Citra Clean Citrus All-Purpose Cleaner — 1 Gallon

Most all-purpose cleaners in a shop are either strong enough to strip wax and risk your trim, or weak enough to be safe on sensitive surfaces but ineffective on real-world road grime, grease, and organic soiling. A citrus-based APC built around d-limonene finds a practical middle ground — effective enough to cut through bug splatter, brake fluid, grease, and engine contamination at full strength, but dilutable to a gentle multi-surface cleaner for carpet, vinyl, and painted surfaces. One chemistry, calibrated by concentration to the task at hand.

Citra Clean 1 Gallon from Polishing Systems Inc is the professional everyday working size. Detail shops that use a citrus APC as their primary cleaning chemistry go through product steadily — interior work, exterior prep, wheel cleaning, engine bay work, and general-purpose shop cleaning all draw from the same concentrate. The 1-gallon container is the right supply volume to refill spray bottles, dilution containers, and foam cannon reservoirs without constantly reordering or dealing with the logistics of a 5-gallon pail.

What Citra Clean Is

Citra Clean is a citrus-based all-purpose cleaner and degreaser formulated around natural d-limonene and surfactants. D-limonene is a naturally derived terpene solvent extracted from citrus rinds — effective at dissolving petroleum-based grease, adhesive residue, bug splatter, and road film without the harsh alkaline chemistry that can strip sensitive surfaces. The formula is concentrated and designed to be diluted for different tasks: full strength for heavy engine degreasing, 10:1 for wheel cleaning, 30:1 or higher for interior surface wiping and general detailing.

Key Features and Why They Matter

• D-limonene citrus chemistry — natural terpene solvent that dissolves grease and organic contamination effectively without the harshness of strong caustic degreasers. Works on a wider range of surfaces safely when properly diluted.
• Highly dilutable concentrate — one product handles multiple cleaning tasks at different dilution rates. Reduces the number of separate cleaning products needed in a shop.
• Biodegradable formula — citrus-based chemistry breaks down more readily in the environment than petroleum solvent cleaners. Relevant for shops managing wash water runoff.
• Pleasant citrus fragrance — leaves a clean scent rather than the harsh chemical smell of solvent degreasers. Preferred for interior cleaning tasks.

What Citra Clean Is NOT For

At full or high concentrations, Citra Clean can affect uncoated leather, raw aluminum (the citrus solvent can dull unprotected aluminum over time with repeated full-strength exposure), and some rubber compounds. Always dilute appropriately for the surface being cleaned, and test in an inconspicuous area on unfamiliar materials. Do not use on hot surfaces or in direct sun without rinsing promptly.

Who Uses This

Active detail shops using Citra Clean as their primary APC across interior, exterior, and light engine work. Mobile detailers who work daily and have moved past quart-size supply. Fleet maintenance operations maintaining regular vehicle cleaning programs. For even higher volume, see the 5-gallon pail.

How to Use

1. Decant into spray bottles or dilution containers at the appropriate ratio for each task.
2. Interior surfaces: 30:1 to 50:1. Wheels and tires: 10:1 to 15:1. Engine degreasing: 5:1 to 10:1 or full strength on heavy buildup.
3. Apply, dwell, agitate where needed, rinse or wipe clean.

Why Buy 1 Gallon vs. Smaller Sizes

The 1-gallon format is where per-diluted-ounce cost drops meaningfully compared to quart or 16 oz sizes. For shops mixing Citra Clean into spray bottles daily, the 1-gallon container is the practical minimum that keeps cost in check without requiring specialized dispensing equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What surfaces can Citra Clean 1 Gallon be used on?

Carpet, fabric upholstery, vinyl, plastic, rubber, glass, painted surfaces (diluted), wheels and tires, engine components, and general shop surfaces. Always dilute appropriately for the surface type and test on an inconspicuous area when working with a new surface material or high concentrations.

Is 1 gallon the right size for my shop?

For shops averaging 5-15 vehicles per week with Citra Clean as the primary APC, 1 gallon typically covers 2-4 weeks of use at normal dilution rates. Higher-volume shops or those doing heavy engine work where Citra Clean is used at low dilution should consider the 5-gallon pail.

Can I use Citra Clean as a pre-spray before hot-water extraction?

Yes — diluted Citra Clean at 15:1 to 30:1 works as a pre-spray on carpet and fabric upholstery before hot-water extraction. Apply, agitate, allow brief dwell, then extract. The citrus surfactant helps loosen embedded soil for the extractor to pull out.

How does Citra Clean compare to enzyme-based interior cleaners?

Citra Clean is a surfactant-and-solvent APC — effective on grease, oil, road film, and organic soil. For protein-based staining (pet urine, blood, food) where enzymatic breakdown is beneficial, a dedicated enzyme cleaner may deliver better results on those specific stain types. Many shops use both — Citra Clean as the general APC and enzyme cleaner for specific biological stains.