Does Simple Green APC Remove Contaminants from Car Paint?
When it comes to car detailing, one of the most important aspects of maintaining your vehicle’s appearance is keeping the paint clean and free of contaminants. Over time, dirt, grime, road tar, tree sap, and other contaminants can stick to your car’s paint, making it look dull and aged. To combat this, many car owners turn to automotive cleaners, with Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner (APC) being one of the more popular options. But the question remains: does Simple Green APC effectively remove contaminants from car paint? Let’s dive into the details.
What is Simple Green APC?
Simple Green APC (All-Purpose Cleaner) is a popular cleaning solution designed to tackle a wide variety of surfaces. It’s known for being versatile and effective at cutting through grease, oil, dirt, and grime. The product is often marketed as a safe, environmentally friendly cleaner due to its non-toxic and biodegradable ingredients, making it a go-to option for general cleaning tasks in homes, garages, and vehicles.
For automotive purposes, many enthusiasts and DIYers alike have used Simple Green APC to clean their cars, especially for tasks like cleaning wheels, engines, and undercarriages. But what about its ability to remove contaminants that affect the car’s paint?
Types of Contaminants Found on Car Paint
Before we answer the question, it’s important to understand the types of contaminants that may stick to your car’s paint:
- Environmental Pollutants: Things like bird droppings, tree sap, road salt, and industrial fallout can all adhere to your car’s paint, often causing long-term damage if not addressed promptly.
- Industrial Fallout & Rail Dust: Tiny metal particles from the environment can embed themselves into your car’s paint, causing a rough surface texture that may not wash off with regular washing.
- Road Tar & Asphalt: These sticky substances can build up along the lower parts of your car, especially the bumper and fenders.
- Water Spots: Hard water deposits can form on your car’s surface after washing, leaving unsightly spots.
Does Simple Green APC Remove Contaminants?
Now, let’s look at how Simple Green APC performs when it comes to removing these contaminants.
- General Dirt and Grime: For surface dirt and grime, Simple Green APC is very effective. When diluted properly (typically a 1:10 ratio of cleaner to water for general use), it can break down dirt and grease that accumulate on the paint’s surface. This can help give your car a nice clean shine, though it may not be as effective for more stubborn contaminants that are embedded in the paint.
- Road Tar and Tree Sap: Simple Green APC may be able to remove light road tar and tree sap, but for more stubborn marks, you may need a specialized tar remover or sap remover. Simple Green’s formula works well on greasy residues, but sticky substances like tar can require a stronger, more targeted cleaner.
- Industrial Fallout and Rail Dust: For embedded contaminants such as iron particles from industrial fallout or rail dust, Simple Green APC is not ideal. These types of contaminants require a dedicated iron remover or a clay bar treatment. The APC may clean the surface dirt around the contamination but will not pull out the embedded particles from the paint.
- Water Spots: Water spots caused by mineral deposits can often be cleaned using Simple Green APC. However, if the spots have been left on for too long and have hardened, they might require a more specialized mineral deposit remover or polishing compound to fully eliminate the spots without damaging the paint.
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The Role of Clay Bar Treatment
While Simple Green APC can be effective for general cleaning, it’s important to note that APCs in general are not formulated to perform the deeper cleaning necessary for contaminants that have bonded to the paint. To remove more embedded contaminants, a clay bar treatment is a much more effective method. A clay bar can safely remove bonded contaminants that even thorough washing might leave behind.
Should You Use Simple Green APC on Car Paint?
For light cleaning jobs and routine maintenance, Simple Green APC can be a useful tool in your car care arsenal. However, for more serious paint contamination issues, it’s not a catch-all solution. It’s a good idea to complement it with other cleaning methods, such as:
- Clay Bar Treatment: To remove embedded contaminants.
- Specialized Tar or Sap Remover: For sticky substances.
- Iron Remover: For industrial fallout or rail dust.
- Car Wash Soap: For regular cleaning and maintenance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Simple Green APC is a great all-purpose cleaner for removing surface dirt, grime, and light contaminants from your car’s paint. However, when it comes to tougher, more stubborn contaminants like industrial fallout, road tar, or water spots, it may not be the most effective solution. Using a combination of appropriate cleaners, a clay bar, and proper detailing techniques will give your car the best chance of staying clean and protected.
As always, it’s important to carefully read the instructions and do a test on a small area before using any cleaner on your car’s paint to avoid potential damage. By using Simple Green APC as part of a larger car detailing routine, you can help keep your vehicle’s paint in top condition for years to come.