HEAVY DUTY Multi-Purpose Cleaner

2026-04-05T10:21:20+02:00

Vendor: Meguiars
Type: All-purpose cleaner
Price: 15.52

Powerful Cleaning for Stubborn Dirt – with Meguiar's HEAVY DUTY Multi Purpose Cleaner

Which cleaner removes stubborn dirt from a car? Meguiar's HEAVY DUTY Multi Purpose Cleaner is a highly concentrated all-purpose cleaner that reliably removes grease, oil, insect residue, and deeply ingrained dirt from almost all surfaces.

When normal cleaners reach their limits, the Meguiar's HEAVY DUTY Multi Purpose Cleaner comes into play. This highly concentrated all-purpose cleaner was developed for the most stubborn dirt on and in the vehicle: grease, oil, insect residue, brake dust deposits, tar spots, and years of baked-on grime on engines, rims, wheel arches, and interior surfaces. The versatile formula is dilutable and can be adapted to the task at hand – concentrated for maximum cleaning power, diluted for lighter tasks.

Highly Concentrated Formula for Extreme Dirt. Where mild cleaners require multiple applications, the HEAVY DUTY Multi Purpose Cleaner works in one application. The alkaline formulation emulsifies grease and oil at a molecular level, dissolving them completely from the surface.

Versatile and Dilutable for Various Applications. Undiluted for engine bays and wheel arches, 1:4 for rims and exterior surfaces, 1:10 for interior plastics – one product for all cleaning tasks around the vehicle.

Material-Friendly with Correct Application. Despite its high cleaning power, when diluted correctly and allowed to dwell for the appropriate time, the Cleaner does not harm plastics, rubber, or painted surfaces. For sensitive materials such as aluminum, increase dilution and reduce dwell time.

Practical Tip from Detailing1: Always test the HEAVY DUTY Cleaner on an inconspicuous area first before treating large surfaces. For engine cleaning: Let the engine cool down, cover sensitive electronics, spray the cleaner undiluted, let it dwell for 3–5 minutes, and rinse with low pressure. For wheel arches and door sills, follow the same procedure – the foam loosens the dirt, and the water carries it away.

All-Purpose Car Cleaner – How the HEAVY DUTY Formula Works

The HEAVY DUTY Multi Purpose Cleaner is based on an alkaline cleaning formula with strong surfactants and solvent components. Alkaline cleaners are particularly effective against organic contaminants – grease, oil, insect proteins, and carbon deposits. The surfactants reduce surface tension, allowing the cleaner to penetrate the dirt structure and dissolve it from the inside out.

Concentration is the decisive factor. Unlike ready-to-use cleaners, which are already diluted, the HEAVY DUTY comes as a concentrate. This gives you control: use it undiluted for extreme dirt such as baked-on engine grease, or dilute it for normal cleaning tasks. This flexibility makes it the most cost-effective cleaner in your arsenal – one bottle replaces several specialized cleaners.

The foam formation is no accident: the foam adheres to vertical surfaces such as wheel arches, engine walls, and inner rim surfaces, keeping the cleaner in contact with the dirt. With spray cleaners, the liquid runs off immediately – with the HEAVY DUTY Cleaner, the foam remains and works.

Engine Cleaning and Wheel Arches – Outdoor Application

The most common use of the HEAVY DUTY Multi Purpose Cleaner is for cleaning engine bays, wheel arches, and heavily soiled exterior surfaces. For engine cleaning, let the engine cool to a lukewarm temperature – never use on a hot engine, as the cleaner will evaporate too quickly. Cover electronics, air filters, and open connectors with foil or plastic bags.

Spray the cleaner undiluted or in a 1:2 dilution onto the engine bay. The foam formation will show you where the cleaner is working. Allow to dwell for 3–5 minutes; for heavy deposits, agitate with a soft brush. Then rinse with low pressure – do not aim a high-pressure cleaner directly at seals, connectors, or electronics.

For wheel arches, follow the same procedure: spray, allow to dwell, agitate with a brush, rinse. The difference from mild wheel cleaners is clear here – the HEAVY DUTY also removes ingrained road grime and underbody coating residue that has accumulated over months and years.

Removing Heavy Soiling – Results and Limitations

The HEAVY DUTY Multi Purpose Cleaner shows its strength with dirt that goes beyond everyday levels: baked-on engine grease, black brake dust deposits in wheel arches, oil stains on garage floors, tar residue on sills, and the layer of dirt that collects in door sills and door jambs. For these tasks, it delivers results in one application that mild cleaners would require multiple passes for.

The limitations lie with chemically bound contaminants: rust spots that have penetrated the surface, or mineral deposits (hard water spots) require specialized products. Also, on already damaged or porous surfaces, use should be cautious – the strong cleaning power can penetrate open pores and leave residues there.

In diluted form (1:10 to 1:20), the Cleaner is also suitable for cleaning heavily soiled interior surfaces – pedals, door sills, trunk liners, and plastic trim. In this dilution, it is mild enough for interior plastics, but stronger than a standard interior cleaner.

All-Purpose Cleaner Comparison – HEAVY DUTY vs. ALL-SURFACE Interior Cleaner

In the Meguiar's range, the HEAVY DUTY Multi Purpose Cleaner and the ALL-SURFACE Interior Cleaner cover different cleaning intensities. The ALL-SURFACE is a mild, ready-to-use cleaner for daily interior care – safe on all surfaces, but not intended for stubborn dirt.

The HEAVY DUTY is the opposite: maximum cleaning power for the toughest tasks. It is not designed as an everyday interior cleaner, but as a tool for deep cleaning and detailing. Those who are detailing a heavily soiled vehicle use the HEAVY DUTY for the initial, thorough cleaning and the ALL-SURFACE Cleaner for subsequent maintenance.

Professional detailers have both in their repertoire: the HEAVY DUTY for engine bays, wheel arches, door sills, and deep cleaning, and the ALL-SURFACE for regular interior care. This combination covers the entire cleaning spectrum.

Buying All-Purpose Cleaner – Who Benefits from the HEAVY DUTY Cleaner

The Meguiar's HEAVY DUTY Multi Purpose Cleaner is a must-have for anyone who maintains vehicles beyond a simple exterior wash. Anyone who cleans engine bays, details wheel arches, or restores heavily soiled vehicles to their original condition needs a cleaner of this performance class.

For detailing professionals, it is a core product: dilutable, versatile, and cost-effective. One bottle of concentrate yields liters of ready-to-use cleaning solution depending on dilution. In combination with the HEAVY DUTY Bug Remover for insect residue and a cleaning brush for mechanical agitation, it forms a powerful cleaning set for all heavy-duty tasks.