Let’s face it, winter road grime is not a good look for your car. Keeping your motor clean at this time of year is not easy as you have to contend with salt on the roads, poor weather and general winter road grime. It’s in situations like this where as pre-wash really comes in to its own. Which is better, though, Auto Finesse Citrus Power or Stjärnagloss Först? This article will give you the answer.
*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored or paid post, I bought both products with my own money*
What Is Pre-Wash
So, what is a pre-wash and why is it useful? As the name suggests, this is a product you apply pre-wash, before making contact with the paintwork using a wash mitt (don’t use a sponge!). The idea of a pre-wash product is to loosen dirt and road grime as well as decreasing the chance of swirl marks once you do make contact with the bodywork.
Let’s Talk pH
Ok, pH is far from a sexy subject, but when it comes to car cleaning, it’s an important factor. In an ideal world you will want to choose a product that is pH neutral, meaning it will not damage any polishes or waxes that are currently applied to the car. If this is a crucial factor for you when choosing a pre-wash then you will want to go with Citrus Power as it’s pH neutral.
The same cannot be said for Stjärnagloss Först, though, as that is pH 13. This puts it towards the top end of the alkaline scale, meaning it’s going to give your pre-existing polish/wax application a hard time. However, one could argue that if your polish/wax is doing a good enough you shouldn’t need to resort to Forst in the first place.
Price
Like most things in life, price is important. Auto Finesse Citrus Power is available in two sizes, 1 litre and 5 litres, with respective prices of £9.95 and £34.95. Stjärnagloss Först is available in three sizes, 100ml, 1 litre and 5 litres, with respective prices of £5, £11 and £38. If you’re looking for a sample size before you commit to a larger size then the Först is likely to appeal to you more.
That aside, on price alone, Citrus Power wins this part of the test.
Ease of Use
As much as I enjoy cleaning cars, I want products that are easy to use and don’t need a degree in detailing to use. I’m sure the same can be said for the majority of you reading this article. What I was looking for in this particular test is how ergonomic and smooth the trigger sprays, the spray pattern and instructions.
Thankfully, when it comes to instructions, both products are foolproof but Citrus Power definitely offers the more pleasing trigger action. The Auto Finesse spray bottle falls in to the hand nicer, the trigger action is smoother and the actual spray pattern covers a larger area. The Först is far from awful to use, but the trigger isn’t as nice to use and I found myself switching hands for comfort, and the spray pattern didn’t seem to spread as wide.
Based on the above, the ease of use test goes to Auto Finesse Citrus Power, but all Stjärnagloss would need to do to level the playing field would be to offer a better trigger. This is an area the Swedish-inspired has acknowledged in recent times and is looking to make improvements.
The Good Bit, The Clean
For those of you keeping count, you would have clocked that the score is currently 2-0 to Auto Finesse but arguably, where it all matters is the clean. Both products offer the same application; simply spray on to the bodywork, leave to dwell for a few minutes and then rinse off with a pressure washer.
As you can hopefully see from the photos, this 2023 Hyundai i10 was caked in road grime, and with it being black, it should offer a strong before and after. Despite being so covered in nasty grime, but products did a fantastic job of cutting through the dirt like a knife through hot butter.
Even though the Först didn’t seem to spray as wide as Citrus Power, it foamed up more when rinsed off and seem to be having more of a reaction than the Citrus Power. Once rinsed off, the I was very impressed with how well both products did considering all I had done was to spray it on and rinse off.
However, as much as both products impressed, I need to decide a winner, and I would say it goes to Först. Citrus Power impressed me more than I thought it would, but if I’m to be critical, it did appear to leave some dirt at the bottom of the skirt. Dealbreaker? No, as you’d be going over that with a wash mitt and shampoo, but Först didn’t seem to leave any visible dirt behind.
Conclusion
On scores alone, Auto Finesse Citrus Power takes the win, although I would say Stjärnagloss Först delivered the better cleaning. There wasn’t much in it though, but the fact Citrus Power is pH neutral might be enough for some buyers. In my opinion I don’t think you can go wrong with either and I’m happy to have both products in my cleaning arsenal.
Given the fact Citrus Power wasn’t too far behind Forst when it came to cleaning power, it’s easier to use and it’s pH neutral, that would probably be my go-to. I would recommend both products, though – the final decision may come down to cost or whether you want something pH neutral.