SONAX PROFILINE All-Purpose Cleaner "Foam" Universal Cleaner 400ml

All-Purpose Cleaner in Foam Format — SONAX PROFILINE All-Purpose-Cleaner "Foam"

What is an All-Purpose Cleaner Foam and what is it used for? The SONAX PROFILINE All-Purpose-Cleaner "Foam" is a foam-based all-purpose cleaner in a 400ml spray can format — the foam keeps the cleaner on vertical surfaces, increases its dwell time, and allows cleaning of textiles, plastics, carpets, and interior surfaces with a single product.

In a vehicle's interior, most surfaces are vertical or steeply angled: door panels, A-pillars, dashboards, and seatbacks. Traditional liquid cleaners run off these surfaces immediately, having little dwell time before dripping to the floor. The SONAX PROFILINE All-Purpose-Cleaner "Foam" solves this problem with a different product format: as a spray foam, it adheres to vertical surfaces, keeping the cleaning agent where it's needed. The stable foam significantly increases the dwell time on hard-to-reach and vertical surfaces — without runoff, without product waste. The 400ml spray can format is a compact, ready-to-use solution for professional interior cleaning.

• Foam-bound active ingredient for maximum dwell time on vertical surfaces. The APC Foam adheres to the surface after spraying and continuously releases the cleaning agent for several minutes. This extended dwell time is particularly important for crusted stains, dried-on dirt, and grease deposits on plastic surfaces — the active substances have time to emulsify dirt particles before wiping with a cloth. The result is a more thorough cleaning with less mechanical effort.
• Versatile on textiles, plastics, carpets, and interior surfaces. A true all-purpose cleaner doesn't require different products for various interior surfaces: The APC Foam cleans plastic dashboards, fabric seats, Alcantara surfaces, velour carpets, rubber seals, and synthetic leather with the same application technique. This reduces product inventory in the workshop and simplifies interior cleaning to a single product for almost all surfaces.
• Compact spray can format for quick access and clean handling. The 400ml format is designed for mobile use and quick availability: The can fits in any tool bag and is ready for immediate use without decanting or dilution. Unlike concentrated products that need to be measured and filled into spray bottles, the APC Foam is ready to use directly from the can — ideal for mobile detailers and for quick interim cleaning between preparation steps.

Practical tip from Detailing1: Spray the PROFILINE APC Foam onto the surface to be cleaned, let it dwell for 1–2 minutes, and wipe off with a lightly damp microfiber cloth. On textiles and carpets, it's recommended to work the foam in with a soft brush before wiping — this more thoroughly loosens dirt bound in the fabric fibers. On delicate surfaces like Alcantara or light fabrics, test first in an inconspicuous area. For pre-cleaning before a SONAX PROFILINE FabricCoating Textile Impregnation, the APC Foam is a good choice — it cleans thoroughly without aggressive solvents that could damage the textile structure.

Formulation of APC Foam — Foam-Bound Cleaning and pH Value

The PROFILINE All-Purpose-Cleaner "Foam" contains a combination of surfactants and emulsifiers, which is brought to a stable foam consistency in a spray can formulation with propellant gas. The surfactants of the APC Foam are designed for a wide range of dirt: they emulsify fats and oils (typical stains on steering wheels and gear knobs), dissolve dust bonds on plastic (the typical "sticky film" on old dashboards), and aid in the mechanical removal of dried-on dirt on carpets.

The pH value of APC Foam is in the slightly alkaline range — strong enough to clean effectively, but gentle enough for sensitive surfaces like Alcantara and colored textiles. Strongly acidic or strongly alkaline cleaners would attack the color of Alcantara and damage its characteristic suede look. The mild formulation of APC Foam is adapted to the versatile requirements of the vehicle interior.

A technical aspect often neglected in everyday use: shaking before use is more important for spray foam products than for liquid cleaners. The propellant gas and active ingredient can separate in the can if it stands unused for a long time. A vigorous 5–10 second shake before use ensures uniform foam quality and optimal cleaning performance. If sprayed without shaking, often almost pure propellant gas without the active ingredient is released first — which results in no cleaning effect after the supposed "first spray."

The foam of the APC Foam is formulated to remain stable for 2–4 minutes after application and then slowly collapse into a slightly damp, cleaning-active layer. This collapse point is the ideal moment for mechanical cleaning with a cloth or brush: the cleaner has then thoroughly penetrated the surface, and the loosened dirt can be completely removed.

Application of APC Foam — Interior Cleaning, Surfaces, and Dwell Time

The standard procedure for interior cleaning with APC Foam: shake the can, spray evenly onto the surface to be cleaned (distance approx. 15–20 cm), let it dwell for 1–3 minutes, wipe with a soft microfiber cloth, and dry with a dry cloth if necessary. On carpets and upholstery, it is recommended to mechanically work the foam in with a soft brush before wiping — this removes deeper embedded dirt more effectively than just wiping.

For heavily soiled or odorous textile areas (e.g., driver's carpets with dirt residue, back seats with children's stains), a double application is recommended: spray on the first layer and work it in, roughly wipe off with a dry cloth, then apply a second layer for finish cleaning. This two-layer method removes stubborn stains that were only loosened during the first pass and are completely removed during the second pass.

A frequently used application in a professional setting is spot treatment: individual stains on upholstery or carpets can be treated specifically with APC Foam without cleaning the entire seating area. The foam can be precisely sprayed onto the stain without wetting the adjacent clean area. This is particularly practical in daily car dealership operations, where an exhibition vehicle needs to be in perfect condition again quickly after customer contact — without requiring a complete interior cleaning. Individual fingerprints on Alcantara, fresh coffee stains on the carpet floor mat, or dirt marks on the steering wheel can be removed in minutes.

In professional detailing operations, APC Foam can be used for quick interior cleaning between exterior detailing and vehicle handover: 10–15 minutes for cleaning the most important interior surfaces (dashboard, door panels, carpets) with APC Foam, and the vehicle is in a ready-to-deliver condition — without a complete deep cleaning process.

Areas of Application for APC Foam — Interior, Trunk, and Detail Cleaning

The APC Foam covers all textile and hard surfaces in the vehicle interior: dashboards and center consoles made of hard plastic, door panels with fabric or synthetic leather, seat surfaces made of fabric or Alcantara, textile headliners, carpeted areas on the floor and in the trunk, and rubber seals on doors and windows. For each of these surfaces, APC Foam is sufficient as a single product — no product changes, no additional measuring of concentrates.

Special care is required when using it on headliners: The headliner is often made of a textile material with an adhesive layer underneath. Cleaning too wet or allowing cleaners to act too long can, in older vehicles, dissolve the adhesive layer, leading to the headliner detaching. The APC Foam is gentle enough for headliners if applied sparingly and not used in excess. Short dwell time (1 minute) and gentle dabbing instead of rubbing protects the headliner adhesive. For very old vehicles or headliners that are visibly already slightly detached, aggressive wet cleaning should be avoided entirely.

Outside the interior, APC Foam is also suitable for quick detail cleaning on exterior parts: engine bay plastic trims, trunk carpets, and trunk liners can be cleaned with the same product. Use on metal surfaces is possible, but not the primary application — for painted surfaces and rims, there are more specialized products in the PROFILINE range.

APC Foam in Comparison — All-Purpose Cleaners in the PROFILINE Range

In the PROFILINE interior cleaning range, APC Foam complements other cleaning products: The SONAX PROFILINE Interior Cleaner is a classic liquid interior cleaner for basic cleaning with a spray bottle; the SONAX PROFILINE CleanStar "Ecocert" is the environmentally certified, mild all-rounder for sensitive surfaces. The APC Foam complements these as the format for fast, vertical surface cleaning — where a liquid cleaner does not adhere efficiently.

For businesses that regularly clean many vehicle interiors, APC Foam is a useful addition to a concentrate-based interior cleaner: the concentrate for large-area basic cleaning, the APC Foam for detail cleaning in hard-to-reach or vertical areas. The combination of both product formats efficiently covers all interior cleaning requirements.

Buy SONAX PROFILINE All-Purpose-Cleaner "Foam" — for Interior Cleaning and Detail Preparation

The 400ml format of APC Foam is ideal for mobile detailers, interior cleaning professionals, and businesses looking for a compact interior cleaning solution for quick preparation. The spray can format makes handling particularly convenient: no decanting, no diluting, ready to use immediately. Dosing via the spray head of the can is well controllable — too much foam on sensitive surfaces can be easily dosed.

Storing aerosol products like APC Foam requires observing some basic rules: Temperatures above 50 °C (e.g., inside a vehicle in summer or near radiators) can increase the internal pressure of the can and lead to damage. Therefore, the can should not be stored in direct sunlight and should not be left in hot vehicles. With proper storage below 25 °C and away from direct heat sources, the product is stable and storable without restrictions.

For businesses with very high interior cleaning requirements, the combination of APC Foam for details and a larger interior cleaner concentrate for basic cleaning is recommended — so APC Foam is not the daily mass consumption cleaner, but the special product for quick, precise applications. As a verified SONAX specialist dealer at Detailing1, the PROFILINE APC Foam is available in the regular assortment.