Oil & Gas
Building & Facility Management
Manufacturing
Right Tool for the Job: Replacing an All-in-One Cleaner Cut Annual Spend 66%
At a glance
An industrial cleaning & oilfield services company relied on an all-in-one cleaner for degreasing, vehicle washing, and LEL vapour control. Performance was acceptable, but chemical use and annual costs were high. A fit-for-purpose program maintained cleaning while significantly reducing product volume and overall spend.
Key metrics
66% REDUCTION IN ANNUAL SPEND
75% REDUCTION IN PRODUCT VOLUME
EQUIVALENT CLEANING AT 1/3 CONCENTRATION
When an all-in-one cleaner costs more than it needs to
Many service companies use a single “all-in-one” product for degreasing, vehicle washing and vapour control. It keeps inventory simple. The trade-off is that every job pays for every ingredient, even the ones it does not need, and the product often has to run at a high rate to cover the toughest task.
This industrial cleaning and oilfield services company was in that position. The product worked, but it was applied at a high rate and included vapour-control chemistry that most jobs did not require. Chemical cost was high, and it was cutting into the company’s ability to price competitively.
The question was whether separate products, each matched to its job, could hold cleaning performance while using less chemical.
Challenges
The “all-in-one” approach at this industrial cleaning & oilfield services company was costing more than it needed to. While the incumbent product performed, it required a high application rate, and included costly vapour-control chemistry they didn’t regularly need. This resulted in higher chemical costs and reduced the competitiveness of their operation.
Solutions
A three-product fit-for-purpose program was recommended. Ultrex for heavy hydrocarbon soil removal, NuTech Home Run for general vehicle wash needs, and Purge HF for LEL/BTEX suppression.
Cleaning product performance was validated with a side-by-side foamer trial versus the incumbent all-in-one product. Both products were applied via foamer with a 5-minute dwell time and high-pressure water rinse.
Results
Verified Cleaning Performance: Ultrex achieved the same cleaning performance at 1/3 the concentration.
Reduced Chemical Spend and Product Volume: Guardian’s fit-for-purpose cleaning program, maintains performance while reducing annual chemical spend by 66% and 75% reduction in product volume.
Operational Handling Reduction: Estimated reduction in deliveries from 6 to 2 per year, decreasing handling and storage.
Data
FIELD TRIAL SUMMARY
Wash bay wall cleaned with two chemistries side‑by‑side. Left half: Ultrex at 1/3 concentration of incumbent. Right half: incumbent all‑in‑one. Both applied via foamer, left for 5 minutes, then rinsed with high‑pressure water. Observed outcome: Equivalent cleaning performance under these conditions.
Frequently asked questions
What replaced the all-in-one cleaner?
A three-product program: Ultrex for heavy hydrocarbon soils, NuTech Home Run for general vehicle washing, and Purge HF for LEL and BTEX vapour suppression when needed.
How was cleaning performance checked?
A side-by-side foamer trial on a wash bay wall. Both products had a 5-minute dwell and a high-pressure rinse. Ultrex matched the previous product’s cleaning at one-third the concentration.
How much did the change save?
Annual chemical spend dropped 66%, and product volume dropped 75%.
What happened to deliveries?
Estimated deliveries fell from 6 to 2 per year, which cut handling and storage.