Generic cleaner for tools and stuff

[Fried Chicken]

My go-to cleaner is Ballistol in a 1:10 dilution with water. I have it in a little sprayer, and use it constantly to clean hand tools, leafblowers, chainsaws, tabletops, etc. I like to keep my stuff nice and clean, and the ballistol has the advantage of being inexpensive, and more importantly safe on rubber, plastic, metal, wood, hands, the environment, etc.

The thing is it's not quite as strong as it could be, and after a time stubborn stuff will build on it.
Brake parts cleaner and gasoline work well, but I don't like using brake parts cleaner on plastic or rubber, and gasoline is gasoline.

The 1:10 ballistol dilution additionally has the benefit that it leaves a thin anti-rust film on all my metal hand tools to preserve them, but is otherwise benign.

Any suggestions for something stronger?

 

[Jethro 2t sniffer]

Brake cleaner or go home you know it's the good stuff if your eyes burn

 

[Fried Chicken]

Brake cleaner or go home you know it's the good stuff if your eyes burn

Yeah but I also don't want my tools to turn to powder a few years down the road from all the brake parts cleaner eroding them... that's my concern.

I used it on some sockets and they rusted b/c it removed the protective oil

 

[singinwoodwackr]

Dollar store’s ‘Totally Awesome.’
I usually clear their shelve when I go
$5/ga., sold in qts

 

[ATH]

Simple Green

 

[Chainsaw Collectors]

I recommend Super Clean. Be sure to rinse things thoroughly immiediatly after wiping tho. It works absolutely amazing!

 

[singinwoodwackr]

Simple Green

More than 2x the price…same performance.

 

[Breckinridge Elkins]

I use either brake cleaner or the purple stuff. Honestly, dish soap and water is usually the best all around de-greaser. 90% isoprpyl is also on my go-to list. Blast dry with compressed air and then a light spray of gun oil if rust is a concern.
Some people love Ballistol but I will take a pass. I don't care for the smell and it isn't a very good rust preventative.

 

[Fried Chicken]

I appreciate all the recommendations;

I've heard of La's Totally Awesome at some point.

I realize now my question was misleading when I asked for a go-to cleaner, and now I'm kicking myself.
The way I use the ballistol dilution, is basically after finishing a job, any job, I'll take the tool, tabletop, whatever, spray, and wipe off. This way before putting it away I ensure my tools are always clean.
I do the same with my garden tools, chainsaws, leafblowers, etc. No need for gloves, no need for re-oiling, the stuff does its magic.

Soap water needs to be rinsed, brake parts cleaner I can't use on a lot of surfaces (although yeah, this is probably the closest alternative), any degreasing stuff needs rinsing and then you gotta put wd40 or something on metal tools. Isopropyl is honestly not a bad recommendation. La's Totally Awesome looks like it's alcohol based

 

[Jyoung1901]

For a while on all of my milwaukee impacts/drilles/tools/sockets etc I have used the "PB Blaster" brand of orange degreaser. I it has felt like the correct strength for the plastics on the impacts and such, does a good job cleaning but doesnt affect the plastic integrity at all. Unfortunately its been harder and harder to find so I stocked up. Unsure if they make it anymore so i may be in the same boat as you soon!

 

[Jeekinz]

Mineral spirits is the best degreaser/cleaner.