TUGA Chemie Tugalan® All-Purpose Cleaner Concentrate 5000ml

All-purpose cleaner concentrate: Tugalan, potassium-hydroxide based with 0% VOC

What is Tugalan? A heavily concentrated alkaline all-purpose cleaner from TUGA Chemie GmbH (5-litre container only) with a pH of 11.0 to 13.5 — the heavy-hitter in the TUGA range. The formula is built on potassium hydroxide (caustic potash, CAS 1310-58-3) as the lead alkali, backed up by non-ionic surfactants (ethoxylated alcohols C9-C11, CAS 68439-46-3) and ethoxylated amines. VOC content sits at exactly 0.0 percent. Dilutes from 1:5 (extreme grime) to 1:30 (light maintenance). Brilliant on paint, plastics, tarpaulins, industrial floors, agricultural machinery and upholstery — strictly off-limits for unprotected aluminium, zinc, tin and anodised trim.

Tugalan® is the alkaline high-performance concentrate from TUGA Chemie, sitting as a hybrid APC between a pure industrial degreaser and a detailing all-rounder. Where the already high-alkaline Teufels-Reiniger runs at pH 10.5-11.8, Tugalan works in the high-alkali band (pH 11.0-13.5), driven by its lead alkali potassium hydroxide — an extremely potent proton acceptor that chemically splits organic fats and oils into water-soluble soaps through basic ester hydrolysis (saponification).

TUGA Chemie out of Osnabrück has been making these formulas in Germany for decades, supplying professional detailers, repair shops and serious private customers across the DACH region.

The surfactant architecture is what sets Tugalan apart from simple industrial APCs. Instead of the usual anionic surfactants, TUGA goes with ethoxylated alcohols (C9-C11) and ethoxylated amines here — both non-ionic, both hard-water stable. They creep like crazy, work their way deep into porous grime and emulsify reliably even with chalky tap water. Anionic surfactants would form insoluble lime soaps in hard wash water, leaving a grey haze on the cleaned surface.

The cleaning runs in two stages. First, the caustic potash chemically splits triglycerides (fats and oils) into glycerine and water-soluble fatty-acid salts — non-water-soluble dirt is made water-soluble. Second, the ethoxylated alcohols slash the surface tension of the water; the hydrophobic surfactant tail binds to the leftover hydrocarbons (diesel soot, road oil) while the hydrophilic head turns toward the water — micelles form, wrap the dirt up and hold it in suspension until you rinse.

• Dilutes from 1:5 to 1:30 — goes a very long way. Neat for the most extreme industrial grime, 1:5 for a heavily greased industrial floor, 1:10 for standard shop work, 1:20 for plastic trim and headliners, 1:30 for light all-purpose jobs. At 1:30, a 5 L container yields 155 litres of working solution — cost per litre of finished solution drops to around 25 cents.
• VOC content exactly 0.0 percent. While alcohol-based cleaners often carry 5-15 percent VOCs, Tugalan is completely VOC-free — no volatile organic compounds. That makes it usable in professional detailing bays without pro extraction and compliant with the tighter EU VOC directives expected for 2030.
• 7 EUR per litre in the 5 L concentrate — premium value for money in the DACH market. Its direct rival is Koch-Chemie Green Star (1:30 concentrate, ~7-9 EUR/L). Tugalan lands at the same price point but, thanks to the potassium-hydroxide-driven pH, delivers noticeably more cleaning power on baked-on lipids — the trade-off is the stricter material incompatibility with aluminium.

Day-to-day from Detailing1: For us, Tugalan is the product with the highest damage potential — not because it's bad, but because people underestimate the dilution workflow. Neat application belongs in heavy industrial cleaning: baked-on machine grease on steel benches or diesel soot on drain shafts. On any painted surface or in a detailing context you must go at least 1:5, and 1:10 to 1:20 as standard. If it dries on, the potassium hydroxide residue crystallises into solid caustic on the surface — those white, milky patches are baked into the clearcoat for good. Dwell time of 3 to 5 minutes max, never in the sun, never on hot surfaces. Plus: acid-rated goggles (not standard safety glasses!) and acid-resistant nitrile gloves aren't a suggestion with Tugalan, they're mandatory. Disposal goes through the EWC waste codes for strongly alkaline lyes — never into household waste or normal drains.

Dilute the concentrate to match, spray on, wait 3 to 5 minutes, rinse with a pressure washer.

The standard workflow starts with getting the dilution right. Rule of thumb for the most common jobs: 1:5 for heavily greased engine-bay parts and industrial steel, 1:10 for badly soiled plastic trim and industrial floors, 1:20 for standard interior cleaning in a professional detailing setting, 1:30 for light maintenance washes on upholstery and furniture. A 1-litre spray bottle with 200 ml of concentrate plus 800 ml of distilled water gives you a 1:5 mix — enough for around 50 square metres of medium industrial cleaning.

The surface has to be cool. Never use it in blazing sun, never straight after a machine run on hot parts. In direct sunlight, move the car or part into the shade. For floor work in summer, work early in the morning or late in the evening when the concrete is cool.

Spray the diluted solution on evenly from 20 to 30 centimetres away. On vertical surfaces, work bottom to top to avoid concentration gradients and run marks. Let it dwell three to five minutes — strictly no longer. On heavily crusted spots, agitate during the dwell with a stiff detailing brush or a microfibre pad, without leaning into it.

Then rinse off cleanly or wipe down with a damp microfibre cloth. Outdoors, neutralise thoroughly with clean water or a pressure washer — the potassium hydroxide residue has to come off completely, or you get long-term etching. Indoors, you absolutely want a second, clean and lightly damp microfibre cloth.

In an industrial context, Tugalan is often the prep for metal-protection coatings or paintwork — degreased surfaces hold conversion layers and primers far better. Lay wax or a sealant down without degreasing first and you're asking for adhesion problems.

Paint, plastics and tarpaulins yes. Aluminium, zinc and anodising no.

Tugalan is cleared for a wide range of substrates. Painted bodywork (cold!), plastics (ABS, polypropylene, PVC), concrete and tiled floors, upholstery and furniture (fabric, synthetic leather, treated genuine leather at a 1:30 dilution), truck tarpaulins and covers, agricultural machinery, wooden decking (1:30 dilution plus a mandatory clean-water rinse), catering stainless steel. The official manufacturer clearance for industrial uses is broad — TUGA positions the product explicitly as a crossover.

Strictly excluded are the amphoteric metals, which react with both acids and bases. The main categories: unprotected aluminium (anodised too — the anodised layer gets attacked), zinc (galvanising), tin (solder joints, older body pass-throughs). On these materials the high pH leads to oxidation or outright chemical dissolution — showing up as dull or whitish patches.

Clearcoated aluminium wheels, on the other hand, are fine, as long as the clearcoat is intact and the dilution is at least 1:10. Anodised trim on older vehicles without clearcoat sealing is a problem child — mask those parts off first or use a pH-neutral cleaner.

Touchscreen displays, genuine leather inside the cabin and Alcantara are off the table. Even at the highest dilution (1:30), the pH is too aggressive for genuine leather structures. Use dedicated specialist cleaners on those materials.

Spring detailing, the industrial summer and the heavy-duty use.

Demand for high-alkaline all-purpose concentrates in the DACH market tracks two main phases closely. The first peak lands in spring detailing between March and May — salt corrosion on suspension and lifts, winter grime in the engine bay, grit-grease fallout on floors. The second peak comes in early summer (May to July) — bug residue, baked-on grime after touring season, prepping sports cars for track days or tuning meets.

Detailing shops and mobile detailers order 50 to 80 percent more in the spring season than in winter — the spring detailing wave is the most important peak of the year commercially. Tugalan is especially popular with larger detailing outfits running three or more staff, because the dilution flexibility cuts down on stockholding.

Tugalan comes only in the 5-litre canister — no 1-litre end-consumer format. That's not an oversight but deliberate positioning: the product is meant for pros with a dilution workflow and real volume needs, not for spontaneous one-off care at home. At around 36 euros per 5 L canister you're at about 7.20 euros per litre of concentrate — at a 1:10 dilution that works out to around 65 cents per litre of working solution, a clear efficiency win over RTU rivals like the Teufels-Reiniger in the 1 L container.

Off-label, Tugalan has established itself as an industrial all-rounder across the DACH region. Official manufacturer clearance covers upholstery, furniture, synthetic leather, catering stainless steel, wooden decking, industrial floors and agricultural machinery. On the German detailing forum dasdetailingforum.de, Tugalan is regularly traded as the "secret industry standard" — an industrial floor in a 200-square-metre hall takes around 8 litres of 1:10-diluted Tugalan for a full clean, so 800 ml of concentrate out of the 5 L canister.

Safety note (binding): the product is classified under GHS with H412 (harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects). The caustic potassium hydroxide base makes personal protective equipment mandatory — acid-rated goggles, nitrile gloves (acid-resistant), long-sleeved clothing and closed footwear. On skin contact, rinse immediately for 10 to 15 minutes with clean water; on eye contact, flush the eye at once and call emergency services. Proper disposal goes through the EWC waste codes for strongly alkaline lyes. Tugalan is NOT suited to inexperienced private users — if you don't work with high-alkaline lyes regularly, stick firmly with the ready-to-use Teufels-Reiniger.

Goes well with: All-purpose cleaners compared • Teufels-Reiniger (RTU version) • Shampoo-Teufel (for paint washes)

Application of Tugalan Universal Cleaner Concentrate

Dilution appropriate for the task — VOC-free, power level for professionals only

Tugalan is explicitly a concentrate for professional users with a dilution workflow. Rule of thumb for dilution: Undiluted for extreme industrial soiling such as burnt-on machine grease residue on workshop steel benches. 1:5 for heavily greased engine compartment components, 1:10 for workshop floors and plastic trims, 1:20 for standard interior cleaning, 1:30 for light maintenance on upholstery and furniture.

Transfer into a spray-ready empty bottle, fill with distilled or low-lime water, and shake briefly. The surface must be cool — never in direct sunlight, never directly after machine operation on hot workshop components. When applying to workshop floors in summer, work in the morning or evening when the concrete is cool.

Spray the diluted solution evenly from 20 to 30 centimeters away — for vertical surfaces, from bottom to top to avoid concentration gradients. Allow to act for three to five minutes, strictly no longer. For heavily encrusted areas, agitate with a hard detailing brush or microfiber pad during the exposure time, without extreme pressure.

Then rinse thoroughly without residue or wipe with a damp microfiber cloth. For outdoor use, thoroughly neutralize with clear water or a high-pressure cleaner — potassium hydroxide residues must be completely removed, otherwise corrosion will occur in the long term. For indoor use, a second, clean and slightly damp microfiber cloth is essential.

Notes: Strictly excluded for unprotected or anodized aluminum (anodized layer will be attacked), zinc/galvanizing, tin/solder joints, genuine leather, Alcantara, touchscreens. Clear-coated aluminum rims are safe with a dilution of at least 1:10. H412 hazardous to water — AVV disposal via alkaline solutions, NEVER household waste or normal sewage systems. Acid-proof goggles (NOT standard), acid-resistant nitrile gloves, long-sleeved clothing, closed footwear mandatory. NOT for inexperienced private users — end customers should use Teufels-Reiniger in the 1-liter format.