Industrial degreasing: what it is and how to implement

• Industrial degreasing equipment removes grease, oil, and residues from machinery faster and more consistently than manual cleaning.
• Hidden layers of grease on production equipment can harbour bacteria, compromise hygiene, and even lead to product contamination.
• Automated degreasing systems like the MultiWasher standardise washing cycles, making results more consistent and easier to document for audits or inspections.

A wave of alarm swept through a food processing facility in Ontario, Canada, when routine testing revealed that a hidden threat was lurking on the production line. Beneath the mixers, conveyors, and slicers, bacterial colonies had taken hold on residues that had gone unnoticed, turning equipment into a silent hazard. 

The discovery came too late for some: the contamination was linked to a severe Listeria outbreak that ultimately sickened 57 people and claimed 22 lives. Regulators ordered a full plant shutdown and recall of all 220 product lines, a dramatic and costly operation that exposed how quickly hidden residues on industrial machinery can escalate into a public health disaster. 

This tragedy underscored a vital lesson for industries around the world: contamination isn’t always about ingredients. Sometimes, the danger hides in the very equipment designed to process them. Grease and other residues on mixers, conveyors, and contact surfaces provide the perfect environment for pathogens and chemical contaminants to thrive. When left unchecked, these threats can trigger mass recalls, regulatory penalties, and irreparable damage to brand reputation.

Industrial degreasing is a critical line of defense that protects products, people, and operations. In this article, we explore what industrial degreasing truly entails, why it matters for safety and efficiency, and how businesses can implement practices that prevent hazards and costly crises.

What is industrial degreasing and why is it important?

Industrial degreasing is the process of removing grease and oily residues from equipment, tools, and industrial surfaces. In food production environments, these residues build up quickly during processing and, if not properly removed, can trap dirt, harbour microorganisms, and compromise hygiene.

Effective degreasing combines the right detergents, controlled washing processes, and specialised equipment to break down stubborn food fats and keep equipment clean, safe, and ready for production.

Benefits of industrial degreasing

Grease buildup may seem minor at first, but over time it can compromise hygiene, slow down equipment, and disrupt production.

Prevents hidden contamination risks

Grease traps particles, food residues, and microorganisms, quickly becoming a contamination hotspot. Regular degreasing removes these deposits before they affect product quality or safety. When supported by hygienic design and validated washing and disinfection cycles, the process becomes more consistent, controlled, and easier to standardise across operations.

Extends the lifespan of equipment

Residues often combine with moisture and debris, accelerating corrosion and surface degradation. Removing them regularly helps protect equipment and maintain performance over time. Custom-engineered solutions can also be tailored to specific layouts and equipment types, ensuring effective washing even in complex or sensitive areas.

Improves safety across the workplace

Grease accumulation creates slippery floors, unstable surfaces, and harder-to-handle tools. Proper degreasing reduces these risks and improves daily working conditions. Automated systems with controlled chemical dosing further enhance safety by minimising direct contact with detergents and ensuring the right quantities are always used.

Supports compliance with hygiene and industry standards

Strict regulations require washing processes that are both effective and demonstrable. Features such as cycle traceability and data logging allow each washing process to be recorded and verified, making audits more transparent and easier to manage while reinforcing confidence in hygiene standards.

Signs your operation needs specialised industrial degreasing

In many facilities, the tipping point is a series of small frustrations that start appearing on the production floor.

Grease keeps coming back

You wash a tool or piece of equipment thoroughly, but a few hours or days later the film of food grease is back. This usually means the residue was never fully removed. Manual wiping often spreads fats instead of eliminating them.

Washing turns into a long scrubbing session

When degreasing requires brushes, cloths, and a lot of effort, the process is probably taking longer than it should. Repeated scrubbing quickly starts eating into production time.

Grease hides in places you can’t properly reach

Conveyors, cutters, and other equipment have narrow spaces where food fats and residues accumulate. These areas are difficult to reach with manual washing, allowing grease to build up unnoticed.

Hygiene checks start raising questions

Recurring traces of grease during inspections can quickly become a problem. Even with thorough washing, inconsistent results make audits stressful and unpredictable.

Degreasing relies on stronger and stronger chemicals

When removing grease requires increasingly aggressive chemicals, it’s often a sign the process itself needs improvement, and not just stronger products

How to implement effective industrial degreasing: 10 recommendations

Follow these recommendations to implement industrial degreasing safely, efficiently and with a structured approach.

1. Devise a plan

Start by identifying the areas most at risk in your organization. They can be in production, storage, assembly, or processing stages. Then, create a degreasing plan, with dates, locations, and owners, and stick to it. This ensures that the process is done in an organized and effective manner, and that you include critical areas.

2. Define working standards and train your team

Training the entire team responsible for washing is important, especially regarding degreasing standards. There are overarching ground-rules, such as ways to minimize the risks posed by hazardous substances, and specific training depending on the type of equipment and surfaces to degrease.

3. Use the right products

For effective degreasing, choose products capable of wiping out microorganisms that pose a risk. The right degreaser should be suitable for the surfaces and environments where you are going to use them. For example, degreasing an industrial kitchen countertop differs from doing the same in a work tool. This level of care is especially important in preventing the spread of food born diseases in the food industry.

4. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter

Most tool and equipment manufacturers show the recommended concentrations of degreasers. The same applies to the storage of these substances. Following these recommendations is important to minimize exposure and ensure that incompatible substances are separated. Remember to never mix different chemicals to avoid causing dangerous reactions.

5. Define a degreasing sequence

The degreasing sequence is another important factor, with specific rules. Move from the cleanest to the dirtiest area, as to avoid contaminating clean spaces. Degrease from top to bottom, instead of switching between different areas, and cover the spaces with an ‘S’ shaped pattern. Avoid going through the same area twice.

6. Use Personal Protective Equipment

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves, visors and aprons, are essential for a safe degreasing. Gloves are important to protect from occupational diseases, such as contact dermatitis. The same goes for visors. The apron is essential to avoid any potential chemical contamination that can penetrate the clothes and damage the skin. Always check which PPEs are recommended by the manufacturer.

7. Check the ventilation of the space

Make sure there is sufficient ventilation before degreasing. Proper ventilation reduces harmful substances in the air, such as fumes produced by chemical usage, which can cause severe health problems such as occupational asthma. Finally, train your team on basic hygiene rules such as always washing their hands after cleaning, with an effective procedure and even if they are wearing gloves.

8. Monitor results and adjust the process

Check equipment and surfaces after washing. If grease keeps returning in the same spots, adjust your products, method, or frequency to stop small issues from becoming persistent problems.

9. Pay attention to hard-to-clean equipment

Cutters, trays, and racks often trap grease and residues. Including these in your degreasing plan prevents hidden buildup that can compromise hygiene and performance.

10. Consider specialised degreasing equipment for repetitive tasks

If your team spends hours scrubbing the same tools or trays, it’s time to automate. Specialised degreasing machines save effort, standardise results, and keep hygiene consistent, especially when washing large volumes.

Industrial degreasing: frequently asked questions

Here are some of the most common questions about industrial degreasing.

Does manual degreasing cost more than automated equipment?

A useful indicator is the amount of labour involved. If operators spend significant time scrubbing or repeating washing cycles, the real cost of degreasing quickly rises. Add the impact of production downtime and inconsistent results, and manual washing often becomes more expensive than an automated solution. Even if that cost isn’t immediately visible in the budget.

Can industrial degreasing equipment be integrated into existing production workflows?

In many cases, yes. Modern degreasing systems are often designed to fit within existing operational flows. When integrated properly, degreasing becomes part of the process rather than a separate, time-consuming task.

Multiwasher, high performance degreasing

Technology helps. It makes degreasing a more efficient, faster and safer process. The Multiwasher is a state-of-the-art industrial washing equipment that allows you to degrease every utensil, from machine components to work tools. Degreasing takes place in a closed environment, to avoid contamination of the workspace, and with reduced water and energy consumption. See the difference with a custom webinar.