Actichem Crete Clean is a "safe-acid" cleaner and concrete residue remover. Crete Clean is an advance in the chemistry of removing concrete and grout residues from mixing and transportation equipment. Highly effective as a heavy-duty concrete cleaner, which is also used for cleaning concrete tools and equipment. Ideal for removing grout smear and concrete splashes from tiles and walls. This listing is the 5 litre pack.
Crete Clean is a low pH organic salt blended with biodegradable wetting agents. It is based on acid-replacement chemistry and, although low in pH, does not contain traditional acids such as hydrofluoric, hydrochloric, sulphuric, phosphoric, nitric, citric, sulphamic, oxalic or glycolic. The organic salt acts as an acid during the cleaning process but lacks many of the adverse effects of traditional acid cleaners.
Benefits
- Biodegradable - Phosphate-free and does not contribute to the eutrophication of waterways.
- Safer than a traditional acid - No acid burns in normal use, no fuming, and it is not classified as dangerous goods, which saves transport cost. Note the distinction: not dangerous goods is a transport classification. It is still a hazardous chemical - see Safety below.
- Waste water systems compatible - Crete Clean has very low COD and BOD levels, making it an excellent choice for areas with waste water systems. It is, however, recommended that pH readings be taken to ensure wastewater pH complies with water board recommendations.
- Excellent cleaning power - Outstanding results when used in brick and paver cleaning.
Application areas and surface suitability
- Excellent for builders' clean-ups, restoration, washrooms and pool surrounds.
- Safe for use on all artificial tiles.
- Use with care on sandstone, quarry tiles, terracotta, grout and slate.
- It can be used on all concrete mixing and transportation equipment. Note: not suitable for use in concrete batching systems where the wastewater is reused for concrete manufacture.
- Improved corrosion profile - Crete Clean outperforms traditional acid cleaners on both ferrous and non-ferrous metals. When used as directed, corrosion is negligible, and even in its undiluted form the impact on ferrous metals is almost undetectable. However, as a low-pH product, Crete Clean can still cause corrosion when metals are submerged for extended periods, and polished surfaces may show marking with prolonged exposure.
- Not recommended for use on acid-sensitive surfaces, including engineered stone, terrazzo, marble, limestone, granite and other natural stone.
How to use
Read and understand the safety data sheet before use. Always pre-test in an inconspicuous location for substrate sensitivity to chemicals. Crete Clean is hazardous and appropriate care should be exercised, including the use of suitable protective gloves, goggles and protective clothing.
Dilutions
- Heavy duty - 1:4
- Light duty - 1:20
Application
- Dilute 1 part Crete Clean with four parts water, and brush the surface being cleaned.
- Allow approximately 10 minutes dwell time.
- Agitate and rinse thoroughly with a high-pressure washer or hose. To prevent oxidation on freshly cleaned metal surfaces, rinse with a 1:100 solution of Tile & Grout Cleaner LF.
Safety
This listing previously carried two contradictory statements - "it is a non-hazardous good" and "Crete Clean is hazardous" - and a specification line reading "Safety profile: Non-hazardous". That has been corrected. Actichem's safety data sheet for AP139, version 3.3 issued 14 July 2025, classifies Crete Clean as a HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL that is NON-DANGEROUS GOODS for transport. Both halves of that matter, and they are not the same thing.
- Signal word: WARNING
- Skin Corrosion / Irritation Category 2 - H315, causes skin irritation
- Serious Eye Damage / Irritation Category 2 - H319, causes serious eye irritation
- STOT Single Exposure Category 3 - H335, may cause respiratory irritation
- Not classified as dangerous goods. No HAZCHEM code. Ships unregulated
pH is below 1. Acid-replacement chemistry means it avoids the fuming and the burn profile of mineral acids, but the concentrate is still one of the lowest-pH products in the range. Treat it accordingly, particularly when decanting and diluting.
🔴 It reacts with mild steel, galvanised steel and zinc, producing hydrogen gas. The safety data sheet warns that this may form an explosive mixture with air. This matters on this product more than most, because Crete Clean is specifically sold for cleaning concrete mixing and transportation equipment, which is steel. Do not leave it in prolonged contact with mild or galvanised steel, never leave it standing in a closed steel drum, mixer bowl or tank, and ensure good ventilation when cleaning inside enclosed steel plant.
Also avoid contact with strong bases and oxidising agents. In practice that means never combining it with a chlorine product such as Chlorosan or any hypochlorite, and never combining it with an alkaline stripper.
Personal protective equipment specified in the safety data sheet:
- Chemical goggles
- Chemical gloves - butyl, or PE/EVAL/PE
- Overalls with legs outside boots, and a PVC apron
- Access to an eye wash unit
Specifications
| Product code | AP139 |
|---|---|
| SKU (this pack) | AP139.05 |
| Colour | Green |
| Fragrance | None |
| pH | Below 1 per SDS v3.3. This listing previously published pH 1 |
| Dilution | 1:4 heavy duty, 1:20 light duty |
| Dwell time | Approximately 10 minutes |
| Actives | Urea hydrochloride above 60 per cent, with a proprietary surfactant below 10 per cent and a corrosion inhibitor at 1 per cent |
| Signal word | WARNING (SDS v3.3) |
| Dangerous goods | Not classified |
| Vendor | Actichem |
Crete Clean is also available in a 20 litre pack.
Download the Crete Clean safety data sheet (AP139, version 3.3, 14/07/2025)
Cleaning steel plant, or working on natural stone? Call or email us before you order - those are the two situations where Crete Clean needs a conversation first.
