Published: November 5, 2026
Q: Alconox makes more than a dozen detergents. How do I compare them and pick the right one?
A: Start with four questions: how you clean (by hand, soak, ultrasonic, or in a washer/CIP), what you are removing, what the surface or substrate is, and whether your facility restricts phosphates. The table below puts the typical data from each product’s technical bulletin side by side so you can narrow the choice quickly.
Alconox, LLC Detergents Side by Side
| Detergent | Form | pH | Foaming | Phosphate-free | Spray and machine washers | Typical use rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alconox® Powdered Precision Cleaner | Powder | 9.5 | High | No | No | 1–2% |
| Alcojet® Low-Foaming Powdered Detergent | Powder | 11.0 | Low | No | Yes | 1–2% in machines; 1% manual |
| Alcotabs® Critical Cleaning Detergent Tablets | Tablet | 6.5 | High | No | Siphon pipette washers | 2 tablets per rinser load |
| Citrajet® Low-Foaming Liquid Acid Cleaner | Liquid | 2.5 | Low to none | Yes | Yes | 1–2% |
| Citranox® Liquid Acid Cleaner and Detergent | Liquid | 2.5 | High | Yes | No | 1–2% |
| Detergent 8® Low-Foaming Phosphate-Free Cleaner | Liquid | 11.0 | Low | Yes | Yes | 1–2%; 2% in spray machines |
| Detojet® Low-Foaming Liquid Detergent | Liquid | 12.4 | Low | No | Yes | 1–2% in machines; 1% soak or ultrasonic |
| Detonox® Ultimate Precision Cleaner | Liquid | 10 | High | No | No | 1–5% |
| Halojet® Low-Foam High Emulsification Cleaner | Liquid | 9.5 | Low above 50 °C | Yes | Yes | 1-5% |
| Keylajet® Low-Foaming High Alkaline Liquid | Liquid | 13+ | Low | No | Yes | 1-5%, more for metal oxides |
| Liquinox® Critical Cleaning Liquid Detergent | Liquid | 8.5* | High | Yes | No | 1–2% |
| Luminox® Low-Foaming Neutral Cleaner | Liquid | 7.0* | Low | Yes | Yes | 1–2%; 2% in spray machines |
| Solujet® Low-Foaming Phosphate-Free Liquid | Liquid | 12.2 | Low | Yes | Yes | 0.5–2% in machines; 1-2% soak or ultrasonic |
| Tergajet® Low-Foaming Phosphate-Free Powder | Powder | 11.5 | Low | Yes | Yes | 1–2% in machines; 1% manual |
| Tergazyme® Enzyme-Active Powdered Detergent | Powder | 9.5 | High | No | No | 1–3%, water below 55 °C (130 °F) |
Typical data from Alconox, LLC technical bulletins. Typical data is not a specification. *pH of the concentrate as supplied; all other pH values are for a 1% solution.
How to Read the Table
- Foaming decides the method. High-foaming detergents are made for manual, soak and ultrasonic cleaning. Low-foaming detergents are the ones to use in labware washers, spray washers and clean-in-place systems, where foam interferes with the machine. Low foaming can of course be used in high foaming applications…just not the other way around!
- pH tracks the soil. Alkaline detergents lift oils, greases and organic residues. Acid cleaners such as Citranox and Citrajet remove metal oxides, scale, salts and other inorganic residues. Neutral-pH Luminox is the non-corrosive choice.
- Phosphate-free matters for discharge and analysis. If your wastewater permit limits phosphates, or you clean wares for phosphate-sensitive analysis, choose a phosphate-free detergent.
- Use rate is a starting point. For difficult soils, we recommend raising water temperature and using more detergent. Always rinse thoroughly, using distilled, deionized or purified water for the final rinse in critical cleaning.
Quick Picks by Job
- Everyday manual, soak and ultrasonic cleaning: Alconox powder, or Liquinox if you want a phosphate-free liquid.
- Labware washers: Alcojet or phosphate-free Tergajet for powder dispensers; Solujet or Detojet for liquid dispensers.
- Metal oxides, scale and inorganic residues: Citranox by hand or ultrasonic; Citrajet in washers.
- Proteins, blood, tissue and DNA: Tergazyme, the enzyme detergent. Alcojet or Detojet for a low foaming option.
- Creams, lotions, resins and cosmetic or pharmaceutical polymers: Detonox, Halojet.
- Neutral, non-corrosive cleaning: Luminox.
- Ion-free cleaning, such as electronics and flux residue: Detergent 8.
- Buffing compounds, mold releases and heavy industrial soils: Keylajet, Detonox
- Pipettes in siphon washers: Alcotabs.
Two Specialty Products
Alnochromix® Oxidizing Acid Additive for Glass Cleaning is not a detergent. It is a persulfate additive mixed into sulfuric acid to make a metal-free, surfactant-free glassware cleaner, and it replaces chromic acid.
Ledizolv® Lead Specific Cleaner is a near-neutral (pH 5.4), phosphate-free cleaner made for lead dust cleanup; it dissolves lead rather than precipitating it the way TSP does.
Need Help Choosing?
Every product page links to its technical bulletin and Safety Data Sheet. If your application is not covered here, send your question to Ask Alconox and our team will recommend a detergent and use rate.
Do you have a critical cleaning question for the experts at Alconox, LLC? Search TechNotes to see if it’s been answered before or Ask Alconox.
To request any Alconox, LLC detergents for free, please complete the questionnaire at Get Sample. For more information about any one of our Alconox, LLC detergents, consult the technical bulletin for each product. Or click here to access each of our detergent’s Safety Data Sheets
Have a clarifying question? Submit it here. cleaning@alconox.com
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