Quick Answer
Agar Dirt-Off is a concentrated heavy-duty detergent and degreaser for washable hard surfaces. Agar lists uses including grease, fat, soot, mud, oil film and heavy grime on floors, walls, equipment, machinery, BBQs, vehicles and other suitable surfaces.
The important part is using the right dilution for the job. The current Agar Product Data Sheet gives different rates for light cleaning, heavy-duty cleaning, spray-and-wipe work, floor scrubbing and pressure washing.
What Is Agar Dirt-Off?
Dirt-Off is an alkaline, water-based solvent cleaner made for heavier soil than a routine spray-and-wipe product is normally expected to handle. Agar's current product information describes Dirt-Off as rapidly loosening dirt, fat and soot so the soil can be washed away, with application by mop, autoscrubber, steam cleaner, pressure washer or spray-and-wipe where the surface and equipment are suitable.
What Can Dirt-Off Be Used For?
BBQs, ovens and heavy kitchen grease
Agar specifically lists ovens, BBQs, walls, dirty paintwork and machinery under its heavy kitchen fat removal directions. This is the strongest application listed in the current PDS, so it should not be treated as the default strength for every cleaning job.
Machinery and workshop grime
Agar lists equipment, machinery, floors, walls and vehicle areas among the intended uses. That makes Dirt-Off relevant where oily films, grease, soot and heavy grime are the main problem.
Floors, walls and outdoor hard surfaces
Dirt-Off can be used on floors, walls, ceilings, pavements, outdoor furniture, signs, caravans and awnings where the surface is washable and compatible with the cleaner.
Vehicles and exterior cleaning
Agar lists vehicle bodies, car and truck engine bays, car interiors and vinyl upholstery. Paint must be in good condition. Do not assume the same suitability for every coating, wheel finish or unknown surface without checking the surface manufacturer's care instructions first.
Agar Dirt-Off Dilution Guide
There is no single Dirt-Off dilution. Agar changes the strength according to the soil and application. The table below follows the current Product Data Sheet issued 20 November 2025.
| Cleaning job | Current Agar dilution | Agar use guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Light soilage | 1 in 80 with water | For lighter cleaning where the full heavy-duty strength is not needed |
| Heavy kitchen fat removal | Use neat | Listed for ovens, BBQs, walls, dirty paintwork and machinery |
| General heavy-duty cleaning | 1 in 20 with water | General heavy-duty cleaning |
| Spray-and-wipe, medium soilage | 1 in 30 with water | Medium-soilage spray-and-wipe cleaning |
| Scrubbing floors | 1 in 80 with water | Floor scrubbing by the stated application method |
| Pressure washing | 1 in 120 with water | Current PDS pressure-washing rate |
If your team works with several concentrates, see Janitorial Depot's cleaning chemical dilution guide for help reading manufacturer dilution formats.
Which Surfaces Does Agar List as Suitable?
Agar's current product information lists Dirt-Off as safe on stainless steel, glass, plastic, paint surfaces in good condition, aluminium and porcelain. It also lists uses across floors, walls, ceilings, equipment, machinery, vehicle bodies, sinks, cupboards, baths, showers, engine bays, outdoor furniture, caravans, awnings, car interiors and vinyl upholstery.
Is Dirt-Off Safe on Aluminium?
Yes. Agar currently lists aluminium among the materials suitable for Dirt-Off. That is useful for mixed-material equipment and vehicle cleaning where aluminium may be present.
Keep the application within Agar's current product directions. Aluminium can have anodised, polished, painted or other specialist finishes, and the Dirt-Off PDS does not state that every possible finish has been tested. If the finish is unknown or especially valuable, confirm its care requirements before cleaning.
What About Mag Wheels?
Agar's current Dirt-Off PDS lists aluminium and vehicle bodies, but it does not specifically list mag wheels.
Wheel finishes vary, so check the wheel manufacturer's care instructions before using Dirt-Off on a mag wheel or other specialist wheel finish.
Agar's Red Dust House-Washing Example
Agar published a real Queensland case study in 2024 after a house-washing company had trouble removing red dust from exterior surfaces. In that example, Dirt-Off was applied through a pressure washer and Agar reported successful cleaning of eaves, Colorbond fencing and driveways.
The case study is useful because it shows Dirt-Off being used outside the usual kitchen or workshop setting. It is not a replacement for today's use instructions. The older case used 1 in 100, while Agar's current PDS now lists 1 in 120 for pressure washing.
Read the Agar red dust house-washing case study.
How to Use Dirt-Off
- 1
Identify the soil and surface
Work out whether the job is light soil, grease, hardened fat, floor soil or another heavy-duty cleaning task. Confirm that the surface is washable and compatible.
- 2
Use the job-specific dilution
Do not default to the strongest mix. Use the current Agar rate for the actual application.
- 3
Apply with the suitable method
Agar allows application by spray, mop or sponge and also lists autoscrubbers, steam cleaners and pressure washers. The equipment and surface manufacturer must also allow the method you choose.
- 4
Loosen the soil
The PDS directs users to apply the solution and scrub lightly where required so the dirt, fat, soot or grease can be removed.
- 5
Rinse or wipe clean
Agar's current PDS says to rinse the surface off or wipe it clean with a mop or clean cloth after application.
- 6
Follow the SDS for safe handling
The concentrate is classified as hazardous and can cause skin irritation and serious eye damage. Use the current label and SDS for protective equipment, first aid, storage and spill response.
Dirt-Off in Kitchens and Food Areas
Dirt-Off can be useful for removing heavy grease and hardened fat from compatible kitchen surfaces, BBQs, ovens and equipment. It is a cleaner and degreaser. Agar's current Dirt-Off product information does not list the product as a sanitiser.
If a site requires sanitising after cleaning, treat that as a separate hygiene step using a suitable product and the site's cleaning program. Do not assume that grease removal and sanitising are the same task.
When Dirt-Off Is Not the Right Choice
Light daily wiping
A heavy-duty degreaser can be more than a light daily job needs. A suitable general cleaner may be a better fit where there is no heavy grease, oil film or stubborn grime.
Paint in poor condition
Agar specifically cautions against using Dirt-Off on painted surfaces that are in bad condition.
Unknown or specialist finishes
Do not assume that a broad material listing covers every coating, anodised finish, polish or specialist surface treatment.
Sanitising as the required outcome
Dirt-Off is a detergent and degreaser. Where a sanitising step is required, use a product that carries the relevant sanitiser directions for that job.
Safety Points to Check Before Use
Agar's current Safety Data Sheet classifies the concentrate as hazardous, with the signal word Danger. It can cause skin irritation and serious eye damage. The SDS directs users handling the undiluted product to use eye protection and prevent skin contact with suitable protective clothing and gloves.
Keep the current SDS available wherever the product is used. Dirt-Off is also classified as an S5 scheduled poison in the current SDS. For first aid, spills, storage and protective equipment, follow the current Agar SDS rather than relying on a blog summary.
Choose the Right Next Step
Agar Dirt-Off FAQs
What is Agar Dirt-Off used for?
Agar Dirt-Off is a concentrated heavy-duty detergent and degreaser for washable surfaces. Agar lists uses including floors, walls, pavements, equipment, machinery, BBQs, vehicle bodies, engine bays, outdoor furniture and other compatible hard-surface cleaning jobs.
What dilution should I use for Agar Dirt-Off?
The current Agar PDS gives different rates for different jobs: 1 in 80 for light soilage, neat for heavy kitchen fat removal, 1 in 20 for general heavy-duty cleaning, 1 in 30 for medium spray-and-wipe cleaning, 1 in 80 for floor scrubbing and 1 in 120 for pressure washing. Follow the current PDS for the job you are doing.
Can Agar Dirt-Off be used on aluminium?
Yes. Agar currently lists aluminium among the materials suitable for Dirt-Off. That does not establish compatibility with every anodised, polished, painted or specialist aluminium finish, so check the surface manufacturer's care instructions where the finish is uncertain.
Can Dirt-Off be used on mag wheels?
Agar's current Dirt-Off PDS lists aluminium and vehicle bodies, but does not specifically list mag wheels. Because wheel finishes vary, check the wheel manufacturer's care instructions before using Dirt-Off on a mag wheel or specialist wheel finish.
Can Dirt-Off remove red dust?
Agar published a 2024 Queensland case study where Dirt-Off was used successfully on red dust affecting eaves, Colorbond fencing and driveways. The case used a 1 in 100 pressure-washing dilution. Agar's current November 2025 PDS now lists 1 in 120 for pressure washing, so use the current PDS rather than copying the older case-study rate.
Can Dirt-Off be used neat?
Agar's current PDS specifies neat use for heavy kitchen fat removal and gives ovens, BBQs, walls, dirty paintwork and machinery as examples. Other jobs have their own dilution rates, so neat use should not become the default for every cleaning task.
Is Agar Dirt-Off a sanitiser?
Agar's current Dirt-Off product information describes Dirt-Off as a detergent and degreaser and does not list it as a sanitiser. If a site requires sanitising after cleaning, use a suitable sanitiser as a separate step according to the relevant instructions.
Where can I find the current Dirt-Off PDS and SDS?
Use Agar's Dirt-Off data sheet page to open the current Product Data Sheet and Safety Data Sheet before use.