Interior APCs

An interior APC (all-purpose cleaner) is one cleaner for most of the cabin: plastics, door cards, seat fabric, carpets and mats. The range is three Koch-Chemie cleaners (ASC, MZR and Pol Star) and Yum Interior from Yum Cars.

How to choose

• Heavy dirt: Koch-Chemie MZR is an alkaline concentrate for grease, nicotine and ground-in road dirt on plastics and upholstery, mixed from 1:5 for the worst to 1:50 for light soiling.
• Seats and carpet: Pol Star is a pH-neutral cleaner for fabric, leather and Alcantara, diluted 1:5 to 1:20, so one bottle covers part-leather seats.
• Light cleaning: Koch-Chemie ASC is ready to use and dries streak-free on smooth plastics, and Yum Interior is made for everyday grime and fingerprints.

Good to know

• Test on a hidden spot first, and spray onto a brush or cloth rather than onto screens, switches or electrics.
• Do not let it dry on. Wipe plastics with a damp microfibre, and lift it out of seats and carpet with a damp cloth or a wet and dry vacuum from Vacuums and Hoovers.
• An APC leaves plastics clean but bare, so add a product from Interior Dressings if you want a finish.

Can I use an all-purpose cleaner on car seats?

Yes, on fabric seats, diluted to the label and tested on a hidden spot first. Mist it onto a brush, work it in, then lift the dirt out with a damp microfibre or a wet and dry vacuum. For leather, a pH-neutral cleaner such as Pol Star is safer. Our guide to cleaning car seats and carpets goes step by step.

Related: Interior Cleaning & Finishing, Interior Cleaners, Interior Dressings, Interior Detailing Brushes. Popular brands here: Koch-Chemie, Yum Cars.