A multi-purpose cleaner is an all-in-one, water-based cleaner that handles most household, workshop and pre-paint cleaning jobs from a single bottle — diluting stronger or weaker to suit the task. All-Rite is a biodegradable, non-toxic multi-purpose cleaner and heavy-duty degreaser made in South Africa, in 750 ml, 2 L, 5 L and 25 L. This guide explains what it does, how to dilute it, and where it fits. For solvent grease removal, see the degreaser guide.
What is an all-purpose cleaner used for?
An all-purpose cleaner is used to clean grease, grime, dirt and marks off a wide range of surfaces — floors, walls, counters, appliances, equipment and vehicles — without needing a separate product for each. All-Rite cleans hard surfaces around the home, kitchen and workshop, and steps up to oil and industrial grime in its Heavy Duty Degreaser form. Because it is water-based and rinses cleanly, it is also the go-to for washing walls before painting, where it does the job of traditional sugar soap.
What makes All-Rite different?
All-Rite is water-based, biodegradable, non-toxic and food-area safe, so it cleans powerfully without the fumes, harshness or environmental cost of solvent cleaners. It is low-foaming, which means it works through trigger sprayers, foamers and pressure washers without endless rinsing, and it leaves no sticky residue behind. Those properties make All-Rite safe around food-preparation areas, children and pets, and safe on painted surfaces you want to keep. It comes in two formulations: a Multi-Purpose Cleaner for everyday surfaces and a Heavy Duty Degreaser for oil and grease.
Where can you use All-Rite around the home and workshop?
All-Rite cleans almost any washable hard surface — kitchen counters, tiles, painted walls, floors, braais, appliances, tools, workbenches, vehicles and equipment — from one product diluted to suit. In the kitchen it cuts cooking grease off surfaces and extractor hoods; around the house it lifts grime off walls, skirtings and floors; in the garage and workshop it degreases tools, benches and machinery. Because All-Rite is low-foaming it also suits car washing and pressure-washer work, where a high-foaming detergent would need endless rinsing. Avoid using it on surfaces that should not get wet, and always test a discreet area first on anything delicate.
How do you dilute a multi-purpose cleaner?
Dilute roughly 1:20 with water for light everyday cleaning and about 1:5 for heavy grease and grime; use it neat only on the most stubborn deposits. Starting weaker and stepping up saves product and avoids over-wetting delicate surfaces. For a quick wipe of counters or walls, a capful of All-Rite in a bucket of water is plenty; for an oily workshop bench or engine bay, mix it stronger or reach for the Heavy Duty Degreaser variant. Always rinse with clean water afterwards, especially before painting.
Is it safe around food, children and pets?
Yes — All-Rite is non-toxic, biodegradable and safe for use in food-preparation areas, which is exactly why it suits kitchens, homes and anywhere solvent cleaners would be a concern. It cleans effectively without the harsh fumes or aggressive chemistry of solvent products, so you can use it around children and pets with normal sensible care, rinsing food-contact surfaces afterwards. That safety profile is the main reason to choose water-based All-Rite over a solvent cleaner for everyday work — you only need the solvent Industrial Degreaser when the job is heavy petroleum grease before painting. As with any cleaner, keep it out of reach of children and follow the label.
Is a multi-purpose cleaner the same as sugar soap?
It does the same job — cleaning grease, grime and hand marks off walls before painting — and a modern water-based cleaner is the biodegradable alternative to traditional sugar soap. Sugar soap has long been the standard wall-prep cleaner in South Africa, but it can leave a residue if not rinsed well and is harsher to handle. All-Rite Multi-Purpose Cleaner cleans the wall just as effectively, rinses cleanly, and is gentler on skin and the environment. For the full pre-paint routine, see the surface preparation guide.
When should you use a solvent degreaser instead?
Switch to a solvent degreaser when you are removing heavy petroleum oil from metal or concrete that will be painted — that is beyond what a water-based cleaner is designed to do. All-Rite Heavy Duty Degreaser handles a great deal of oil and grime, but the mill oils on new galvanised steel, or oil that has soaked deep into concrete, are best removed with solvent Industrial Degreaser. Use the water-based All-Rite for general, eco-sensitive and food-area cleaning; use the solvent for grease-cutting before coating.
Can you use it to clean paving and driveways?
Yes — All-Rite is low-foaming and rinses cleanly, so it works well through a pressure washer to lift grime, algae and light oil from paving and driveways. For heavier, soaked-in oil stains you may need the Heavy Duty Degreaser or solvent Industrial Degreaser, but for routine cleaning of a paved patio or driveway, diluted All-Rite does the job without harming plants or paint. See how to clean paving and driveways.
Sizes and where to buy
All-Rite comes in 750 ml, 2 L, 5 L and 25 L, in Multi-Purpose Cleaner and Heavy Duty Degreaser formulations, with national delivery. Visit our paint shops in Table View, Cape Town and Edenvale, Johannesburg, or call +27 84 985 6141. For the full cleaner and prep range, start at the degreaser guide.
