Frequently Asked Questions
About Pollution Prevention

Parts-washing units are used by many small businesses for cleaning equipment. Like other tasks, cleaning procedures should be reviewed to ensure that best work practices are followed. Checking to see if your shop is using best work practices can reduce waste, free up labor and provide payback on your investment.

Equipment Management

• Service Contracts: Negotiate your service contract so solvent changeouts fit your use schedule, especially if you have seasonal fluctuations in your shop's solvent needs. Remember, you incur costs and liability with each shipment of waste.
• Cleaning demands: Segregate cleaning into two stages, each having a dedicated washing unit. Using two units extends the usefulness of the solvent.
• Equipment Options: Use parts-washing units equipped with filters or other separation options that will keep the solvent cleaner longer. Add-on accessories are available from your equipment vendor.

Equipment Operation

• Need: Think about when parts need cleaning and when they do not. Each use of a parts- washing unit increasingly contaminates the solvent and, over time, shortens then solvent's useful life. If only interior surfaces need to be cleaned, avoid cleaning exterior surfaces that can add dirt, grease, or paint and overburden your solvent. If extra surface cleaning is unavoidable, scrape or wipe off dirt before putting the part into the solvent.
• Techniques: Splashing solvent and dragging out dripping parts depletes your solvent reservoir and makes a mess. Clean each part carefully and use drain racks to save solvent and avoid unnecessary cleanup.
• Evaporation: Cover and turn off circulating sinks to conserve energy and to keep solvents from evaporating.
• Evaluation: The appearance of used solvent may not be a good indicator of the solvent's ability to clean. Monitor the solvent to determine its maximum useful life then modify your changeout schedule to get the most out of your solvent.

Inventory Management

• Supply: Limit access to solvent supplies. Keeping and displaying records on solvent use may be helpful for controlling waste, especially in an operation with a large workforce.
• Convenience: Consider using a central cleaning station. When using individual workstations, weigh their potential for accidents, exposure and waste generation against their convenience and efficiency.

Source:  Small Business Assistance Office newsletter, March 1997.

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