dilution published: 10:1 for lighter cleaning
- Stated safe on sealants, waxes, trim and chrome
- Biodegradable citrus chemistry stated
- Rated from engine bays and wheel wells to carpets and fabrics
- 5 liters for $49.95 is 30 cents an ounce
Who it is not for
- One dilution published, not a range by task
- No pH published
- Gtechniq's own site sits behind a bot challenge; figures from an authorized retailer
How this score was calculated
- Protection claimdropped
- Nothing in this category is bought on how long it lasts, so the axis is dropped and the other weights are re-normalized.
- Capabilitydropped
- No single published number decides capability in this category, so the axis is dropped rather than invented.
- Cost per ounce10.0/10, weight 16%
- $7.95 for 16.9 oz works out at $0.47 an ounce, scored against a band of $0.60 (good) to $2.00 (expensive) for a interior cleaner.
- Price against the ceiling7.7/10, weight 14%
- A listed $7.95 against the $35 one upgrade in this category realistically tops out at. A list price captured on the compile date, not a live price and not what you will pay.
- Written commitmentdropped
- Gtechniq publishes no warranty term on this product's own page, so the axis is dropped. On a tool that is worth noticing, and it costs the product points on transparency instead.
- Spec transparency8.0/10, weight 18%
- 4 of the 5 specifications we went looking for are published by Gtechniq. Every blank row below is something the maker will not put in writing, and it costs the product points here.
List price $7.95 per The Rag Company, captured on the compile date below. Not a live price and not what you will pay — the button is where the real number is.
Specifications from The Rag Company's Gtechniq W5 listing, compiled September 8, 2026.
2One concentrate from grease to leather, diluted
Adam's All Purpose Cleaner
Adam's Polishes
$12.99 for 16 oz up to $169.99 for 5 gallons, a concentrated heavy-duty formula Adam's describe as strong enough at full strength for grease and gentle enough diluted for body panels, interior components and even leather.
- Sizes
- 16 oz ($12.99), gallon ($44.99), 5 gallon ($169.99)
- Format
- Concentrate
- Stated surfaces
- Body panels, interior components, leather when diluted
- Also stated safe on
- Rubber, wheels, underbodies, engine bays, fender wells, exhaust tips, vinyl tops and seats, bed liners, tonneau covers, carpeted mats, canvas tops
- Dilution ratio
- Not published
- pH
- Not published
What it does well
- The longest published surface list here, from exhaust tips to canvas tops
- Concentrate sold up to 5 gallons; 27 cents an ounce at that size
- Adam's state it is safe on leather when diluted
Who it is not for
- No dilution ratios published for any of the uses it names
- No pH published
- On delicate surfaces Adam's say to follow with a damp microfiber towel to avoid staining
How this score was calculated
- Protection claimdropped
- Nothing in this category is bought on how long it lasts, so the axis is dropped and the other weights are re-normalized.
- Capabilitydropped
- No single published number decides capability in this category, so the axis is dropped rather than invented.
- Cost per ounce8.5/10, weight 16%
- $12.99 for 16 oz works out at $0.81 an ounce, scored against a band of $0.60 (good) to $2.00 (expensive) for a interior cleaner.
- Price against the ceiling6.3/10, weight 14%
- A listed $12.99 against the $35 one upgrade in this category realistically tops out at. A list price captured on the compile date, not a live price and not what you will pay.
- Written commitmentdropped
- Adam's Polishes publishes no warranty term on this product's own page, so the axis is dropped. On a tool that is worth noticing, and it costs the product points on transparency instead.
- Spec transparency6.7/10, weight 18%
- 4 of the 6 specifications we went looking for are published by Adam's Polishes. Every blank row below is something the maker will not put in writing, and it costs the product points here.
List price $12.99 per Adam's Polishes' own store, captured on the compile date below. Not a live price and not what you will pay — the button is where the real number is.
Specifications from Adam's All Purpose Cleaner product page, compiled September 8, 2026.
3Nothing here, on published information
Chemical Guys All Clean+ Citrus All Purpose Cleaner
Chemical Guys
Skip this one. A concentrate that tells you to dilute it and never says by how much, at 41 cents an ounce by the gallon. Gtechniq publish 10:1 for $7.95, and Mothers split their surface list by strength for $21.59 a gallon.
$11.99 for 16 oz or $51.99 a gallon of a citrus-based concentrate for grease and oil on plastic, vinyl and carpet. It is described as dilutable with no ratio given, and that is the whole listing.
- Sizes
- 16 oz ($11.99), 1 gallon ($51.99)
- Chemistry
- Citrus-based concentrate
- Stated surfaces
- Plastic, vinyl, carpets
- Dilution ratio
- Not published
- pH
- Not published
What it does well
- Citrus-based, stated
- An $11.99 pint to try
Who it is not for
- "Dilute to clean" with no ratio
- No pH and no surface warnings
- Gallon at $51.99 is the dearest per ounce of the gallons here
How this score was calculated
- Protection claimdropped
- Nothing in this category is bought on how long it lasts, so the axis is dropped and the other weights are re-normalized.
- Capabilitydropped
- No single published number decides capability in this category, so the axis is dropped rather than invented.
- Cost per ounce8.9/10, weight 16%
- $11.99 for 16 oz works out at $0.75 an ounce, scored against a band of $0.60 (good) to $2.00 (expensive) for a interior cleaner.
- Price against the ceiling6.6/10, weight 14%
- A listed $11.99 against the $35 one upgrade in this category realistically tops out at. A list price captured on the compile date, not a live price and not what you will pay.
- Written commitmentdropped
- Chemical Guys publishes no warranty term on this product's own page, so the axis is dropped. On a tool that is worth noticing, and it costs the product points on transparency instead.
- Spec transparency6.0/10, weight 18%
- 3 of the 5 specifications we went looking for are published by Chemical Guys. Every blank row below is something the maker will not put in writing, and it costs the product points here.
List price $11.99 per Chemical Guys' own store, captured on the compile date below. Not a live price and not what you will pay — the button is where the real number is.
Specifications from Chemical Guys All Clean+ product page, compiled September 8, 2026.
4A surface list split by strength
Mothers Professional All-Purpose Cleaner Concentrate
Mothers
$21.59 a gallon of a biodegradable super-concentrate with water-miscible solvents and surfactants, and a use list split by strength: carpets, fabrics, vinyl upholstery, engine compartments, fender wells and door jambs, and at higher concentration wheels, tires and whitewalls.
- Sizes
- 1 gallon ($21.59), 5 gallon ($107.95)
- Chemistry
- Water-miscible solvents and surfactants; biodegradable
- Stated surfaces
- Carpets, fabrics, vinyl upholstery, engine compartments, fender wells, door jambs
- At higher concentration
- Wheels, tires, whitewalls, pre-spotting
- Dilution ratio
- Not published
- pH
- Not published
What it does well
- Surface list published, split by concentration
- Biodegradable, stated
- $21.59 a gallon is 17 cents an ounce before dilution
Who it is not for
- Sold by the gallon or 5 gallons only
- Concentrations described, not given as ratios
- No pH published
How this score was calculated
- Protection claimdropped
- Nothing in this category is bought on how long it lasts, so the axis is dropped and the other weights are re-normalized.
- Capabilitydropped
- No single published number decides capability in this category, so the axis is dropped rather than invented.
- Cost per ounce10.0/10, weight 16%
- $21.59 for 128 oz works out at $0.17 an ounce, scored against a band of $0.60 (good) to $2.00 (expensive) for a interior cleaner.
- Price against the ceiling3.8/10, weight 14%
- A listed $21.59 against the $35 one upgrade in this category realistically tops out at. A list price captured on the compile date, not a live price and not what you will pay.
- Written commitmentdropped
- Mothers publishes no warranty term on this product's own page, so the axis is dropped. On a tool that is worth noticing, and it costs the product points on transparency instead.
- Spec transparency6.7/10, weight 18%
- 4 of the 6 specifications we went looking for are published by Mothers. Every blank row below is something the maker will not put in writing, and it costs the product points here.
List price $21.59 per Mothers' own store, captured on the compile date below. Not a live price and not what you will pay — the button is where the real number is.
Specifications from Mothers Professional All-Purpose Cleaner product page, compiled September 8, 2026.
5Organic stains and the smells that come with them
3D All-Purpose Cleaner
3D Car Care
$16.99 for 16 oz or $34.99 for a gallon - 27 cents an ounce - ready to use or dilutable, with an enzyme 3D state removes biological and organic stains and their odors. It names leather, vinyl, rubber, plastic, cloth seats and door panels, and gives no ratio for the jobs it says to dilute for.
- Sizes
- 16 oz ($16.99), 1 gallon ($34.99)
- Format
- Ready to use, or diluted
- Chemistry
- Contains an enzyme for biological and organic stains
- Stated surfaces
- Leather, vinyl, rubber, plastic, cloth seats, door panels, trunk, engine compartment
- Dilution ratio
- Not published
- pH
- Not published
What it does well
- Enzyme named for biological and organic stains and their odors
- Surfaces named: leather, vinyl, rubber, plastic, cloth seats, door panels
- Gallon at $34.99 is 27 cents an ounce
- Biodegradable and VOC compliant, stated
Who it is not for
- Dilutable "to best fit the job" with no ratio given
- No pH published
- The pint is poor value against the gallon
How this score was calculated
- Protection claimdropped
- Nothing in this category is bought on how long it lasts, so the axis is dropped and the other weights are re-normalized.
- Capabilitydropped
- No single published number decides capability in this category, so the axis is dropped rather than invented.
- Cost per ounce6.7/10, weight 16%
- $16.99 for 16 oz works out at $1.06 an ounce, scored against a band of $0.60 (good) to $2.00 (expensive) for a interior cleaner.
- Price against the ceiling5.1/10, weight 14%
- A listed $16.99 against the $35 one upgrade in this category realistically tops out at. A list price captured on the compile date, not a live price and not what you will pay.
- Written commitmentdropped
- 3D Car Care publishes no warranty term on this product's own page, so the axis is dropped. On a tool that is worth noticing, and it costs the product points on transparency instead.
- Spec transparency6.7/10, weight 18%
- 4 of the 6 specifications we went looking for are published by 3D Car Care. Every blank row below is something the maker will not put in writing, and it costs the product points here.
List price $16.99 per 3D Car Care's own store, captured on the compile date below. Not a live price and not what you will pay — the button is where the real number is.
Specifications from 3D Car Care's All Purpose Cleaner product page, compiled September 8, 2026.
No live price is currently verified, so every button here reads Check price rather than a number we cannot stand behind. Why we do it that way.
Questions people actually ask
+Is all-purpose cleaner safe on car paint?
+What dilution should I use?
+Is an all-purpose cleaner the same as a degreaser?
+Can I use all-purpose cleaner on leather seats?
Where these figures came from
- The Rag Company's Gtechniq W5 listing — retrieved 2026-09-10
- Mothers Professional All-Purpose Cleaner product page — retrieved 2026-09-10
- Adam's All Purpose Cleaner product page — retrieved 2026-09-10
- 3D Car Care's All Purpose Cleaner product page — retrieved 2026-09-10
- Chemical Guys All Clean+ product page — retrieved 2026-09-10
Every figure on this page is a published manufacturer or authorized-retailer claim, not a measurement we made. How we research explains exactly what we did and did not do.