Degreasers For Use on Gel Coat, Aluminum, and Electrical Wiring

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Author Topic:   Degreasers For Use on Gel Coat, Aluminum, and Electrical Wiring

Frank O posted 03-18-2015 07:19 PM ET (US)
Is there a good degreaser I can spray into the bilge with a spray gun of some type that is safe for gel coat, the aluminum fuel tank, the bilge pump wiring, and etc.? I see Simple Green is not recommended for aluminum.
Jeff posted 03-18-2015 10:02 PM ET (US)
I have found Krud-Kutter to work as well if not better than Simple Green and it is non-toxic and safe on metals and gel coat. It will strip any wax off that you have in the gel coat, but so will simple green and other degreasers.
jimh posted 03-19-2015 09:23 AM ET (US)
I did not know that Simple Green was not for use on aluminum. I have been using it to get grease and oily stains off my outboard engine. I will have to try the product Jeff recommends. Can you find KRUD-KUTTER in most stores? I never heard of it.
Jeff posted 03-19-2015 09:36 AM ET (US)
Jim,
The company was recently bought by Rustoluem and can be found all over now. I have always bought it at ACE, Home Depot, Lowes ETC.....
http://www.rustoleum.com/en/product-catalog/consumer-brands/krud-kutter/ cleaners-and-stain-removers/original-krud-kutter
TahoeMontauk posted 03-19-2015 10:58 AM ET (US)
www.oileater.com/household/cleaner-degreaser
This stuff is the bomb. Non-toxic, non-corrosive, biodegradable.
fishgutz posted 03-19-2015 02:29 PM ET (US)
I've heard this works really good: http://www.westmarine.com/buy/orpine--orpine-boat-soap-quart--3119930
I have used this quite a bit with excellent results: http://www.supercleanbrands.com/products
Frank O posted 03-19-2015 11:20 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the suggestions. I ordered some Krud-Kutter and will give it a try. Below is the FAQ answer on Simple Green's website about using the product on aluminum. Apparently the problems occur when it stays in contact with the metal too long.
When used with caution and according to the instructions, Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner has been safely and successfully used to clean aluminum. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner, Crystal Simple Green Industrial Cleaner & Degreaser, and Simple Green Pressure Washer Concentrates have been used on aircraft, automotive, industrial and consumer aluminum items for over 20 years. However, caution and common sense must be used: aluminum is a soft metal that easily corrodes with unprotected exposure to water. The aqueous-base and alkalinity of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times for unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces should be kept as brief as the job will allow - never for more than 10 minutes. Large cleaning jobs should be conducted in smaller-area stages to achieve lower contact time. Rinsing after cleaning should always be extremely thorough - paying special attention to flush out cracks and crevices to remove all Simple Green product residues. Unfinished, uncoated or unpainted aluminum cleaned with Simple Green products should receive some sort of protectant after cleaning to prevent oxidation.
Simple Green has also developed break-through water based cleaners that are safe for use on metals, plastics, rubber and high tech alloys. Extreme Simple Green Aircraft & Precision Cleaner, Pro Series Simple Green Automotive Cleaner, and Simple Green Pro HD are available on both the industrial and retail markets, respectively. These products were initially developed for the aircraft industry and extensive testing shows that they are safe and effective on a variety of metals and other sensitive surfaces even in the most extreme circumstances.
Simple Green Stainless Steel One Step Cleaner & Polish is another option for cleaning polished aluminum. This product is designed for light duty metal cleaning and polishing."
jimh posted 03-20-2015 09:36 AM ET (US)
There won't be any problem for me to use SIMPLE GREEN. I tend to use it diluted from the recommend concentration, and I use it on painted aluminum surfaces.
DeeVee posted 03-21-2015 10:34 AM ET (US)
I second the recommendation for the Oil Eater. I have been using it for a long time. I am on my second gallon of it, purchased from Costco. It must take me 5-10 years to use a gallon.
I used it to clean up my old 200 HP Suzuki, before I prepped it for painting. There is a lot of grease and oil to clean off of an old 2 stroke. I also use it for cleaning oil and grease drips and spills off of my shop floor. I try to keep spills and drips to a minimum, but when it does happen, the Oil Eater cleans it up nicely.
As I write this, I remember that I need to get another gallon.
Doug Vazquez
jimh posted 03-21-2015 12:39 PM ET (US)
Doug--I think you are the first to mention OIL EATER. Previously it was just called "this."
TahoeMontauk posted 04-28-2015 02:52 AM ET (US)
I called it "This stuff." The URL I posted clearly states the name of the product.
jimh posted 04-28-2015 05:23 AM ET (US)
Tahoe--Thanks for the follow-up and your continued recommendation of "this stuff." Calling the product "this stuff" will be very helpful when people search for information about "this stuff."
White Bear posted 04-28-2015 02:02 PM ET (US)
Greased Lightning
PeteB88 posted 04-30-2015 04:33 PM ET (US)
I've used Simple Green, Krud Kutter, per Jeff's recommendation, other stuff and Amazing Roll Off. I think Krud might have the nod but Roll Off worked great too. Good product but spendy. I don't want to spend $20/gallon on cleaners.

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Author	Topic: Degreasers For Use on Gel Coat, Aluminum, and Electrical Wiring
Frank O	posted 03-18-2015 07:19 PM ET (US) Is there a good degreaser I can spray into the bilge with a spray gun of some type that is safe for gel coat, the aluminum fuel tank, the bilge pump wiring, and etc.? I see Simple Green is not recommended for aluminum.
Jeff	posted 03-18-2015 10:02 PM ET (US) I have found Krud-Kutter to work as well if not better than Simple Green and it is non-toxic and safe on metals and gel coat. It will strip any wax off that you have in the gel coat, but so will simple green and other degreasers.
jimh	posted 03-19-2015 09:23 AM ET (US) I did not know that Simple Green was not for use on aluminum. I have been using it to get grease and oily stains off my outboard engine. I will have to try the product Jeff recommends. Can you find KRUD-KUTTER in most stores? I never heard of it.
Jeff	posted 03-19-2015 09:36 AM ET (US) Jim, The company was recently bought by Rustoluem and can be found all over now. I have always bought it at ACE, Home Depot, Lowes ETC..... http://www.rustoleum.com/en/product-catalog/consumer-brands/krud-kutter/ cleaners-and-stain-removers/original-krud-kutter
TahoeMontauk	posted 03-19-2015 10:58 AM ET (US) www.oileater.com/household/cleaner-degreaser This stuff is the bomb. Non-toxic, non-corrosive, biodegradable.
fishgutz	posted 03-19-2015 02:29 PM ET (US) I've heard this works really good: http://www.westmarine.com/buy/orpine--orpine-boat-soap-quart--3119930 I have used this quite a bit with excellent results: http://www.supercleanbrands.com/products
Frank O	posted 03-19-2015 11:20 PM ET (US) Thanks for the suggestions. I ordered some Krud-Kutter and will give it a try. Below is the FAQ answer on Simple Green's website about using the product on aluminum. Apparently the problems occur when it stays in contact with the metal too long. When used with caution and according to the instructions, Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner has been safely and successfully used to clean aluminum. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner, Crystal Simple Green Industrial Cleaner & Degreaser, and Simple Green Pressure Washer Concentrates have been used on aircraft, automotive, industrial and consumer aluminum items for over 20 years. However, caution and common sense must be used: aluminum is a soft metal that easily corrodes with unprotected exposure to water. The aqueous-base and alkalinity of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times for unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces should be kept as brief as the job will allow - never for more than 10 minutes. Large cleaning jobs should be conducted in smaller-area stages to achieve lower contact time. Rinsing after cleaning should always be extremely thorough - paying special attention to flush out cracks and crevices to remove all Simple Green product residues. Unfinished, uncoated or unpainted aluminum cleaned with Simple Green products should receive some sort of protectant after cleaning to prevent oxidation. Simple Green has also developed break-through water based cleaners that are safe for use on metals, plastics, rubber and high tech alloys. Extreme Simple Green Aircraft & Precision Cleaner, Pro Series Simple Green Automotive Cleaner, and Simple Green Pro HD are available on both the industrial and retail markets, respectively. These products were initially developed for the aircraft industry and extensive testing shows that they are safe and effective on a variety of metals and other sensitive surfaces even in the most extreme circumstances. Simple Green Stainless Steel One Step Cleaner & Polish is another option for cleaning polished aluminum. This product is designed for light duty metal cleaning and polishing."
jimh	posted 03-20-2015 09:36 AM ET (US) There won't be any problem for me to use SIMPLE GREEN. I tend to use it diluted from the recommend concentration, and I use it on painted aluminum surfaces.
DeeVee	posted 03-21-2015 10:34 AM ET (US) I second the recommendation for the Oil Eater. I have been using it for a long time. I am on my second gallon of it, purchased from Costco. It must take me 5-10 years to use a gallon. I used it to clean up my old 200 HP Suzuki, before I prepped it for painting. There is a lot of grease and oil to clean off of an old 2 stroke. I also use it for cleaning oil and grease drips and spills off of my shop floor. I try to keep spills and drips to a minimum, but when it does happen, the Oil Eater cleans it up nicely. As I write this, I remember that I need to get another gallon. Doug Vazquez
jimh	posted 03-21-2015 12:39 PM ET (US) Doug--I think you are the first to mention OIL EATER. Previously it was just called "this."
TahoeMontauk	posted 04-28-2015 02:52 AM ET (US) I called it "This stuff." The URL I posted clearly states the name of the product.
jimh	posted 04-28-2015 05:23 AM ET (US) Tahoe--Thanks for the follow-up and your continued recommendation of "this stuff." Calling the product "this stuff" will be very helpful when people search for information about "this stuff."
White Bear	posted 04-28-2015 02:02 PM ET (US) Greased Lightning
PeteB88	posted 04-30-2015 04:33 PM ET (US) I've used Simple Green, Krud Kutter, per Jeff's recommendation, other stuff and Amazing Roll Off. I think Krud might have the nod but Roll Off worked great too. Good product but spendy. I don't want to spend $20/gallon on cleaners.