A Guide to Degreasers and Cleaners

Why Use a Degreaser?

Degreasers are used for removing greasy or oily residue from hard surfaces. They are specially formulated for this task.

Contaminants are clearly unacceptable in a working environment, whether they are left by spills, routine procedures or simply fingerprints. They can present a slipping hazard and also cause overheating, interference and corrosion in machinery.

These cleaning products can be used both for manual cleaning and in automated cleaning systems. Some varieties can be applied either as degreaser concentrate or diluted with water.

Alternative names include:

• Maintenance cleaners

• Brake cleaners

• Precision cleaners

Degreaser Buying Guide: What to Look Out for

Are degreasers toxic? Some certainly are. Before using or purchasing, examine the ingredients list or datasheet carefully to ensure safe handling, especially if you plan to use the product for manual cleaning.

Some varieties do contain flammable solvents and alcohols - for example, isopropyl alcohol (IPA). These blends create effective and inexpensive industrial cleaners but should not be used without decent ventilation to disperse the fumes - nor should they be used on hot surfaces, near flames, or in the vicinity of any process that generates sparks (such as welding or metal cutting). The packaging should contain information on the flammability of the product.

Non-flammable degreasants typically cost more, and while they do not present the above hazards, they still frequently contain highly toxic solvents or similar substances. Prominent examples include:

• Perchloroethylene (Perc)

• Trichloroethylene (TCE)

• N-propyl bromide (nPB)

These deliver cleaning power but exposure to high levels of toxicity can lead to various health problems. Manual cleaning clearly presents a high risk of exposure, so do proceed with caution if the product contains toxic substances.

If you plan to use the cleaner on live electrical equipment, check its dielectric strength. This is a measure of the degreaser’s resistance to electricity. Always look for a higher strength as a lower rating means that electric current will quickly flow through the liquid and short out the machinery.

You should also consider the types of material you plan to apply degreaser to as some can attack the material you are using them on. You need to make sure that the degreaser is compatible with the surface in question. For example, some solvent-type heavy-duty degreasers may attack plastics. This would make them weak and tacky, leading to premature failure. If unsure, test before use.

Degreasers can have a negative environmental impact. Some emit polluting particles known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or contain toxic chemicals or solvents. In most countries, these are subject to strict regulations. By contrast, water-based solvents do not contain harsh chemicals and so are much kinder to the environment, biodegradable and of course, non-flammable.

Types of Degreasers

Different types are suited to different tasks. Let’s take a look at the principle varieties.

What are Degreasers Used for?

Degreasers have a wide variety of applications:

Automotive and Transport

Engine degreasers are used by mechanics, automotive and rail engineers to clean:

• Engines

• Car and vehicle parts

Consumers also use domestic strength cleaners for:

• Basic car maintenance

• Bikes and bike chains

Mechanical, Industrial and Tooling

In mechanical, industrial and tooling environments, they are used to mop up grease, tar and oil residue, along with contamination caused by handling (e.g. fingerprints). However, they are also effective with the many specialist industrial fluids used in a multitude of machinery. Examples include corrosion inhibitors and cutting lubricants.

Automated cleaning systems are widely used in such settings and these may feature vapour-based degreasers and even ultrasonic technology. The latter makes use of high-frequency ultrasound to dislodge and move fluids.

Food and Beverage

Food preparation can be messy, leaving spills and residue in pans and baking trays, in ovens, on cooker tops and even floors. In high traffic commercial kitchens, this could be both unsanitary and potentially hazardous.

The best UK kitchen degreasers are easy to apply but offer sufficient cleaning power to quickly remove stubborn grease and large spills. Commercial kitchens will require professional-grade, heavy-duty degreasers while lighter sprays may suffice for domestic kitchens. It is vital to ensure that the chosen sanitiser or degreaser is food safe and entirely free from the chemicals typically found in industrial degreasers.

Agriculture

On farms and in agricultural warehouses, degreasers have an important role to play in ensuring that vehicles and sorting equipment operates smoothly and contamination is quickly removed. Clean water-based, food-safe degreaser sprays are the go-to choice in such environments.

Manufacturing

Most manufacturers rely on fast-moving, precisely-calibrated production equipment which cannot be taken offline for lengthy cleaning sessions without causing significant disruption. Fast-drying degreasers allow spills and contamination to be quickly removed without major downtime.

FAQs

How Do You Remove Grease from Metal?

1. Select a suitable product. If there is a large quantity of grease or it is particularly viscous, a stronger solvent-based variety may be the best choice. If there is only a limited quantity, a water-based degreaser may suffice

2. Scrape or wipe as much of the grease away as you can, using a scraper or paper towels

3. Apply to the greasy surface and scrub the target vigorously with a cloth until the grease has been dispersed and absorbed

4. Clean the cloth and scraping device

What is Degreaser Made from?

Degreasers are made from various natural and artificial ingredients, carefully blended to create an alkaline solution. Alkaline solutions contain a higher number of hydrogen ions - those with fewer are acidic.

Grease in all its forms is ultimately produced by living organisms, and organic substances respond best to alkaline solutions because these break down the chemical structure of oils and fats very effectively. This can be boosted by adding solvents. These can be artificial or entirely natural. For example, citrus-based products often make capable solvents.

Are Degreasers Safe to Use?

It depends. Degreasers can be broadly divided into water and solvent-based varieties. Water-based degreasers are milder and typically contain mostly natural ingredients, making them suitable for use in the food and beverage industry.

By contrast, solvent-based degreasers contain strong chemicals and can be hazardous. Some are flammable and others emit hazardous fumes. Always read instructions carefully and use suitable personal protective equipment such as a face mask when required.