As a follow-up to my article on using CL100 Crosslinker, now is a great time to answer a related question, namely:
What is the best way for you and/or your customers to SAFELY clean spills, grease, dirt, etc., from a Target Coatings-finished project?
It’s a related question because, even though CL100 Crosslinker increases our coatings’ water and chemical resistance, it does not make them completely impervious to certain chemicals and cleaning products.
Many cleaners have harsh ingredients and high (or low) pH formulas. This helps them do their job, but, in addition to being harmful to you and the environment, they can contribute to early degradation of your finish.
And it’s not just Target Coatings finishes: many water-based coatings are susceptible to high pH products, which, when allowed to rest on the surface for long periods of time, can prematurely break down the final film build of the coating.
In fact, a fairly easy way to strip a water-based coating from a surface would be to use a high pH stripper like CitriStrip®.
The great news is that Target Coatings topcoats have agents in them to inherently repel dirt and resist stains, grease, and chemicals.
So, in most cases, using fresh clean water and a clean cloth as soon as possible is all that is necessary to effectively and safely clean a surface coated with our Emtech® clear finishes and pigmented lacquers.
The Potential Downside of Disinfectants
Sometimes, though, you need to go a step further, or you’re in a commercial space and you want an added disinfectant as part of your cleaning process.
This is where things can go wrong because cleaners with disinfectants often have a high or low pH formulation that sometimes leave a residue on the surface.
Continued use of the cleaner, combined with human interaction (such as arms resting on a table) can lead to a constant chemical reaction with the surface, and, eventually, the coating will break down under this use and abuse.
Again, while adding our CL100 Crosslinker will boost the performance of our coatings and increase their chemical resistance, it won’t make them impervious to all chemicals.
The Safest Solutions are pH Neutral
So, when you are looking for a cleaner or disinfectant, or advising your customer on one, it’s important to seek out pH neutral formulations.
Many of these products are slightly more expensive than your typical cleaner (and most are sold in concentrated formulas that need to be properly diluted), but they will be worth the extra money in the long run.
The nice thing is, these products are readily available, and a quick online search will turn up many examples.
Here is a short list to get you started:
Windex® Original: For residential use only. Technically a higher pH formula, but it does not leave a residue.
Mrs. Meyers® Multi-Surface Concentrated Cleaner: For residential or commercial Use. Must be diluted for pH neutralization.
Ecolab® No Rinse Neutral Floor Cleaner: For residential or commercial use; dilution required.
Zep® Neutral pH Floor Cleaner: For residential or commercial use; dilution required.
Zep® DZ-7 Neutral Disinfectant: For residential or commercial use; dilution required.
To sum things up: to safely clean your water-based finished projects and keep them looking great for many years to come, start your general cleaning with simple water and a clean cloth.
When a stronger solution is required, seek out a pH neutral cleaning formula to keep those finishes durable and prevent early degradation of the film finish.
When in doubt, or if you need additional advice, feel free to contact us for assistance.
What do you find works best for safely cleaning water-based finished projects? Please share your thoughts or read what others are saying in the comments section below.
Seth Kline has been a woodworker, wood finisher and business owner for the past 25 years. After helping grow his family’s home remodeling firm — Roy B Kline & Son — both as a craftsman and business operator, in 2013 Seth became the co-owner, lead woodworker, and shop manager of Stor Handmade Furniture, a highly successful solid wood furniture shop specializing in bespoke, hand-made and hand-finished pieces. In 2023, Seth launched SBCraftsman, which offers spray finishing and small business consulting to private clients. Originally from Pennsylvania, Seth now resides in Aberdeen, N.J., and is a proud member of the Central Jersey Woodworkers Association.
Interesting to read this today, as a walk-in came in to our shop this afternoon with a drawer front that their house cleaner had rubbed the paint off of.
Dawn Dish soap (the regular blue version, not the scented or super-charged versions) is PH neutral. So is Bona Hardwood Floor cleaner. We always suggest these because they are easily available at the grocery store. I’ll add Dr Meyers to our list as well.
Hi Carla,
Thanks for your comment. While I agree that Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner is a good choice, I would like to advise a little caution with using Dawn Dish soap. Based on my research the pH of Dawn is around 9 which is a little high. Typically, this is fine in a residential setting because it is often diluted and then wiped off with a clean damp cloth. However, if it was used full strength or a residue was left behind and allowed to build up on the surface this could cause potential issues in the future. Again, I think this is perfectly acceptable for a residential space, but commercial customers who do frequent cleaning should seek out truly pH neutral formulas for the best protection on their finishes.
-Seth Kline