Abstract: An aqueous based cleaner-degreaser for removing oleophilic petroleum oils and greases from metal and metal alloys, such as aluminum and zinc, and has been developed employing a mixture of a quaternary phosphate, a ketone, a primary amine, and surfactant and surfactant builders comprised of primarily ethoxylated alcohols. Further, the solution functions at a pH less than 10.5, and exhibits very low toxicity compared to solvent or basic cleaning solutions.