Trying to figure out whether to grab Zep or Simple Green for your cleaning tasks?

Each one has its strengths, and they’re built for totally different kinds of cleaning jobs.

Zep is a powerhouse, perfect for heavy-duty messes and industrial-level grime, while Simple Green is all about being versatile, eco-friendly, and safe for everyday use.

In this post, I’ll compare Zep vs Simple Green against a number of different factors. I cleaned a car frame using both, and this post is based on that.

#1 Application Method

Zep comes as a foam spray, which turns out to be pretty fantastic. The foam does this awesome thing where it just sticks to whatever needs cleaning, even on vertical surfaces.

This comes in really handy when working on vehicle frames because the cleaner stays exactly where it's sprayed instead of dripping down everywhere.

It's really convenient for automotive work or cleaning walls where dripping would be a problem.

Simple Green works differently - you've got to mix it yourself before you can start cleaning.

It's not complicated or anything - just equal parts cleaner and water (15 ounces each), but it's definitely an extra step.

#2 Initial Contact Performance

Zep starts working the moment it hits the surface.

The grease starts breaking down almost immediately after spraying, and it's pretty satisfying to watch it attack the grime right away.

This quick action comes in really handy when trying to clean multiple areas and time matters.

Simple Green takes more of a gentle approach to the whole cleaning process.

When sprayed on, it needs to sit there for a while before showing results. It's definitely working, just not as dramatically as Zep.

This can actually be beneficial in certain situations, especially with more delicate surfaces or when super aggressive cleaning isn't needed. It's more of a laid-back approach to degreasing.

#3 Labor Required

Zep is the winner in this category too.

With Zep, the job's a lot easier - spraying it on and giving it a quick wipe is often enough to get rid of most grease.

The powerful formula does a lot of the heavy lifting, which means less scrubbing and scraping. This makes a huge difference on big cleaning jobs.

Simple Green asks for quite a bit more effort. Testing showed it needed multiple applications and serious scrubbing with a Scotch-Brite pad to get similar results.

But it does eventually get the job done.

This might not matter for small cleaning tasks, but it gets pretty tiring on larger projects or professional cleaning work.

Also Read: Steel Wool Vs Scotch-Brite For Cleaning

#4 Time Efficiency

Zep works a lot faster than Simple Green.

With Zep, you can just spray it on and start cleaning pretty quickly. Sections get cleaned much faster because there's hardly any waiting time between applying the product and wiping away the grease.

This quick action means cleaning projects wrap up much faster.

Simple Green needs more patience. The whole routine involves spraying, waiting, scrubbing, and often repeating the process again.

While this isn't a big deal for small cleaning jobs, it really adds up when working on bigger projects. The extra time needed for each section means overall cleaning takes quite a bit longer.

#5 Heavy-Duty Performance

Zep is better at getting rid of serious grease and grime.

The industrial-strength formula just powers through heavy grease like it's nothing!

It's clear this product was designed with serious cleaning in mind, and it really shows in how it performs on tough automotive grease and machinery.

Simple Green can definitely handle cleaning tasks too, but it seems more at home doing regular maintenance cleaning or tackling lighter jobs.

Don't get me wrong - it works, but it takes more product and more effort to get there. It's great for keeping things clean and handling day-to-day grease, but when you're facing years of built-up grime, it's not quite as efficient as Zep.

Also Read: How To Remove Bee Poop From Car

#6 Prices

Good news - both of these products won't break the bank.

They're both affordable and easy to find. Even though we don't have exact prices here, they both fall into the reasonable price range for cleaning products.

But when you look at the bigger picture, though, you might actually save some money with Zep in the long run. Since you don't need to use as much of it to get the job done, one container lasts longer.

Plus, when you factor in the time you save and how effectively it works, it offers really good value for your money.

That said, Simple Green's ability to be diluted means you can stretch it out pretty far too.

Should I Get Zep Or Simple Green?

After spending time with both products, I'd recommend Zep Industrial Degreaser for serious cleaning jobs.

It works faster, needs less scrubbing, and handles tough grease better than Simple Green. The foam spray makes it easy to use, and it just gets the job done more efficiently.

But I wouldn't count Simple Green out completely.

It works perfectly fine for regular cleaning and lighter degreasing jobs. The fact that you can dilute it makes it versatile for different cleaning tasks.

If you're only going to buy one of these, I'd suggest getting Zep Industrial Degreaser. It can handle both tough jobs and lighter cleaning, which makes it more useful to have around.

Zep Vs Simple Green (Which Degreaser Should I Get?)