Industrial Detergents

Better Engineering offers a complete line of water-based detergents and additives formulated for aqueous parts cleaning. These water-soluble, biodegradable chemistries are designed to be safer for employees and the environment while still delivering the heavy-duty cleaning performance industrial parts washers require.

From light oils, chips, and coolants to heavy grease, carbon deposits, polishing compounds, machining residue, metal fines, oxidation, and production soils, Better Engineering’s detergent line helps match the right chemistry to the soil, the part material, and the washer process. Whether you are cleaning precision components, remanufactured parts, food-contact equipment, or industrial production loads, our team can help identify a detergent solution that supports cleanliness, material compatibility, cycle time, and operating efficiency.

Not sure which detergent is right for your application? Better Engineering can help evaluate your parts, soils, washer type, and cleanliness goals to recommend the best chemistry for your process.

Industrial Detergents for Aqueous Parts Washing

Every Better Engineering detergent and additive is designed to work with Better Engineering parts washers and a wide range of aqueous cleaning applications, including spray washers, immersion washers, cabinet washers, conveyor washers, drum washers, and rotary basket washers. Benefits of BE Chemistry include:

• Biodegradable, with no VOCs, non-flammable, and non-hazardous formulations
• Lower pH formulas that are generally safe on all metals
• Forces oils to the surface for easy skimming
• Low foaming, designed for powerful spray washers
• Excellent rust inhibition
• Choose the Detergent That Fits Your Application

Selecting the right detergent depends on four factors: the contaminants being removed, the type of parts being cleaned (and the metal they’re made of), how important free rinsing is to the process, and whether rust inhibition is needed to protect mild steel parts or mild steel washer equipment.

Why Choose Better Engineering Detergents?

Better Engineering detergents are formulated specifically for industrial aqueous parts washing, not generic cleaning. They are designed to work with the spray pressure, temperature, filtration, oil removal, and cycle requirements of Better Engineering washers so the chemistry and machine act like one cleaning system instead of two separate guesses.

• Biodegradable and water-soluble for safer disposal and handling
• Engineered specifically to pair with Better Engineering parts washers
• Low-foaming formulas that protect spray pressure and cleaning consistency
• Free-rinsing chemistry that reduces residue and post-wash spotting
• Built-in rust inhibition to help prevent flash rust
• Multi-metal compatibility across aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, iron, steel, and composites
• Non-hazardous, non-corrosive, no VOC or HAP formulations
• A complete product line, from heavy-duty detergents to rust inhibitors and defoamers, for one source cleaning chemistry

Featured Detergents & Additives

PDN-50: Heavy-Duty Powdered Detergent

PDN-50 is a multi-metal safe, low-temperature, low-foaming, heavy-duty powdered detergent typically used to clean industrial equipment parts, engine parts, and screw machine parts. It is designed to remove heavy and light oils, grease, light carbon deposits, and other contaminants.

Best fit: Heavy oils, grease, carbon, industrial parts, engine parts, screw machine parts.

HDL-125: Multi-Metal Safe, Free-Rinsing 

HDL-125 is a heavy-duty, low-foaming liquid detergent formulated for aqueous parts washing applications. It is commonly used to clean industrial equipment parts, engine components, screw machine parts, CNC-machined parts, screw machine parts, and other production components exposed to light oils, coolants, grease, light carbon deposits, and general manufacturing soils.

Designed for strong cleaning performance and easy rinsability, HDL-125 helps remove light oils after CNC machining while also supporting heavier-duty cleaning applications when needed. It performs well in spray, immersion, and automated parts cleaning systems where consistent washer operation and clean rinsing are important.

Best fit: CNC-machined parts, screw machine parts, industrial parts, engine components, free-rinsing applications, light oils, coolants, grease, and light carbon removal.

RPA-445: Liquid Rust Inhibitor, Amine Based

RPA-445 is an amine-based liquid rust inhibitor used with compatible detergent chemistry to provide corrosion protection. It is multi-metal safe for use on materials including aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, iron, steel, composites, precious metals, plastics, and rubbers. Do not mix RPA-445 with nitrite-containing substances.

Best fit: Corrosion protection, mild steel parts, washer protection, multi-metal applications.

DFS-211: Powerful Liquid Defoamer

DFS-211 is a liquid defoamer used to supplement detergent products and control foam in aqueous cleaning systems. It is multi-metal safe for use on aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, iron, steel, composites, precious metals, plastics, and rubbers.

Best fit: Foam control, spray washer performance, detergent supplementation.

Detergent Selection Guide