The Best Bio-Based Alternative for Parts Washer Solvent

October 13, 2026

Industrial facilities evaluating a parts washer solvent replacement in 2026 face tighter controls on several traditional chlorinated solvents, plus added attention to worker exposure, VOCs, waste handling, and compliance records. A parts washer solvent is the liquid cleaning chemistry used in a parts washer to dissolve grease, oil, coatings, adhesive residue, and other soils from metal or manufactured components. Bio-based solvents offer a practical path away from petroleum chemistry because many can run in existing solvent-washing equipment after a proper compatibility check, avoiding the cost and disruption of a full equipment change.

Why Petroleum Solvents Are Getting Phased Out in 2026

Industrial facilities face tighter federal controls on solvents such as TCE, PCE, and methylene chloride under TSCA Section 6. Most TCE uses were prohibited starting September 15, 2025, while certain exemptions remain on separate timelines under the EPA’s current TCE requirements.


These restrictions add to existing concerns around worker exposure, VOC emissions, disposal costs, and compliance records. For facilities that still need strong degreasing performance, bio-based solvents can provide a practical replacement path in existing parts washing equipment.

What Makes a Bio-Based Solvent Different

Bio-based solvents use renewable feedstocks such as corn, soybeans, citrus, and lactate esters in place of petroleum-derived chemistry. They still perform the same core job: dissolving oils, grease, adhesives, coatings, and other soils from industrial parts.


They also differ from aqueous cleaners and bioremediation systems. Aqueous cleaning relies on water, surfactants, and often heat. Bioremediation uses microorganisms to break down contaminants. Bio-based solvents replace the solvent chemistry itself, which can make them easier to evaluate in existing solvent-based cleaning processes.


That can matter for facilities that rely on fast grease removal, familiar drying behavior, or solvent-based equipment. A bio-based option may fit the current process more naturally than moving to a heated aqueous system that introduces different cleaning steps, drying requirements, or corrosion controls.


For facilities trying to reduce reliance on petroleum solvents, that distinction matters. The goal is cleaner chemistry without forcing an entirely new cleaning method.

The Best Bio-Based Parts Washer Solvent Options From Vertec

Vertec BioSolvents, an entity of Shrieve Chemical, develops plant-derived solvent chemistries for industrial cleaning and formulation work. For parts washing, Vertec offers three bio-based product lines tailored to different cleaning applications, from heavy degreasing to pre-coating cleanup.

VertecBio Gold® for Heavy Degreasing

VertecBio Gold® is designed for demanding degreasing jobs, including heavy oils, lubricants, and soils found on industrial parts. The line fits facilities that want strong cleaning performance while moving away from conventional petroleum solvents. It can be especially relevant for parts carrying machining oils, heavy lubricants, or stubborn shop soils that require more aggressive degreasing.

VertecBio™ ELSOL® for Petroleum Solvent Replacement

VertecBio™ ELSOL® is positioned for applications that traditionally rely on petroleum solvents such as acetone, xylene, toluene, or MEK. That makes the line a strong candidate for facilities evaluating a parts washer solvent alternative that can fit into an existing cleaning process after compatibility testing. Facilities can compare candidates around solvency, evaporation rate, and equipment compatibility before changing the cleaning method itself.

VertecBio™ Citrus for Versatile Cleaning

VertecBio™ Citrus is suited to a broader range of soils, including oils, adhesives, inks, coatings, and related residues. Certain products in the line are useful for parts cleaning before painting or coating when low residue matters. Operations that handle varied production soils can use products from the VertecBio™ Citrus line to clean oils, adhesive residue, inks, or coatings across different production runs.

Switching Without Replacing Your Existing Equipment

A solvent change does not always require a new parts washer. In many cases, facilities can drain the existing petroleum solvent, dispose of it according to applicable waste rules, flush the system, then refill it using a compatible VertecBio™ ELSOL® or VertecBio Gold® product.


Before a full changeover, it is smart to test the new chemistry against seals, hoses, pumps, substrates, and typical soils. A useful trial can also compare cleaning time, evaporation, odor, residue, and performance on the hardest-to-clean parts in the process. Those factors can reveal more about day-to-day operating value than purchase price per gallon alone. Vertec offers samples for this purpose, giving facilities a practical way to confirm cleaning performance, residue levels, and equipment compatibility before committing to a larger conversion.

Industries Making the Bio-Based Switch

Interest in bio-based parts cleaning spans industries where grease, oils, coatings, and process residues have to come off reliably without creating unnecessary solvent exposure or disposal burdens.


Automotive plants and repair facilities use parts washers for engines, drivetrains, and service components. Aerospace and aviation MRO operations need cleaning chemistry that can fit strict maintenance procedures and material requirements. Precision manufacturers, rebuild shops, and industrial machinery facilities often face heavier oils, lubricants, and carbon deposits.


Medical device manufacturers may place more emphasis on residue control and process consistency, while defense contractors often need dependable cleaning across varied components and maintenance work. Coatings, paints, and adhesives manufacturers also have frequent solvent needs tied to equipment cleanup, resin removal, and production changeovers.


Across these sectors, the decision usually comes down to the same practical questions: cleaning strength, material compatibility, worker exposure, solvent life, and how easily the chemistry can fit an existing process.

Get Your VertecBio™ Sample and Start the Switch

The best parts washer solvent depends on the soil, substrate, equipment, drying needs, and downstream process. A sample gives your team a practical way to compare cleaning performance and compatibility before changing a full system.


Vertec BioSolvents, an entity of Shrieve Chemical, offers samples of VertecBio™ Gold®, VertecBio™ ELSOL®, and VertecBio™ Citrus products for application testing.


Ready to evaluate a bio-based parts washer solvent alternative? Contact us to request a sample and discuss the right product for your cleaning process.