Inevitably, parts will get dirty. Whether this is from handling, machining, or use, it’s your job to get them clean again.

One of the first questions you need to ask yourself when looking for a new parts washer is what sort of cleaning chemistry you want to use. This is crucial to tackle early on, because the type of cleaning solution will determine what sort of equipment you need. And choosing the wrong one can slow down your cleaning process and lead to extra costs. If you change your mind after making the purchase, it is difficult and expensive - if not impossible - to retrofit the equipment to use the other type. Read more in our article.

At the end of the day, you still need to get down to the surface of your parts and get rid of contaminants, from oils to greases to dirt to dust to rust. So how do you choose which is right for you? Let’s look at the two major categories: solvents and aqueous (water-based).