B - Before Cleaning

Question/problem:
Why is the handling of parts and substrates prior to cleaning important?

Solution:
This addresses the first variable "Before Cleaning" in Alconox's acronym BATHCARD, factors that contribute to successful cleaning. Click here to learn more.

Before Cleaning
How parts and substrates are handled prior to cleaning can significantly impact the difficulty, or ease, of cleaning. Soils are more difficult to remove if they are:

• Allowed to dry, set up and cross link
• Stored in a dirty environment
• Stored in a humid or corrosive environment

As a rule, it is important to clean parts as soon as possible after they are soiled. In some instances, it makes sense to take parts directly from a manufacturing process and put them into a soak solution where they may sit for extended periods of time prior to cleaning.

Soiled parts can also be placed in protective packaging, dipped in a protective coating or immersed in oil or grease to maintain their current state and avoid increasing the cleaning burden. Clean storage conditions and proper packing by the supplier make it easier to clean parts and substrates.