Aqueous Cleaning Blog

If we asked you how long you’d like your aqueous cleaning product to last, you’d probably say something like “forever,” and you wouldn’t be joking.

In a perfect world, our cleaning solutions would last infinite lengths of time.

But our world isn’t perfect, and though there are companies out there trying to create solutions to this problem, the solutions tend to come along with many downfalls that prove to be inefficient.

Instead we focus on extending the life of our baths and being able to predict as closely as possible to when we need to swap them out.

Earlier on in The Aqueous Cleaning Blog we took a general look at the different aqueous cleaning chemistries that are out there today, as well as the types of soils they can remove.

A few months ago we talked about the different kinds of parts washing techniques that are available, and when they should be used. Aside from basic manual washing, the four most common techniques that you’re likely to come across are agitated immersion, spray under immersion, spray washing and ultrasonic.

Today, we’ll take a deeper look into each one to explain how each is most effective and which may be the best option for you depending on your parts cleaning application:

When dealing with aqueous parts cleaning, it’s important to control the concentration of your aqueous solution in order to achieve ideal cleaning status and extend your bath life.

Although aqueous products have a lot of variables to control, they tend to offer greater flexibility which makes all of the additional attention to detail worthwhile.

If you recall from earlier posts, concentration is one of the four essential elements of the aqueous cleaning process. (The others are temperature, agitation, and time).

In a world where words like “sustainability” and “go green” are being used extensively, especially in the auto industry, it is important to remember that those concepts are not limited to simply the kind of fuel a vehicle runs on. Overall, being sustainable refers to the reduction of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions—even when it comes to cleaning vehicle parts.

Before we look at ways to avoid or eliminate Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s), we should take a minute and define what VOC’s are. VOCs are basically chemicals that contain carbon and evaporate at room temperature and pressure. The term includes all sorts of common solvents (e.g. mineral spirits-based parts washer solutions, methanol, etc.) and even common everyday items like paints, deodorants, and cleaning products.

Before you can select the right parts washer, you’ll need to think about which cleaning technique is right for your parts.

To start you off, here are the most common cleaning techniques and when you should use them.

Let’s begin with the most basic – manual washing.

Parts cleaning is important – and necessary – to organizations that manufacture, repair, and maintain parts and equipment. So, it’s equally as important that the right products and processes are chosen.

It’s not quite as simple as it sounds, though.