FAQ

What can cause a white, filmy scale on stainless steel equipment after cleaning with a mixture?
Our safety solvent detergents are generally not designed to be mixed with bleach. Although this is not a dangerous (from a personal hazard standpoint) practice, often, in the presence of various types of soils and certain water conditions, the incompatible ingredients that have been placed together in this mixture will leave a white residue after drying.

We make a variety of fully formulated chlorinated detergents for all applications, as well as several bleach-compatible detergents that can be mixed in all proportions with bleach to obtain stable, effective, free-rinsing cleaning solutions. Among the most popular of these mixable detergents are Super Foam (CFA3A) and Multi Kleen (CFA7).

What are the FDA approved uses for Microtox5?
The Microtox Program is an approved antimicrobial agent that may be applied directly to carcasses, parts, trims, and organs. Microtox is effective against Salmonella, E. coli 0157:H7, Listeria sp. and Campylobacter, to name a few. Click here to learn more…

What are the factors that affect the cleaning process?
Type of soil
Condition of soil
Water hardness
Water temperature
Cleaning agent being used
Surface being cleaned
Agitation or pressure
Length of treatment

What does a poultry scald additive do?
Poultry scalds assist the picking operation by helping to “soften” feathers, making them easier to remove from the birds. Effectively, the scald additive helps relax the pores that hold the feather quills tightly in place, making the feather slip more easily from the carcass.

Does Zee provide any defoamers for direct food product application?
No. We have both surfactant and silicone defoamers available for a wide variety of applications, but none of them are approved for direct application to food.

Is there anything that will help remove label glue from packaging equipment?
We have a product named Adhesive Remover (LGS109) that is designed specifically to soften and solubilize label glue for easy removal.

Are sanitizer test strips adequate for testing sanitizer concentration?
Put your hand in a pan of water. Is the water cold, neutral or hot? If it feels cold, it is probably well below your body temperature. Likewise, if it feels lukewarm, it is near your body temperature and if hot, then somewhat greater than your body temperature.

But how cold or hot is it? You can’t tell just with your hand. But if you had a thermometer in your hand, it would be easy to establish how hot or cold the water is.

This same principle holds true with sanitizer test strips. They are designed to detect the presence of a sanitizer within a specific range. The color changes are usually indistinct and the ranges for the matching color swatches are usually rather broad. By contrast, a titration kit will give you an exact reading of the concentration of the sanitizer present in a solution. It will do it accurately and reproducibly and the concentration you obtain can be recorded with confidence. Test strips, when used appropriately, can tell you whether a sanitizer is or is not present, but they are not accurate, and should never be relied on for generating data where accuracy and dependability are required.

How are black fork lift tire marks removed from the plant floor?
Our product Conclean (CCP1A) is designed specifically for this purpose. Sprinkle Conclean onto a wet floor, agitate tire marks with a brush or broom, allow product to remain on surface for 10 – 15 minutes, then rinse with water.

How are urine stains removed from the tile floors under the urinals in the men’s restrooms?
Commonly recommended chemicals for this cleaning task are sodium percarbonate, ammonia, or hydrogen peroxide, mixed with warm water.

Zee’s product, Strike, has a sodium percarbonate base combined with quaternary ammonium chlorides. This might be an ideal product to try in this situation. It is, of course, a powder which can be applied straight or diluted with warm water to achieve the appropriate solution.

Another type of product often used for this application is one containing phosphoric and/or hydrochloric acid. Zee has many products that fall into this category — Sparkle, 3225, Stay Bryte, to name a few. Contact us for further recommendations.

Why would the metal chillers in our plant become discolored or dark?
Are the chillers aluminum? Using strong caustic, bleach and even acid solutions on aluminum chillers will actually damage the metal. Before using strong detergents on any equipment it is important to determine what kind(s) of metal might be contacted. “Soft” metals (like aluminum) and ferrous metals (like plain steel) may be adversely affected by caustic, bleach and some acid. Do not assume that every piece of equipment in a plant is stainless – ask questions and, if in doubt, test a small area before applying aggressive detergents.

What do optical brighteners do in a laundry product?
Optical brighteners make colors look brighter and whites look whiter by reflecting ultraviolet light. If you shine a “blacklight” on material washed with an optical brightener you will see a neon purple reflection of the UV light. Combined with visible light, this reflection has the effect of improving the appearance of fabrics.

Does Zee Company recommend a treatment to remove scale caused by sodium metasilicate drips?
Yes. Zee Company has developed and field tested two products, designed to work together, to remediate this problem. It is important that the detergent – Metakleen (LOC40A) and the acid descaler – Silex (LMR30A) be used according to a specific protocol to maximize their effectiveness.

How can I determine what is being discharged in my waste water stream?
This is a common request that requires a specialized knowledge of your facility. Please contact us for assistance. Our representatives will be happy to assist you with your unique needs. We will need to know about the Zee Company products used in your facility, water usage, plant water flow, and the time periods for which the data is requested.

Which Zee products can be used for conveyor lubricant?
The canning and beverage industries use conveyor lubricant in great quantities on their lines.

Zee Company provides two products — Can Do (LCL10) and TK Lube (LCL11) — that were originally developed for canning lines. These products were field tested successfully. Can Do is an incidental food contact product but TK Lube cannot come into contact with food products. Both are soap-based products that are easily rinsed with water.

When did the Zee Company first start blending custom chemical formulations?
The Zee Company has provided custom blended chemical formulations to the food processing and light industry arenas since 1968.

Where do I find SDS Sheets for products?
Please contact Customer Service or your Sales Representative.

Where are the Zee Company regional blending and distribution centers located?
The Zee Company has a network of regional blending and distribution centers throughout North and South America.

Our key centers are located in:
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Kansas City, Missouri
Lumberton, North Carolina
Brooks, Alberta, Canada
Puerto Montt, Chile
Santiago, Chile