Temperature Sensitive Chemicals:

What Every Cleaning Business Needs to Know This Winter

As winter creeps in and temperatures begin to dip below freezing, it's not just your equipment that needs protection — your chemicals do too. For cleaning professionals, restoration companies, and janitorial businesses, understanding which chemicals are temperature sensitive is crucial to avoiding costly product loss and performance issues.

At Cleaning Depot, we’re committed to helping small businesses prepare for cold weather. After speaking with numerous vendors and distributors, we’ve compiled this guide to help you protect your temperature-sensitive cleaning products and your bottom line this winter.

❄️ Why Chemical Storage Matters in Winter

With the sun going down by 5pm and frost forming overnight, many commonly used cleaning chemicals can freeze or degrade if not properly stored. This not only affects performance — it can also lead to permanent product loss.

Whether you’re storing chemicals in a work van, garage, or storage unit, understanding which categories are winter-safe and which require temperature-controlled storage is essential.

🧪 Categories of Chemicals and How They React to Cold

✅ Powdered Chemicals – Generally Winter-Safe

Examples: Detergents, pre-sprays, powdered degreasers

• Powdered cleaning products are not damaged by cold.

• You may see some clumping, but this does not affect their cleaning strength.

• If you need to mix powders into liquid during the winter, be cautious — once mixed, they’re now water-based and prone to freezing.

🚫 Protectors, Floor Finishes, Sealers, Polishes, Coatings/Paints – Highly Sensitive

Examples: Carpet protectors, stone sealers, floor finishes, waxes

• This category is extremely temperature sensitive.

• Most of these products do not recover once frozen.

• Even slight freezing can break the chemical bonds that make these products effective.

• Storage Range: Keep between 50°F–90°F for best results.

💡 Pro Tip: Use insulated storage bins or heated sheds if your warehouse or van gets cold.

⚠️ Solvent-Based Products – Cold-Tolerant but Still Caution Required

Examples: Solvent spotters, graffiti removers, certain adhesives

• These freeze at much lower temperatures than water.

• They are less likely to be damaged by cold, but exposure to extreme temperatures over time can still affect performance.

• Store with care and keep out of reach of flames or heat sources.

⚠️ Water-Based Products – Recoverable if Handled Correctly

Examples: All-purpose cleaners, enzyme-based products, degreasers

• If a product freezes, let it thaw naturally — do not use a heater, microwave, or heat gun.

• Once thawed, shake or gently mix before use.

• Important: Diluted products are more likely to freeze than concentrated formulas.

🧼 Don’t Forget Your Equipment

Your portable extractor, truckmount, dehumidifier, or auto scrubber may still hold residual water or cleaning solutions — which will expand when frozen, causing cracks, broken seals, and internal damage.

✅ Here’s how to protect your machines:

• Drain all solution tanks, recovery tanks, and internal lines

• Use compressed air to blow out tools and hoses

• Consider RV antifreeze for machines stored in freezing environments (always check manufacturer recommendations)

🛠️ Rely on Cleaning Depot for Winter Support

At Cleaning Depot, we help cleaning professionals and small businesses stay ahead of seasonal damage by offering:

• Temperature-sensitive product guidance

• Winter-safe chemical storage solutions

• Expert equipment maintenance and repair to prevent freeze-related damage

• A huge inventory of powdered and solvent-based products that are less vulnerable to cold

Whether you're storing chemicals, tools, or machines, our team can help you build a winterization plan tailored to your operation.

🔍 Final Takeaways

Protecting your carpet cleaning chemicals, floor finishes, and extraction equipment from cold temperatures isn’t just about product longevity — it’s about keeping your cleaning business running smoothly all winter long.

📦 Store it smart.
🚫 Don’t risk freezing.
🧠 When in doubt, ask the experts at Cleaning Depot.

💡 Need Help Winterizing Your Operation?

Stop by Cleaning Depot or give us a call. We’ll help you identify the products most at risk, give you winter storage recommendations, and make sure your business stays ready to clean — no matter how cold it gets.

• Firestorm (Pro’s Choice – CTI)

• Extreme Clean (Pro’s Choice – CTI)

• Ultrapac Extreme (Prochem)

• OSR – Odor & Stain Remover (Pro’s Choice – CTI)

• All Fiber Rinse (Prochem)

• Dry Slurry (Prochem)

• Crystal Defoamer (Chemspec)

• Crystal Defoamer & Deodorizer (Pro’s Choice – CTI)

• Truckmount Descaler

• Molecular Modifier (Pro’s Choice – CTI

• Pro-Zyme (Pro’s Choice – CTI – Powder)

• Enz-All (Chemspec – Powder)

Examples of Equipment 

• Sprayers

• Foggers

• Dehumidifiers

• Portable Extractors

• Waste Tanks

• Pressure Lines

• Fittings