Alkaline Pre-Wash & Snow Foam Dilution Guide
Alkaline pre-washes (APCs, snow foams, pre-wash gels) loosen traffic film and grime before contact washing, so most of the dirt is rinsed away before a mitt ever touches the paint. The right dilution depends on the job: stronger for heavy winter grime, weaker for a maintenance foam. Below are alkaline pre-washes from the catalogue with their maker-stated dilution ratios — start at the weakest ratio and only step up if needed. Always work on a cool panel out of direct sun and never let an alkaline product dry.
Last updated: 2026-06-19 · 10 products · Data: manufacturer documentation & SDS, via the Find Your Detail catalogue.
| Product | Brand | pH | Dilution | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Purpose Cleaner | mafra maniac line | 10 | 1:20 | |
| Foam Gun Prewash | mafra maniac line | alkali | 1:50~1:100 | |
| [RELEASE | Concentrated Citrus Pre-Wash](https://findyourdetail.io/products/mile-deep/release-concentrated-citrus-pre-wash) | mile deep | 13 | 1:1~1:10 |
| All Clean+ All Purpose Cleaner & Degreaser | chemical guys | alkali | 1:10 | |
| PreWash Foam | nanolex | 9 | 1:5~1:10 | |
| Professional APC (All Purpose Cleaner) | nanolex | 10 | 1:10~1:30 | |
| DUCTILE - All purpose cleaner | labocosmetica | 11.5 | 1:20~1:30 | |
| PRIMUS 2.0 - Alkaline foam prewash | labocosmetica | 10.5 | 1:50~1:100 | |
| Optimum Power Clean All Purpose Cleaner (APC) | opti coat | alkali | 1:0~1:3 | |
| Opti-Coat Power Clean All Purpose Cleaner (APC) | opti coat | alkali | 1:0~1:10 |
FAQ
How do I dilute an alkaline pre-wash?
Follow the maker's ratio in the table and start at the weakest end (e.g. 1:50 before 1:20). Higher dilution = gentler; lower = stronger for heavy grime. For foam-cannon use, remember the cannon bottle further dilutes the mix — see our foam-lance/PIR guide.
Is an alkaline pre-wash safe on a ceramic coating?
Most snow foams are fine on coatings, but strong APCs (pH 11+) used frequently and left to dwell can shorten an LSP. For coated cars prefer a pH-neutral wash — see our ceramic-coating-safe products guide.
Sources
The pH and dilution figures in this guide are each product's own manufacturer documentation and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) as recorded in the Find Your Detail catalogue — click any product above to open its source page and full details. Values are maker-stated/best-case; real-world results vary with technique, water hardness and conditions.