Aviation degreasing guide

Surfaces this covers

What you need on the truck

• Pump-up or air-operated sprayer for controlled application
• Soft-bristle brushes and non-abrasive wash mitts for painted panels
• Low-pressure rinse wand or hangar rinse setup
• Lint-free wipes and squeegees for glass and polished surfaces
• Gloves, eye protection and the containment your facility requires

Dilution: Dilute per the published EcoBlend rates: light cleaning 20:1, general cleaning 10:1, heavy cleaning 5:1. Painted aircraft surfaces belong at the light end; hangar floors and GSE can take the heavy end.

Step by step

1. 1

   Confirm the maintenance manual comes first

   Your airframe or operator manual governs approved cleaning methods, sensitive areas and no-spray zones. Use this guide for process and chemistry; use the manual for what may be touched, masked or avoided on that specific airframe.

2. 2

   Mask and protect before anything gets wet

   Cover static ports, pitot tubes, vents, sensors, seals and any opening called out by the manual. Protect brake assemblies and electrical connections. Dry masking is faster than trying to correct a wet mistake.

3. 3

   Split the job into zones by soil load

   Belly panels, gear and exhaust tracks carry heavy petroleum grease; upper surfaces are mostly atmospheric soil. Mixing one strong batch for everything wastes product on light zones and under-treats the heavy ones. Mix per zone instead.

4. 4

   Apply low and work upward on vertical panels

   Spray the diluted product from the bottom up so runoff lands on already-wetted surface. Runs down a dry painted panel are the classic source of streaks that only show once the aircraft dries in the sun.

5. 5

   Dwell, then agitate with soft media

   Let the degreaser break the grease film before touching it. Then agitate with soft brushes or mitts along the airflow direction — never in circles on paint. On hangar floors, a deck brush or auto-scrubber does the work.

6. 6

   Rinse completely, top down

   Rinse from the highest point downward with low pressure so nothing dries in place and no residue is left in seams, fastener heads or control surface gaps. Keep rinsing until runoff is clear.

7. 7

   Dry, inspect and document

   Dry glass and polished areas with lint-free media to avoid water spotting. Walk the aircraft to confirm no residue in seams, then log the products, dilution and zones cleaned — audit trails matter on commercial and government work.

8. 8

   Hangar floors and GSE last

   Finish with the floor and ground support equipment at the heavy dilution. Doing the floor last means you are not tracking lifted grease back under a clean airframe.

Mistakes that cost you the job

• Cleaning before checking the airframe manual for no-spray zones and approved methods
• Skipping masking on static ports, pitot tubes and sensors
• Using one heavy mix across painted panels and greasy gear alike
• Circular scrubbing on painted surfaces instead of straight passes with soft media
• Letting product dry on a panel in direct sun, which forces a full re-wash
• High-pressure rinsing near seals, seams and control surface gaps

Questions we get asked

Is ECOFORCE HD approved for aircraft cleaning?

Yes — it is approved for personal and commercial aircraft cleaning, and is Airbus, Boeing and Douglas rated. Your airframe maintenance manual still governs methods and restricted areas.

Does it contain solvents or butyls?

No. It is entirely free of solvents and butyls, which is the point: it lifts petroleum grease without the personnel and coating exposure that solvent degreasers bring.

Can the same product handle the hangar floor and the fleet?

Yes. It is a multi-purpose degreaser used on aircraft, fleet, shop floors, commercial kitchens and industrial plants — you change the dilution rather than the product.

What about protein and organic soils?

It safely removes protein stains from any surface, and lifts animal and vegetable fats as readily as petroleum grease.

Do you supply drums and totes for a hangar program?

Yes — 55 gallon drums and 275 gallon totes are quoted per shipment. Our freight desk builds the quote for your delivery point, including liftgate and residential needs.

More guides

• Cleaning concrete with PUREPOWER XA step-by-step wash process for driveways, sidewalks, cart paths and parking lots — including dilution, dwell and rinse order.
• Removing efflorescence and hard water stains with PUREETCHReplace muriatic acid on concrete prep, masonry, tile, grout and glass — safely — with a controlled PUREETCH process.
• Soft washing siding, wood and brick with BIOLIFTA low-pressure process for organic growth, mold and mildew stains, soot and odour — without acids, caustics, quats or bleach.