Citrobomb vs Solvent Degreasers: Which Should Your Workshop Use?

Walk into any workshop store and you will find two very different answers to the same greasy problem: traditional solvent degreasers, and modern water-based concentrates like Citrobomb. They both strip grease. They get there in completely different ways, and the differences show up in your safety file, your surfaces, your effluent and your monthly chemical spend. Here is an honest comparison to help you pick the right tool for your workshop, fleet or plant.

The short answer

For the vast majority of workshop degreasing, engine bays, parts, floors, chassis, undercarriages and equipment, a concentrated water-based citrus degreaser does the same job as a solvent at a lower cost per litre in use, with no flammability, no solvent fumes and far simpler disposal. Solvents keep a narrow but real role: electrical components and jobs where you cannot rinse with water.

What is a solvent degreaser?

Solvent degreasers are petroleum-derived or chlorinated liquids that dissolve grease chemically and then evaporate. They work fast and need no rinsing, which is why they have been the default for decades. That convenience comes with baggage:

• Flammability. Most solvent degreasers have a low flash point, which means fire-safe storage, restricted use around hot work, and insurance implications.

• Fumes. Volatile organic compounds need ventilation and respiratory protection, especially in spray booths and pits.

• Surface damage. Aggressive solvents attack rubber seals, hoses, plastics and some paints, exactly the parts you did not want to replace.

• Disposal. Spent solvent is hazardous waste. It cannot go down the drain and usually needs a licensed contractor to remove.

• You pay full price for every litre. Solvents are used neat, so a 25 litre drum cleans a 25 litre amount of work.

What is Citrobomb?

Citrobomb is a water-based, 100% biodegradable citrus degreaser concentrate made in South Africa. Instead of dissolving grease into a vapour cloud, it emulsifies oil and grime so it rinses away with water. It is non-caustic and non-flammable, and because it is a concentrate, one drum goes a long way:

• Dilutes from 1:4 for heavy machinery down to 1:50 for daily maintenance cleaning. See our dilution ratio guide for matching strength to the job.

• Used at the recommended dilutions it is kind to metals, rubber and painted surfaces. As with any chemical, test a strong mix on a small area first.

• No solvent fumes and no flash point, so no flammable store required.

• Available in 5L and 20L for workshops, and 210L drums or 1000L IBCs for trade and industrial accounts.

Head to head: six rounds

• Cleaning power. On oils, greases and workshop grime the two are equals when the water-based product is given dwell time and agitation. Solvents are quicker on tar, bitumen and adhesives.

• Health and safety. Water-based wins outright: no flammable storage, no VOC fumes, non-caustic formulation. Gloves and eye protection are still required, but your safety file gets much shorter.

• Surfaces. Solvents embrittle rubber and lift paint over time. A citrus emulsifier at the correct dilution cleans the grease and leaves the seals, hoses and finishes alone.

• Environment and disposal. A biodegradable formula breaks down naturally and, combined with an oil trap, keeps your wash bay compliant. Spent solvent is hazardous waste with contractor disposal costs.

• Cost in use. This is where concentrates run away with it. A 20 litre pail of Citrobomb at a 1:10 dilution gives you 220 litres of ready-to-use cleaner. Try the dilution calculator on our Trade page with your own volumes.

• Water-sensitive jobs. Solvents win where rinsing is impossible, such as electrical contacts and live equipment.

When a solvent still makes sense

• Electrical and contact cleaning, where water is a hard no.

• Jobs that need instant flash-off with no rinse step at all.

• Spot removal of tar, bitumen or adhesive residue.

The practical setup for most South African workshops: standardise on a water-based concentrate for the everyday 90% of degreasing, and keep a small tin of contact cleaner on the shelf for the electrical 10%.

Frequently asked questions

Is Citrobomb safe on rubber, paint and aluminium?

At the recommended dilutions, yes, it is formulated to clean without attacking seals, hoses, painted finishes or aluminium. For strong mixes on delicate or coated surfaces, test a small area first and rinse thoroughly.

Can used degreaser go down the drain?

A biodegradable degreaser is far friendlier to effluent systems than solvent waste, but what leaves your wash bay also contains the oil you removed. Use an oil and water separator and check your municipal effluent bylaws, which vary between metros.

What dilution should I start with?

Start at 1:10 for routine workshop cleaning and adjust from there: stronger for baked-on grease, weaker for daily wipe-downs. Over-concentrating wastes product and rarely cleans better.

Does water-based really clean as well as solvent?

On oils and greases, yes, provided you let it dwell and agitate stubborn areas before rinsing. The technique differs from spray-and-evaporate solvents, and once your team adjusts, the results match at a fraction of the running cost.

Ready to switch? Shop Citrobomb in sizes from 5 litres to a 1000 litre IBC, or open a trade account for volume pricing and technical data sheets.