All Purpose Degreaser

Grease has a talent for showing up everywhere except where you want it: the engine cover, the wheel barrels, the floor mats, and somehow the sleeve of your favorite hoodie. At Chemical Guys, we make concentrated degreasers you can dilute to match the mess, from baked-on engine grime to lighter spots on interior plastic. Here, we cover what an all-purpose degreaser does, which one of ours to grab, where to use it, and how to work it safely so the grime leaves and your surfaces stay happy.

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    ALL CLEAN+ ALL PURPOSE CLEANER & DEGREASER
    Concentrated formula can be diluted to tackle many cleaning tasks, from heavy-duty grease and grime to lighter issues on surfaces like vinyl, carpets, engines, plastic, and wheels.
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What Is All Purpose Degreaser And When Do You Need One

It is a concentrated cleaner designed to break down oily residue left by regular soap. Knowing what it handles, and what it does not, keeps every job simpler.

What A Degreaser Tackles

Sticky grease, oil stains, hydraulic fluid, diesel fuel, and motor oil all cling to surfaces in a way water and gentle soaps cannot shift. A good degreaser for car care breaks that bond so the mess can be scrubbed loose and rinsed away instead of smeared around.

Why Car Wash Soap Falls Short

Car wash soaps are pH-balanced for safe contact with paint and clear coat. That makes them great for body panels but too mild for petroleum-based grease, so they only clean the surface of an oily engine cover or a grimy lower panel. A degreaser fills that gap by targeting the oily layer soap leaves behind.

When A Specialty Cleaner Fits Better

Some messes have their own chemistry. Brake dust and iron fallout on wheels respond best to formulas designed for them, which is why our Wheel & Tire Cleaners collection includes options like Diablo Wheel Cleaner, a pH-balanced, non-caustic formula safe for all wheel finishes.

Where Can You Use All Purpose Car Cleaner

A diluted all purpose degreaser covers far more of your ride than most people expect. Match the strength to the surface:

  • Engine Bays: Cut through layers of oil, coolant residue, and road grime on engine covers, brackets, and hoses for a cleaner, refreshed look every time you pop the hood.
  • Undercarriage & Suspension: A stronger dilution handles the grease and road film that build up on undercarriages and suspension components, which rarely see a wash mitt.
  • Wheels & Tires: Lift greasy road grime from tire sidewalls and wheel surfaces before your regular wheel cleaner and tire dressing take over.
  • Interior Plastic & Vinyl: A more diluted mix removes greasy fingerprints, sunscreen smudges, and grime from door panels, consoles, and other hard interior trim.
  • Carpets & Floor Mats: Work a diluted solution into stained carpet and mats to break up oily spots from dropped food and greasy shoes.
  • Tools & Garage Floors: The same bottle handles greasy tools and oil stains on garage flooring, so cleanup after a project stays in one routine.

One concentrate, mixed right, covers the whole car and the surrounding garage.

All Purpose Degreaser For Engines, Wheels And Interiors

Our Degreasers For Every Level Of Grime

At Chemical Guys, each of our degreasers handles a different level of mess. Here is how they line up.

All Clean+ All Purpose Cleaner & Degreaser

This is our medium-strength, concentrated formula for jobs inside and out. Natural citrus extracts break down dirt and stains, while foaming technology pushes into hard-to-reach spots. Dilute it more strongly for heavy grease and less for lighter cleaning. It comes in 16 oz and 1 gallon sizes.

Signature Series Orange Degreaser

When the grime is thicker, this heavy-duty formula steps in. Potent citrus extracts and hyper surfactants cut through tough grease, oil, and grime, and it eliminates motor oil, coolants, and hydraulic fluids while remaining safe for rubber, plastics, and metal components.

Grime Reaper Professional Strength Engine Degreaser

Built specifically for engine bay cleaning, Grime Reaper breaks down heavy grease, oil, tar, and dirt. Intense foaming bubbles help dissolve baked-on contamination and lift stubborn filth with less scrubbing, for daily drivers, off-road vehicles, and fleet vehicles.

Nonsense Invinsible Super Cleaner

For grime where you want zero trace left behind, this clear, dye-free formula cleans without residue, artificial colors, or odors. Use it at full strength for stubborn messes or dilute it 20:1 with distilled water for a lighter touch around fuel lines, battery terminals, and valve covers.

How Do You Use A Car Degreaser Safely

An all-purpose degreaser works best when used with a consistent routine. Here is the process we follow every time.

Start With A Cool, Prepped Surface

Never spray a hot surface or a running engine. Let everything cool, then rinse the area with plenty of water to loosen dirt and grease. In the engine bay, cover battery terminals, the fuse box, the air intake, and exposed electrical connectors first.

Mix The Right Strength

Our degreasing formulas are sold concentrated. Use 6 parts water to 1 part degreaser for extreme cleaning (the minimum); 10 to 15 parts water for medium cleaning; and 25 to 40 parts water for lighter messes. Test a small, inconspicuous area before treating the whole surface.

Let It Dwell, Then Agitate

Spray the tough spots and let the product soak for a minute or more, but never let it dry on the surface. Then scrub to lift what the chemistry loosened. Our Interior Brushes collection covers everything from the soft Boar's Hair Detailing Brush for delicate spots to the Nice & Stiff Heavy Duty Carpet & Interior Brush for carpets, upholstery, and rubber mats.

Rinse With Control, Then Dry

Rinse thoroughly with a clean stream of water, using a wide, gentle spray around any electrical equipment. Our Pressure Washer Kits come with adjustable pressure settings and nozzles, so you can dial in a softer rinse for the engine bay and more power for wheels and undercarriages. Dry everything afterward.

How Do You Keep Grease From Coming Back

A deep degrease is a solid investment of time and product. These simple habits protect the work you put in.

Fix Leaks While They Are Visible

A freshly cleaned engine bay that gets dirty again within weeks usually has an active leak. Degreasing removes the grime that hides seeping gaskets and weeping fittings, so right after a clean is the best time to find and fix them. Note where fresh fluid appears first, since that spot usually indicates the source.

Spot Clean Between Deep Cleans

You do not need the full routine every time. Using a diluted all-purpose cleaner and a detailing brush around the oil cap, valve cover, and other problem spots helps keep buildup in check, especially if you add a quick check at every oil change. A few minutes of light upkeep saves you from repeating the full routine every month.

Keep Dressings Off Engine Parts

Resist the urge to coat everything under the hood. Silicone-based dressings on hot belts, hoses, and intake parts become sticky and attract dust faster than clean, bare surfaces do. A clean, dry engine bay with nothing added stays cleaner longer than one coated in product. Save dressings for exterior trim.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I dilute All Clean+ for inside and outside the car?

Mix 10 parts water to 1 part product for exterior use, or 20 parts water to 1 part product for interior surfaces, then spray, scrub, rinse, and dry.

Can I use Grime Reaper on aluminum parts?

No. Grime Reaper should not be used on aluminum or sensitive metal surfaces. For those areas, our All Clean+ lists stainless steel, metal, and aluminum among its applicable finishes.

Will All Clean+ leave my interior smelling like chemicals?

No. It includes natural enzymes that help minimize odors, leaving behind a fresh, clean citrus scent instead of a harsh chemical smell.

How often should you degrease an engine bay?

Once or twice a year keeps buildup from reaching the point where it needs aggressive treatment. Older engines that seep oil, or cars driven on dirt roads, benefit from more frequent cleaning.

Can you apply a degreaser with a foam cannon?

Yes. Foaming formulas delivered through a foam cannon give broader coverage and cling longer to vertical surfaces and complex shapes, giving the product more time to work before it runs off.

Is your Signature Series Orange Degreaser available as a foam?

Yes. Our Signature Series Orange Degreaser Foaming Aerosol foams on contact to cut through grease, grime, and oil, which makes it handy for quick spot jobs.