1. Home
  2. Parts Washer
  3. Parts Washing 101: What Cleaners are Used in Parts Washers?

Parts Washing 101: What Cleaners are Used in Parts Washers?

Industrial parts washers provide a highly efficient way to perform general parts cleaning and precision parts cleaning. The end result is a combination of a washer’s cleaning process and the solvent that removes the soils. If you’re in the market for an industrial parts washing system, and you need on what cleaners are used in parts washers, the information below is for you.

What Cleaners are Used in Parts Washers?

There are several possible answers to the question, “What cleaners are used in parts washers?” To offer a meaningful response, we classify parts washer cleaners by moving from their most basic characteristics to ones that are highly specific, starting with the base the cleaners use.

Cleaner Base

Cleaners for parts washers have one of two bases: solvent or water. Solvent-based cleaners contain a solvent that dissolves two or more cleaning agents to create a homogenous formulation. Aqueous-based cleaners use water to dissolve an application of detergent and commonly use a heating process to speed the detergent dissolving and cleaning processes.

Hot or Cold     

Aqueous-based cleaners commonly require heat to achieve the best detergent dispersal and remove tough accumulations. By the same token, solvent-based cleaners often require no heat to perform efficaciously. Whether you should choose a cleaner that uses heat or one that stays cold is determined by the technology of the parts washer.

“Hot tank” washers are intended for cleaners that need heat to generate the best cleaning action. “Cold tank” washers are designed for solvents that exhibit proper efficacy at room temperature or below.

Jet Spray or Power Wash

Most parts washers use a jet spray cleaning process or a power wash process. Wikipedia provides an excellent description of each type of washer.

“A jet spray washer cleans by flooding the parts with warm chemical solution and high chemical concentration to clean the parts. In the power wash process the parts are blasted with hot chemical solution… A parts washer utilizing the power washer process operates at a very low concentration of cleaning detergent.”

Because they involve markedly different concentrations of cleaning agents, jet spray cleaners and power wash cleaners are often labeled and sold separately. The exception is when the cleaners are offered in undiluted form, and the user will create the correct formulation.

Type of Cleaning

Last, we come to why the cleaner is used: degreasing, adhesive removal, tar removal, etc. As long as the proper solvent is applied, parts washers can remove almost any type of accumulation. It’s simply a matter of choosing the right cleaner for the job, and choosing it in a form the works for your parts washer.

Contact Us Today

Now that you know what cleaners are used in parts washers, do you need to place an order or receiving help selecting the right cleaner for your requirements? If so, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or send us an email through our contact form. We offer a wide selection of eco friendly, highly efficacious parts washing cleaners. Get your greener cleaner from Ecolink!

Search here

Don’t forget to share this post!

Suggested Blog Posts

View all News
By Ecolink Team
White Oil Lubricant
Apr 23 2025

White Oil Lubricant: Discover Smooth Operations in Machinery

Machinery plays an enormous role in manufacturing. Without machines, many industries would struggle to meet production demands and would shut down. Businesses ensure...
By Ecolink Team
What Does the Military Use to Clean Weapons?
Apr 21 2025

What Does the Military Use to Clean Weapons? 3 Common Solutions

Just like with machines, it’s important that weapons are cleaned and well-maintained to prevent accidents from occurring.   In this blog post, we’re going to take a...
By Ecolink Team
PFAS MEANING DEFINITIONS
Apr 18 2025

PFAS Meaning & Definition: What You Need to Know About ‘Forever Chemicals’

What are PFAS chemicals? And why are they called “forever chemicals?”  If you find yourself asking these questions, you’re not alone. Research shows that 97% of...
By Ecolink Team
EPA PFAS NEWS
Apr 16 2025

Current State of PFAS Regulations: Chemical Alternatives with Ecolink

As more dangers of PFAS come to light, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to implement new strategies to minimize these toxic chemicals from...
By Ecolink Team
PFAS Regulations
Apr 14 2025

PFAS Regulations & Safer Alternatives: How Ecolink Helps You Make the Switch

Thinking about making the switch to greener chemicals?   You’ve come to the right place.  With new PFAS regulations being implemented to protect people and the...
By Ecolink Team
Hydrofluoroether solvent
Apr 12 2025

Discover the Power of Ecolink 4005: Your Ultimate Hydrofluoroether Cleaner

In today's world, finding effective and environmentally friendly cleaning solutions is more important than ever. At Ecolink, we are committed to providing innovative...
By Ecolink Team
Household Aerosols
Apr 11 2025

What Are Household Aerosols? Discover Their Uses, Risks, and Safer Alternatives

Not sure what household aerosols are? Should you avoid them all together?  In this blog post, we’re going to do a deep dive into aerosols, providing you definitions,...
By Ecolink Team
Electrical Contact Cleaner Spray
Apr 09 2025

Where to Buy Electrical Contact Cleaner Spray: Convenient & Efficient Cleaning

Electrically powered machinery plays a vital role in businesses and product production. For this machinery to operate, electrical contacts are needed. Electrical...
By Ecolink Team
US Tariffs on Chemical Imports
Apr 07 2025

Navigating US Tariffs: Ecolink’s Strategy for Mitigating Cost in Chemical Supply

Dear Ecolink community, We want to keep you informed about the evolving tariffs situation and its potential impact on our industry. As you may be aware, recent tariff...
By Ecolink Team
Parts Washer Solvents
Mar 31 2025

Parts Washer Solvent: Optimal Cleaning for Industrial Components

In industrial cleaning, parts washer solvents have become essential for achieving effective and meticulous cleaning of diverse components/machinery. These solvents are...
View all News