Simple Green: Cleaning My Van Before the Interior Layers
I used Simple Green on the cargo walls during the floor-preparation session and later on metal edges around the driver-side capsule. It was one supply within a cleanup process that also needed brushes, a mop and towels.
Packing the tools into the van and driving out to work had left dust, dirt, paint and bedliner residue in the cargo area. The cleanup began with sweeping and mopping before I moved to the wall wipe-down and powered brushes.
I finished by drying the floor with a towel. Later, Simple Green was also used to clean the exposed metal edges around the driver-side capsule before the primer and paint stages.
My cargo floor during preparation, shown in a still from my build footage.
Cleaning Walls Before the Next Interior Stage
I swept and mopped the cargo floor.
I wiped the walls with a towel and Simple Green.
I worked over remaining floor residue with brush attachments and finished with a dry towel.
My Takeaway for Choosing the Kit
I would choose the cleanup supply for the residue being tackled. Simple Green and Krud Kutter are broad cleaning options; Goo Gone is aimed at sticky label and tape residue. My experience also needed mechanical scrubbing and drying, so I would organize the cleaner alongside those tools rather than expect one wipe-down to finish the whole cargo area.
Product Details And Van-Build Uses
Specification
Product Detail
Product Family
Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner concentrate
General-Purpose Dilution
Up to 1:10, per current product directions
Light-Cleaning Dilution
Up to 1:30
Final Cleaning Step
Rinse or damp-wipe with clean water
The manufacturer separates heavy, general and light cleaning strengths. Its directions describe applying the solution, allowing dwell time on heavy soil, scrubbing where needed and removing the cleaner with clean water. For a camper-van build, that gives a useful way to organize washable cargo-wall cleanup, tool cleaning and other preparation jobs. My recorded work still explains where I used Simple Green and where brushes and other physical cleaning were needed.
They are separate product formats. The linked directions describe the concentrate and its dilution options.
Alternative products
Two Alternatives to Compare
Krud Kutter Original is another broad cleaner and degreaser. Goo Gone targets the narrower job of adhesive residue, such as leftover tape or labels. These represent two different cleanup needs: general dirt and grease versus a specific sticky residue.
Product
Why compare this option
Purchase link
Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner
Wall cleanup and later metal-edge preparation in my build.
This concentrated cleaner and degreaser targets grease, oil and other residue on washable surfaces. Its dilutable formula offers another general cleanup option for a workshop or cargo area.
This adhesive remover targets sticky residue from labels, tape and similar materials. It offers a focused cleanup option for adhesive residue during interior preparation.
