Choosing industrial cleaning chemicals: soil type, surface and dosing

In industrial cleaning, product selection starts not with comparing brands or prices but with matching three pieces of information: the type of soil, the surface material and the application method. A choice made without knowing all three is guesswork.

Identify the soil type

Soils behave differently chemically and are removed by different products.

Grease and protein based soils dissolve with alkaline products. This is the main soil in kitchens, food production lines and metalworking areas.

Limescale, rust and mineral deposits dissolve with acidic products. They appear around dishwashers, water lines, ceramic surfaces and steam boilers.

Soot and carbon usually call for products containing both alkali and solvent.

Where more than one soil type exists in the same area, working with two products is both more effective and cheaper than looking for a single "cleans everything" product.

Check surface compatibility

Stainless steel withstands a wide pH range; it is the most tolerant surface.

Aluminium dulls and corrodes with strong alkaline products. This damage is often seen on aluminium trays and pots in food facilities.

Epoxy and polyurethane floors can soften with solvent-based products; surface gloss and durability are lost over time.

Concrete is eroded by acidic products; using limescale removers undiluted on concrete floors is a common mistake.

Polished stone surfaces (marble, travertine) do not withstand acid.

The application method changes the product

For the same soil, hand wiping, pressure washing, foam application and automatic dosing require different formulations. Foam products are designed to extend contact time on vertical surfaces; using the same product for hand wiping is waste. Automatic dosing systems, in turn, need low-foam products, otherwise the equipment clogs.

The real cost: dosing

In most facilities the bulk of cleaning cost comes not from the product being expensive but from using more than needed. "More product cleans better" is a common but false assumption.

Products are formulated to be most effective at a specific dilution ratio. Exceeding that ratio does not improve cleaning performance; it only increases consumption, rinsing time and the amount of chemical entering wastewater. In some cases it worsens the result by leaving residue on the surface.

The practical solution is simple: apply the dilution ratio by measure, not by eye. In facilities using a dosing pump or a graduated container, consumption is noticeably lower than in those working by estimate.

Extra care in food production

Chemicals in contact with surfaces must be of a suitable class, and the rinsing procedure must be defined in writing. With disinfectants, contact time is critical: if rinsed before the time stated on the label has elapsed, disinfection does not take place.

Run a trial

Before switching to a new product, a trial with a sample is the quickest way to see both effectiveness and surface compatibility. What to measure during the trial: how long the soil takes to come off, the dilution ratio required, and whether any mark remains on the surface.

A short checklist

• Has the soil type been identified (grease, limescale, protein, soot)?
• Is the surface material compatible with the product?
• Was a formulation suited to the application method chosen?
• Is the dilution ratio applied by measure?
• Is the safety data sheet available and has staff been briefed?