Abstract: A stabilized, environmentally-safe solvent mixture and method for using the mixture are provided. The solvent mixture has an ozone depletion factor of less than 0.08. The mixture includes about 80-96.8%, by volume, chlorobromomethane and about 3.2-20.0%, by volume, of a mixture of stabilizers. The mixture of stabilizers includes nitromethane, 1,2-butylene oxide, and 1,3-dioxolane. The mixture of stabilizer inhibits the decomposition of chlorobromomethane. The solvent mixture is particularly effective for cleaning articles having hydrocarbon-soluble contaminants, especially in a vapor degreaser.

Abstract: A combination of stabilizers and bromochloromethane are used as a cleaning composition in which the bromochloromethane is stabilized against decomposition and the release of bromine into the atmosphere.