Industrial Cleaner and Degreaser: How to Choose Between Alkaline and Acidic Chemistry

Are you comparing the pros and cons of alkaline cleaning to acidic cleaning? At Jayco Chemical Solutions, our industrial cleaner and degreaser options, as well as our inventory of alkaline cleaners, give you lots of chemistries to choose from.

Take a moment to think back to chemistry class. You probably remember spending an extended amount of time dipping litmus paper into solutions to test pH and acidity versus alkalinity. Just in case you’ve put your chemistry knowledge on the back burner, the term pH symbolizes the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution (in other words, what proportion of a solution contains hydrogen ions.) The pH scale goes from 1—14. A pH of 7 is neutral, meaning that the amount of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions in a solution are equal. Water has a pH of 7 because when water molecules split, it’s an equal break of one hydrogen ion for every hydroxide ion.

So why is this important? 

The pH value can affect your choice of product in precision cleaning. Generally speaking, acidic cleaners are great for brightening metals and removing mineral deposits or oxidation on surfaces. On the other hand, an alkaline cleaner removes oils, fats, greases and proteins. 

Alkaline cleaners are more commonly used than acidic cleaners, although a combination of the two is sometimes the optimal application. Read on to determine the right industrial cleaner and degreaser for you. 

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Acidic Cleaner

When we think of common acidic cleaners, our first thought often goes to vinegar, which is a dilute solution of acetic acid. Lemon juice as another example is a citric acid. Both help to remove mineral deposits, like limescale or rust stains. 

Both citric acid and acetic acid are weak acids. Oxalic acid is a stronger acid that’s sometimes used as a rust remover. Sodium bisulfate, hydrochloric acid, and sulfuric acid are even stronger acids that are sometimes included in toilet cleaners and other disinfectant applications.

Looking for the best in acidic cleaning products? Consider JC CitraPass 3210 M. 

It’s a high-performance citric acidic detergent custom-tailored to meet the high-quality demands of the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.

Alkaline Cleaner

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a weak base occasionally used to clean glass and wall tiles. Dilute solutions of ammonia are stronger alkaline cleaners and are often used for glass cleaning, floor cleaning, and other surfaces since they don’t leave a residue when dry. 

Chlorine bleach is an alkaline solution of sodium hypochlorite dissolved in water. Used to whiten and clean fabrics as well as surfaces, chlorine bleach also works as an effective disinfectant. 

If you’re looking for a great heavy-duty non-silicated alkaline detergent, look no further than JC 401SC. 

Used to remove machining oils, stamping lubes, and grinding compounds, JC 401SC is safe on steel, stainless steel, nickel alloys, carbide, and titanium.

Trisodium phosphate and sodium carbonate, or washing soda, are also alkaline cleaner agents. A strong degreaser, trisodium phosphate (TSP), is often used to prepare walls for painting. It can also be used in the cleaning treatment of mildew, as well as addressing soot and smoke damage. 

Lye, or sodium hydroxide, is a very strong base and is sometimes found in drain and oven cleaners.

Potential Hazards

Industrial cleaner and degreaser products at both ends of the pH scale pose a risk because they are corrosive to human, animal, and plant tissue. At the highest end of the scale, they can actually eat into the tissue and are described as caustic. 

Some cleaning materials are toxic and if mixed with other chemicals can produce poisonous gasses. As you compare alkaline cleaner and acidic cleaner products, always read the label, check the safety data sheet, take care when using, and store safely.

Learn More About Alkaline Cleaners & Acidic Cleaners

Acidic cleaning is best for removing mineral deposits, rust stains, or discoloration from copper and other metals. Alkaline cleaning, on the other hand, is especially good at breaking down fatty or oily deposits.

Want to find out how JAYCO Chemical Solutions can serve your alkaline and acidic cleaning needs? Check out our industrial cleaner and degreaser inventory or get in touch with us.

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JAYCO Chemical Solutions is North America’s single-source provider of engineered cleaning solutions. From process analysis and application engineering to delivery and support, JAYCO improves operations for precision metal, medical, optical, UHV, space/aerospace and general manufacturing customers. For more information on JAYCO Chemical Solutions, our products and our markets, please call us at (814) 593-0022, or email us at info@jaycochem.com.