Which Trade Chem Cleaner Should You Use? Degreasers, Solvents & Citrus Cleaners Explained

Grease, oil and heavy contamination don't all clean the same way. Different cleaning jobs need different cleaning chemistry, water-based alkaline degreasers for general grease and grime, and solvent based cleaners for oil and hydrocarbon residue. Here's a breakdown of the Trade Chem range and where each product fits.

Industrial Strength Degreaser - General Heavy Cleaning

When you need a strong general-purpose degreaser, alkaline cleaning chemistry is often the starting point. Trade Chem Industrial Strength Degreaser uses a concentrated alkaline formula designed for demanding cleaning environments.

Best suited for:

  • Workshop cleaning
  • Machinery cleaning
  • Equipment cleaning
  • Heavy grease removal
  • Maintenance cleaning

Brake Cleaner - Oil & Hydrocarbon Cleaning

Some grease and contamination respond better to solvent chemistry than to a water-based degreaser. Trade Chem Brake Cleaner is a fast-evaporating solvent formulated to cut through oil, grease and brake dust residue without leaving a film behind.

Best suited for:

  • Brake and clutch component cleaning
  • Oil and hydrocarbon residue
  • Mechanical workshops
  • Stubborn greasy deposits on metal parts

Brake Cleaner is a Dangerous Good (flammable solvent) and is restricted to workplace use only. It is not sold for household or general public use.

Citrus All Purpose Cleaner - Everyday Multipurpose Cleaning

Not every job requires aggressive degreasing. Trade Chem Citrus All Purpose Cleaner offers a versatile, water-based option suitable for general maintenance and multipurpose cleaning tasks.

Best suited for:

  • Everyday cleaning
  • General maintenance cleaning
  • Light grease removal
  • Multipurpose cleaning applications

Quick Comparison Guide

Product Best For
Industrial Strength Degreaser General heavy degreasing (alkaline)
Brake Cleaner Oil, grease and brake dust (solvent, workplace only)
Citrus All Purpose Cleaner Everyday multipurpose cleaning

Choosing The Right Cleaner Matters

No single cleaner is ideal for every application. The best cleaning performance comes from matching the type of contamination, and whether you need a water-based or solvent-based formula, to the correct cleaning chemistry.


Shop the full range of trade cleaning chemicals at tradechem.co.nz.