Abstract: An aqueous cleaning composition is employed in a machine for removing oil, dirt and grinding debris from a metal surface comprises a plurality of wash, rinse and dry stations separated to prevent contamination carryover from one station to the next. Razor blades in stacks are passed through the stations, the stacked blades being mounted on rods supported by a fixture and the nozzles or jets within the machine being so oriented as to cause a riffling of the blades due to water or air pressure. A purified water rinse and the aqueous cleaning solution are employed in the machine and are circulated through the stations by a flow system which provides efficient and economical usage of the cleaning solution and rinse materials.