Simple green vs paint finish

[Carl Bert]

I was recently reading a thread in which the guy said he used "simple green" to clean around the grease fittings on his tractor. Well I tried it and was amazed at how well it worked. Has anyone else out there been using this product, if so does it have any long term effect on the paint finish?

Hopefully it's safe. I love the fact that I can finally walk around my tractor, check fluids or whatever, without having to worry about getting grease smeared on some part of my clothes

 

[Canada_CT230]

The only thing I know is that SG is corrosive to aluminum. Just rinse well.

 

[JoeinTX]

I do know that Simple Green needs to be mixed properly or it can leave a noticeable residue/film after drying. My operation (totally unrelated to ag) has been using it for commercial cleaning but is moving away from it for this very reason.

Never heard about it being corrosive to aluminum, but.........

 

[ducks13]

I've used it quite a bit around the house/shop. As I recall, it cleans by getting between the dirt and the surface under it. I can ususally recall the name of this property but can't seem to at the moment. I've used it on lots of things where I just sprayed in on and rised with water 5 minutes later. It has been amazing how much dirt it will take off so easily. Works good on getting greese off the kitchen stove too. I think they have a caution about it can take off paint sometimes but I've never had it happen. I can certanly see how it could if it can get between the paint and the substrate. I never had any problem with aluminum and the msds sheet on the web site says it doesn't have a problem with any know materials. I think canada my be thinking of a different product. Check out their website, it is an interesting company, wiki also has information about a contravesy over the environmental friendlyness of the product. Yes, it does leave a slight film that can easily be removed with a wipe or splash of water. Breathing the fumes from it may not be the healthiest thing in the world for you, it seems to irritate my throat/lungs if I breath in the fumes/vapors, so regardless of the msds sheet claim that it has a low health risk I try not to breath it.

 

[jenkinsph]

I've used it quite a bit around the house/shop. As I recall, it cleans by getting between the dirt and the surface under it. I can ususally recall the name of this property but can't seem to at the moment. I've used it on lots of things where I just sprayed in on and rised with water 5 minutes later. It has been amazing how much dirt it will take off so easily. Works good on getting greese off the kitchen stove too. I think they have a caution about it can take off paint sometimes but I've never had it happen. I can certanly see how it could if it can get between the paint and the substrate. I never had any problem with aluminum and the msds sheet on the web site says it doesn't have a problem with any know materials. I think canada my be thinking of a different product. Check out their website, it is an interesting company, wiki also has information about a contravesy over the environmental friendlyness of the product. Yes, it does leave a slight film that can easily be removed with a wipe or splash of water. Breathing the fumes from it may not be the healthiest thing in the world for you, it seems to irritate my throat/lungs if I breath in the fumes/vapors, so regardless of the msds sheet claim that it has a low health risk I try not to breath it.

Are you referring to a surfactant?
Used to reduce the surface tension, common in cleaners such as 409, Fantastic and other spray and wipe cleaners.

 

[Small farm guy]

The only thing I know is that SG is corrosive to aluminum. Just rinse well.

Purple Stuff, and any of the other Purple Power, etc, are corrosive to aluminum, but I have never heard that with Simple Green.

 

[Canada_CT230]

Sorry, not thinking about another product. The FAA has released a warning about it to aircraft owners (like me). Lots of owners were using it to degrease the bellies of thier airplanes. It can cause corrision in aluminum. Now they have actually made a aircraft version but you wouldn't be buying that at Wal-Mart.

 

[Small farm guy]

Sorry, not thinking about another product. The FAA has released a warning about it to aircraft owners (like me). Lots of owners were using it to degrease the bellies of thier airplanes. It can cause corrision in aluminum. Now they have actually made a aircraft version but you wouldn't be buying that at Wal-Mart.

I have learned something new today, I can knock off and watch some golf now! Thanks, for the info, I had never heard that it could cause embrittlement in the aluminum alloys. Still probably ok for tractor use, but the caution to rinse well is good advice.

 

[JB4310]

I've been using simple green since it came out 25 years ago. It's what I wash all my cars, trucks, tractors, motorcycles, bicycles etc etc etc. It's the best all around general purpose cleaner IMO. and it doesn't make the worms come out of the ground.

Never had a negative issue, it's not the most powerful degreaser of course since it's biodegradable, but used straight does pretty good.

I buy it by the gallon and dilute for general cleaning, just takes a little in a pail of water to make suds. I also keep a spray bottle full of it straight for tougher cleaning tasks.

When it first came out I heard the salesmen told people it was so safe you could drink it. Not sure if anyone every did

JB.

 

[NC tractor driver]

Sorry, not thinking about another product. The FAA has released a warning about it to aircraft owners (like me). Lots of owners were using it to degrease the bellies of thier airplanes. It can cause corrision in aluminum. Now they have actually made a aircraft version but you wouldn't be buying that at Wal-Mart.

Yep, it is especially bad when you have overlapping joints (like on airplanes) where the stuff can seep into and start corroding.

I would think that on tractors it's not so bad, would not use SG on my plane though.

 

[Canada_CT230]

Don't get me wrong...I think it is wonderful cleaner! Just not for aluminum. I would err on the side of caution and rinse well no matter where I used it.

 

[deereman75]

When I am doing restoration work, I use mean green, (made by the same company as simple green) for removing grease off of parts and machines. I have never had it do any harm to paint or any finish. (it will remove permenant marker though)

 

[Western]

On the bottle I have it says: "Do NOT USE ON: Leather, suede, unfinished wood, opals or pearls and plastic instrument panels."

I like the stuff and it usually will bring back the color too, works good also on tar and sealcoat (coal-tar emulsion) so may not be good to let it sit on asphalt to long.

 

[Carl Bert]

Sorry, not thinking about another product. The FAA has released a warning about it to aircraft owners (like me). Lots of owners were using it to degrease the bellies of thier airplanes. It can cause corrision in aluminum. Now they have actually made a aircraft version but you wouldn't be buying that at Wal-Mart.

Where would you buy that version?

 

[NC tractor driver]

Where would you buy that version?

EXTREME SIMPLE GREEN AIRCRAFT CLEANER from Aircraft Spruce

 

[Ford tractor]

The purple stuff was used (by me) on painted surfaces and that lead to a repaint. Haven't used it since. But it did take off the grease and grime -- if only it had stopped there!

Given the down side of degreasing too aggressively, I've become more prone to just keep a layer of grime and call it "rust protection".



Yeah, I know -- it is probably more prone to rust. Don't burst my bubble!:laughing:

 

[Carl Bert]

EXTREME SIMPLE GREEN AIRCRAFT CLEANER from Aircraft Spruce

Thanks for the link. I ordered a gallon. Shipping was almost as much as the product. A total of $29, well worth it for the peace of mind. Thank again

 

[travis potter]

I found SG does a very good job as a cutting fluid when drilling holes better than some cutting oils.

 

[5030]

I was recently reading a thread in which the guy said he used "simple green" to clean around the grease fittings on his tractor. Well I tried it and was amazed at how well it worked. Has anyone else out there been using this product, if so does it have any long term effect on the paint finish?

Hopefully it's safe. I love the fact that I can finally walk around my tractor, check fluids or whatever, without having to worry about getting grease smeared on some part of my clothes

grease builds character, especially black dirty grease.......:laughing:

I just use a paper towel (to wipe the excess) and throw it away. I'm anti pressure wash/garden hose/detergent application because it gets into places and causes rust and corrosion.

Normally, I just take an air gun and blow off my equipment and tractors unless they get muddy and then I pressure wash carefully, no soap.

I've never washed any of my haying equiplemt, ever.

 

[ovrszd]

I use a lot of Mean Green. I buy it by the gallon at Dollar General for $5.00 I dilute it for use with my power washer. Keep a spray bottle non-diluted for tough spots and especially for cleaning tires. I never let it dry. If using the spray bottle I spray it on, let it sit for a few seconds or minutes if weather permits and then pressure wash off. Works great and is very, very economical.

The only thing wrong with it is that I didn't invent it....