A professional detailer’s all-purpose cleaner is one of the highest-use products in the operation — it touches nearly every surface type across a standard full-detail job. Door jambs, interior plastics, engine bay components, rubber trim, floor mats, wheel barrels, and general greasy contamination all respond to a properly formulated APC. The challenge is having one product that works effectively across that surface range without requiring different dilutions for every surface type or leaving residue that creates secondary problems.
Black Micro All-Purpose Cleaner 32 oz (SKU BM-32) from Polishing Systems Inc is the quart working size for professional APC use. The 32-oz format is appropriate for detail shops and mobile detailers who use APC regularly but want the convenience of a spray-ready working bottle without the cost commitment of the full pint or gallon size. Dilute appropriately for each surface type — APC concentration flexibility is the feature that makes it genuinely all-purpose.
What This Product Is
Black Micro is a concentrated all-purpose cleaner and degreaser for automotive surfaces. It uses surfactant chemistry to cut through grease, road grime, body oils, brake dust, and general contamination on a wide range of interior and exterior vehicle surfaces. The concentration allows the user to dial in the appropriate cleaning strength for each surface type — diluted for sensitive interior plastics, used at higher concentration for engine bays and wheel barrels with heavy contamination.
Key Features and Why They Matter
- Concentrated, dilutable formula — allows one product to serve multiple cleaning strength requirements across different surface types. Dilute for interior vinyl and plastic; use at higher concentration for engine grease and wheel contamination.
- Multi-surface formulation — appropriate for interior plastic trim, rubber, vinyl, carpet, door jambs, engine compartments, wheels, and exterior trim surfaces. Reduces the number of separate cleaning products a mobile detailer needs to carry.
- 32-oz quart working size — fills a standard spray bottle for direct-spray application. Enough volume for multiple vehicle services before restocking. The practical size for a mobile detailer’s kit or a detail shop’s bench supply.
- Dark formulation for dark surface applications — the product formulation and color profile is appropriate for use on darkened automotive trim, interior plastics, and surfaces where a product film visibility issue would affect the finished appearance.
What This Is NOT For
Not for use on clear coat, painted exterior body panels, or glass as a general surface cleaner — use appropriate paint prep, car wash, or glass cleaning products for those surfaces. Not appropriate for leather without testing — APC surfactant chemistry can dry leather if left without conditioning follow-up. Always dilute appropriately for the surface type — using full-concentration APC on sensitive interior plastics or light-color carpet can cause fading or surface damage. Test on an inconspicuous area of any unfamiliar surface before cleaning a visible area.
Who Uses This
Mobile detailers carry APC as a core product — it handles interior cleaning, jamb scrubbing, engine degreasing, and trim cleaning with one bottle adjusted for different dilution ratios. Detail shops use it for the interior cleaning stage and as a general degreaser for door jambs and engine areas. Fleet maintenance operations clean interior surfaces and engine compartments between service intervals with APC. The 32-oz quart size is the right format for mobile kits and bench supply that gets restocked regularly. For higher-volume operations, the 16-oz pint is also available for detail cart convenience.
How to Use
- Dilute appropriately: For sensitive interior plastics and vinyl — dilute 4:1 to 8:1 (water:concentrate). For door jambs and rubber — dilute 2:1 to 4:1. For engine compartment and heavy wheel contamination — dilute 1:1 or use full-strength.
- Apply: Spray onto the surface or onto a brush/towel for application. Do not allow product to dry on the surface.
- Agitate: Use a brush or microfiber applicator to agitate on textured surfaces. Allow brief dwell time on heavy contamination.
- Wipe or rinse: Wipe clean with a microfiber towel or rinse with water depending on the surface and contamination level.
- Dry and protect: After cleaning, protect plastic trim, rubber, and vinyl with an appropriate dressing or protectant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What dilution ratio should I use for interior plastics?
For sensitive interior plastic trim and vinyl surfaces, dilute 4:1 to 8:1 (water:concentrate). The lower the dilution (closer to full-strength), the more aggressive the cleaning action — which can strip conditioner and dry plastic if used too frequently at high concentration. For routine interior cleaning, 6:1 is a common all-around ratio.
Can I use this on carpet and upholstery?
Yes — at appropriate dilution, APC is effective for carpet spot cleaning and general upholstery cleaning when agitated and extracted or blotted. For full seat and carpet extraction, a dedicated upholstery cleaning solution designed for extraction machines gives better performance. APC is the right tool for localized soiling and spot treatment.
Is Black Micro safe for use on rubber seals and weatherstripping?
Yes — at appropriate dilution, APC is safe for rubber weatherstripping and door seals. After cleaning, apply a rubber conditioner or protectant to restore pliability to the cleaned rubber — APC cleaning removes the natural surface conditioning from rubber and a protectant follow-up prevents drying and cracking over time.
Is there a larger size available?
The Black Micro 16 oz pint is the smaller convenience size. For operations needing larger supply volume, contact Polishing Systems Inc for gallon and larger availability. The 32-oz quart is the most popular working size for mobile and shop use.
Can this product be used in an engine compartment?
Yes — APC at appropriate concentration is the standard product for engine compartment surface cleaning. Pre-rinse the engine bay to remove loose debris. Apply diluted APC to the engine exterior surfaces, agitate with a brush, and rinse carefully with low-pressure water to avoid soaking electrical components. Cover sensitive electrical areas before rinsing. Do not use full-strength APC on painted engine covers or intake manifolds.
