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Metasilicate cleaners - when are they not recommended

 

Sodium metasilicates are often used for cleaning metal surfaces. What type of metallic surfaces materials do not do well or may be attacked by metasilicate materials?

Alan Blackwell
- Indianapolis, Indiana

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Sodium Metasilicate is an excellent builder for an alkaline cleaner. It cuts oils and sequesters them well, and it has enough reserve alkalinity to keep working for a good long time. BUT... it doesn't rinse well, and it can be overly aggressive on polished or delicate surfaces. Potassium Silicate rinses better, but still can be too much for polished surfaces or glass.

Jeff Watson
- Pearland, Texas