Car pre-wash for stuck-on grime: AutoGrooming AutoGrooming Indigo Core

I received AutoGrooming's AutoGrooming Indigo Core Alkaline Pre-Wash and used it for a self-service car wash. I looked at how it would affect the stuck-on grime that had not come off even with a wash mitt during my last wash.

Was the bottle and measuring setup easy to use?

The square cube-shaped bottle and purple color caught my eye first. It was a different design from the tall cylindrical car-care products I usually see.

Its listed features included a formula without caustic soda and vegan fragrance.

It comes in an 800 ml size. The recommended dilution ratios listed in the original post are 1:10–1:20 for a foam lance and 1:100–1:200 for a pump sprayer.

It included a lid that doubles as a measuring cup and a dedicated cap that fits into the opening. I did not need to prepare a separate measuring cup, and it was convenient because I could pour the product into the dilution bottle without spilling.

What grime was left before the wash?

I started my self-service car wash with the product.

The car had been washed recently, so overall it was not very dirty. Still, there was stuck-on grime left over that had not come off during the last wash.

In particular, the grime stuck to the trunk had not come off well even when I used a wash mitt last time. I first rinsed away the lighter dirt with a high-pressure wash.

What happened with a 1:100 dilution in a pump sprayer?

Even after spraying plenty of high-pressure water, the stuck-on grime remained. Next, I diluted Indigo Core with water in a pump sprayer.

I added 20 ml of product to 2 L of water for a 1:100 dilution. The dedicated cap and measuring-cup lid made measuring easy. I sprayed it evenly over the whole vehicle and the areas where grime remained, let it dwell for about 5–7 minutes, then rinsed with high-pressure water.

At this stage, the grime on the bonnet came off. But the grime on the trunk remained as it was, so it needed additional washing.

What changed with an electric foam pump sprayer?

This time, I applied foam with an electric foam pump sprayer. I added 20 ml of product to 2 L of water, using the same 1:100 dilution as in the previous step.

The foam came out evenly and densely, and it clung well to the paintwork and glass. I liked that it stayed on the paintwork instead of running off quickly. The electric foam pump sprayer was more convenient to spray than a regular pump sprayer.

I sprayed plenty of foam on the areas that had been hard to clean.

After letting it dwell for a while and rinsing with high-pressure water, the remaining grime gradually started to come off.

When was the stuck-on trunk grime completely removed?

I then moved on to the main wash. This time, I mixed 20 ml of Indigo Core into a pH-neutral car shampoo and used it while washing with a mitt.

Once I had finished the mitt wash and rinse, the remaining grime was gone.

I was satisfied that even the trunk grime that had refused to come off last time was gone. Finally, I dried the water off, added some shine, and finished the wash.

Seeing the clean car made the wash feel worthwhile. The easy measuring setup and the foam's ability to cling were good, but the stuck-on trunk grime did not come off with the first diluted application alone. This result came after an additional foam application and a main wash with a mitt.