The wrong industrial degreaser costs you more than the sticker price. It costs you re-cleans, safety incidents, VOC compliance headaches, and wasted labour hours. The right one cuts grease on the first pass, meets your food safety and WHMIS requirements, and saves money at the per-use level.
This guide compares the top industrial degreasers available in Canada — plant-based and petroleum-based formulas, food-safe options, and a real cost-per-use breakdown so you can make a purchasing decision based on data. Made in Canada since 2010.
- A 1:40 dilution plant-based concentrate like JANITORI No.71 costs $0.19/L working solution — roughly 3-6x cheaper per use than petroleum-based ready-to-use degreasers available at hardware chains.
- Zero-VOC or low-VOC formulas are a compliance requirement for enclosed facilities (commercial kitchens, schools, hospitals) under provincial occupational health standards — not just a preference.
- Food-safe degreaser certification (plant-based surfactants, no petroleum residues) is required by CFIA for any degreasing in food preparation, storage, or service areas.
- Facilities managers who buy on sticker price overpay by 300-500% annually — cost-per-use at working solution dilution is the only valid comparison metric between concentrates and RTU products.
What Should You Look for in an Industrial Degreaser?
Three factors separate a good commercial degreaser from an expensive mistake: VOC content, food safety compliance, and true dilution-adjusted cost per use. Evaluate all three before committing to a product.
VOC Content and Air Quality Compliance
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that off-gas from petroleum-based degreasers. They contribute to poor indoor air quality, trigger respiratory complaints from staff, and are increasingly regulated under provincial occupational health standards. Per CCOHS VOC guidelines, VOC exposure in enclosed workplaces must be controlled through product substitution, ventilation, or PPE — in that priority order.
For enclosed facilities — commercial kitchens, food processing plants, school cafeterias, healthcare kitchens — a zero-VOC or low-VOC formula is a compliance requirement under WHMIS 2015 hazard identification requirements, not simply a preference. Any chemical product used commercially in Canada requires a current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) on file identifying VOC content and exposure controls.
Food Safety Compliance
If the degreaser will be used anywhere food is prepared, stored, or served, you need a formula that is food-safe by formulation — plant-based surfactants, no petroleum residues, no synthetic fragrance compounds that leave surface contamination. CFIA-compliant food facilities require degreaser products that can be verified safe for incidental food contact areas after standard rinse procedures.
Dilution Ratio
A $25 concentrate that dilutes 1:40 is dramatically cheaper per use than a $12 ready-to-use spray. Facilities managers who buy on sticker price overpay by 300-500% annually. Always evaluate on cost-per-litre of working solution, not cost-per-container.
How Do You Calculate True Cost Per Use for an Industrial Degreaser?
Cost per litre of working solution is the correct comparison metric. Divide the unit price by the number of litres per container, then divide again by the dilution factor to get cost per litre at use concentration.
Formula: Unit price ÷ Container litres ÷ Dilution factor = cost per litre working solution
| Product | Unit Cost | Dilution | Cost per Litre (Working) | VOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JANITORI No.71 (4L) | $26.95 | 1:40 | $0.19/L | Zero |
| JANITORI No.72 MAX (4L) | $29.95 | 1:20 | $0.50/L | Zero |
| Zep Industrial Purple (3.78L) | ~$18 | 1:10 | ~$0.58/L | Moderate |
| Simple Green (3.78L) | ~$16 | 1:30 | ~$0.16/L | Low |
| Spray Nine (946mL, RTU) | ~$12 | RTU | ~$12.69/L | Low-Mod |
At 10 spray-cycles per day, switching from Spray Nine RTU to JANITORI No.71 concentrate saves approximately $4,600 per year per facility — from a single product swap.
Which Industrial Degreasers Are Best for Canadian Facilities in 2026?
The top options for B2B facilities in Canada span plant-based concentrates, water-based low-VOC formulas, and petroleum-based RTU products. Match the product to your grease type and compliance requirements.
JANITORI No.71 — Best Overall for Commercial Facilities
Plant-based, 0% VOC, 1:40 dilution. $26.95 per 4L ($0.19/L working solution). Food-safe formulation. WHMIS 2015 compliant. No petroleum residues. Made in Canada since 2010. Available in 4L and 20L bulk. Best for: commercial kitchens, arenas, hotels, offices, and healthcare facilities.
JANITORI No.72 MAX — Best for Heavy-Duty Grease
Plant-based heavy-duty concentrate, 0% VOC, 1:20 dilution for carbonized grease and exhaust hood deposits. $29.95 per 4L / $124.95 per 20L. Use undiluted on extreme grease accumulation. Step down to No.71 for maintenance cleaning. Best for: kitchen hoods, Zamboni rooms, industrial equipment, heavy machinery.
Simple Green — Best Budget Option (Light Duty)
Water-based, low VOC, 1:30 dilution. ~$0.16/L working solution. Widely available at Canadian hardware chains. Struggles on heavy grease but performs adequately on light-medium soil. Not food-safe by default formulation — verify product variant before use near food contact surfaces.
Zep Industrial Purple — Petroleum-Based Alternative
Petroleum-based degreaser, moderate VOC content. 1:10 dilution. ~$0.58/L working solution — more expensive per use than JANITORI concentrates. Not suitable for food-contact areas or enclosed spaces without adequate ventilation. Effective on automotive grease and industrial grime in open-air environments.
Spray Nine — Degreaser + Disinfectant Combo (Highest Cost)
Ready-to-use degreaser with disinfectant action. ~$12.69/L working solution — significantly more expensive than concentrate alternatives. Jack-of-all-trades product: useful for low-volume spot-cleaning but not cost-effective for systematic facility degreasing programs.
Is a Plant-Based Degreaser as Effective as a Petroleum Solvent Degreaser?
Yes, for the vast majority of commercial cleaning applications. Modern plant-based degreasers use concentrated alkyl polyglucoside surfactants that penetrate and emulsify grease on the first pass — matching petroleum solvents on kitchen grease, food soil, and general industrial grime without the VOC exposure, flammability risk, or surface residue issues.
The one scenario where petroleum solvents still outperform plant-based formulas: certain automotive and machining applications involving mineral oils, gear lubricants, and cutting fluids designed to resist water-based emulsification. For these applications, a petroleum degreaser in a well-ventilated open-air environment may be appropriate. For all food service, healthcare, educational, and commercial office applications, plant-based concentrates are the safer and more cost-effective choice.
JANITORI No.71 and No.72 MAX are part of the biodegradable cleaning products line — plant-derived, 0% VOC, and biodegradable by formulation.
Which Degreaser Is Right for Your Facility Type?
Degreaser selection depends on the grease type, surface material, and compliance requirements of your specific environment. Use this as a starting point:
| Facility Type | Recommended Product | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial kitchen (hood, fryers, surfaces) | No.72 MAX (hood) + No.71 (surfaces) | Food-safe, VOC-free, CFIA-compatible |
| Arena / Zamboni room | No.72 MAX | Handles rubber tire and hydraulic fluid deposits |
| Hotel / hospitality (kitchen, laundry) | No.71 | Low-odour, food-safe, compatible with LEED cleaning credits |
| Office (breakroom, surfaces) | No.71 at higher dilution (1:80) | Gentle enough for stainless and painted surfaces |
| Warehouse / loading dock | No.72 MAX | Handles diesel, hydraulic fluid, belt grease |
| Automotive (open-air bay) | Zep Industrial Purple or No.72 MAX | Mineral oil/cutting fluid resistance; ensure ventilation |
Order Industrial Degreaser No.71 →
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes an industrial degreaser food-safe?
A food-safe industrial degreaser uses plant-based surfactants with no petroleum solvents, synthetic fragrance compounds, or chemical residues that could contaminate food contact surfaces. CFIA-compliant food facilities require degreaser products verifiable as safe for incidental food contact areas after standard rinse procedures. JANITORI No.71 and No.72 MAX use plant-derived alkyl polyglucoside surfactants and carry no petroleum residues.
What is the difference between JANITORI No.71 and No.72 MAX?
Both are plant-based, zero-VOC industrial degreasers. No.71 is a standard concentrate (1:40 dilution, $0.19/L working solution) for everyday commercial degreasing: kitchen surfaces, floors, equipment, walls. No.72 MAX is a heavy-duty concentrate (1:20 dilution) for extreme grease accumulation: exhaust hoods, Zamboni rooms, carbonized fryer residue, and severe industrial buildup. Start with No.71 for routine maintenance and step up to No.72 MAX for deep-clean cycles or extreme grease.
Do I need an SDS for industrial degreasers used in commercial facilities?
Yes. Under WHMIS 2015, any chemical product used commercially in Canada requires a current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) on file at the workplace. SDS documents must identify hazard classification, VOC content, PPE requirements, first aid procedures, and disposal instructions. JANITORI provides SDS documentation for all products on request.
How do dilution ratios affect the annual cost of an industrial degreaser?
Significantly. A 1:40 concentrate at $26.95/4L (JANITORI No.71) costs $0.19/L working solution. A ready-to-use product at $12/L costs $12/L working solution — 63x more expensive per litre of actual cleaning solution applied. For a facility using 10L of working solution per day, the annual cost difference is approximately $4,300/year from a single product swap to concentrate.