Three families, three jobs, and the failures come from crossing them.
Alkaline
Stone cleaners, degreasers, traffic film removers. They work on organic growth and grease. They also strip wax, and on aluminum and some soft stone they mark.
Neutral
Car shampoos and most upholstery solutions. They lift dirt with surfactants and lubrication rather than by attack. Slower, and they leave coatings intact.
Acidic
Descalers and some wheel cleaners. Excellent on limescale and brake dust, hostile to natural stone, grout and bare metal. Never on limestone or marble.
Dilution is not a suggestion
Doubling the concentration does not double the cleaning; it doubles the risk to the surface and the amount you rinse into the ground. The dwell time on the label is doing more work than the strength.
Rinse, and think about where it goes
Everything you apply outdoors reaches a drain, a lawn or a watercourse. Sweeping first, using less and rinsing thoroughly are all the same decision.
The questions we hear
Why did the traffic film remover dull my paint?
Most traffic film removers are strongly alkaline and are designed to strip. They remove wax and sealant along with the film, and used repeatedly they dull trim and clearcoat. On a car you care about, use a pH-neutral shampoo and keep the strong stuff for wheel arches.
Is "natural" or "biodegradable" a meaningful label?
Biodegradability is a real, measurable property and it matters when the run-off goes onto planting or into a surface drain. "Natural" is not a regulated term. Read what the product is for, then read the dilution.
Last reviewed 2026-08-16