Introduction
Surfex-HD is an all-purpose cleaner (APC) and degreaser that can be used from 1% for “light cleaning”, to neat for super grimy bits like you might find in an engine bay.
Surfex-HD is biodegradable, water based (i.e. solvent free!) and is safe for all interior and exterior surfaces (BH advise a test spot to be sure). With it being alkaline though, it’s best to neutralise the product by wiping the surface with a damp cloth after you’ve cleaned it.
Uses at 1%
Because Surfex-HD is so versatile, and usable from 1% to neat, below are some ways you can use it at 1%:
- Very dirty interiors
- Cloth upholstery
Don’t underestimate just how powerful Surfex-HD is – I would only use it on filthy interiors, where a regular, pH neutral interior cleaner doesn’t have enough grunt.
Uses at 5%
Whilst you can dilute Surfex-HD as much or as little as you like, there’s little need to go beyond 5%. At this concentration, it can tackle extreme amounts of dirt, and has a lot of potential uses in detailing.
- Engine bays
- Wheels & arches
- Tyres
- Pre-wash*
- Bugs
- Light tar spots
*Note: whilst you can use it as a pre-wash, this shouldn’t be used as a replacement for a normal pre-wash. Surfex-HD will attack sealants – so its use as a pre-wash is only recommended for disaster details or strip washes.
Surfex-HD is so effective at 5% that it’s completely replaced my regular wheel cleaners. Only in extreme cases, where an iron remover or acid is required, do I use anything else.
The below picture shows just how well Surfex-HD performs when tackling engine bays. This Skoda Superb had covered a whopping 216,000 miles (347,000km) without a single engine bay detail. This was tackled with a 5% dilution, except for the bonnet catch, which required a small amount applied neat. The only other product used here was a water-based dressing to smarten up the tired plastics.
Value
As with all Bilt Hamber products, Surfex-HD is no exception and comes highly diluted. Given how many different uses it has and being able to use it as low as 1%, buying a 5L container is a no-brainer – at 5%, 1L costs around £0.20! It’s so economical that it’s even replaced many of my household cleaning chemicals – having a nice side effect of reducing single-use plastic in my house.
Conclusion
I’m never buying another APC or degreaser again, I’m that impressed. Surfex-HD is such an amazingly powerful, economical product that there isn’t really much competition out there for it. Wheels, engines, interiors – Surfex-HD can tackle it all, and with great results. It’s no small wonder that so many users on our Discord recommend Surfex-HD as soon as “APC” is mentioned.