Best Non-Toxic Gun Cleaning Solvents for 2023
Publushed by:
Mathew R ReedLast updated:
January 19, 2022
Hoppe's Elite Gun Cleaner Spray Bottle
- Odorless cleaner
- Advanced firearm care and cleaning
- Professional and military technology
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Breakthrough Clean Technologies Solvent
- Spray bottle package
- No unpleasant fumes
- Safe on your firearm's wood and plastics
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Mossy Oak Gun Oil Cleaner Lubricant
- Trigger sprayer bottle
- Solvent, lubricant and protectant
- Safe on wood, polymers and plastics
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If you own a gun, you know you need to clean it regularly to keep it in tiptop condition. Accumulation of dirt, lead, dust, and rust can jam your gun and prevent it from firing when you need it the most.
You may already have bought a gun cleaning kit for this purpose. But most gun cleaning kits come without a gun bore cleaning solvent, which you need to buy separately.
A gun cleaning solvent penetrates the different areas of a gun and gives it a much-needed deep cleaning. It effectively removes impurities and ensures good gun maintenance, thereby helping you extend the working life of your gun.
If you’ve done any amount of research into the top non-toxic gun cleaning solvents out there, you know how confusing it can be to choose one or even five best ones. Here, we’ve done all the work for you and compiled the ultimate list you need of the five best non-toxic gun cleaning solvents available on the market.
Read on for a breakdown of what makes these solvents effective and very much worth the investment.
Best Overall: Hoppe's Elite Gun Cleaner Spray Bottle
Short summary
If you’re looking for the best non-toxic gun cleaning solvent, Hoppe’s gun cleaner is hands down number one. Its advanced cleaning and lubrication technology makes it suitable to be used by even professional shooters.
This gun cleaning spray solvent provides superior cleaning performance and accuracy. It penetrates the surface of the gun’s metal to ensure thorough lubrication and conditioning of the gun bore. It also prevents and removes lead, copper, and carbon fouling.
Hoppe’s gun bore cleaning solvent is known to clean guns so well that you’ll find your gun even better than its original condition!
Moreover, this solvent is biodegradable and almost odorless, making it safe for regular use. If you happen to use it often to clean your gun, it won’t cause tears in your eyes like other harsh gun cleaners do. This significantly helps cut down on cleaning time and encourages gun owners to establish a regular maintenance schedule.
Just remember to wipe the surface of your gun after cleaning with this solvent, as it leaves a sticky residue.
Quick Facts
- Volume: 8 fluid ounces
- Type: Spray
- Smell: Odorless
Pros
- Superior cleaning and lubrication
- Reduced cleaning time
- Prevents and eliminates carbon fouling
- Biodegradable
- Non-toxic and negligible odor
Cons
- Sticky residue
Best Non-Toxic Gun Cleaning Solvents
Hoppe's Elite Gun Cleaner Spray Bottle
Runner Up: Breakthrough Clean Technologies Military-Grade Solvent
Short summary
Breakthrough Clean Technologies’ solvent is a multi-purpose cleaner that can be used for very effective gun cleaning. It efficiently removes grease, oil, and carbon build-up in guns and comes in a handy spray bottle for quick and practical use.
The US military and law enforcement have used the brand’s products for decades, so you can be sure that you have a high-quality and dependable product in your hands.
The solvent penetrates into the metal’s pores to eliminate carbon deposits, rust, corrosion, and dirt. It cleans the gun’s firing mechanism and bore and preps it for lubrication.
This gun cleaning solvent’s thorough cleaning ability can significantly cut down on your maintenance schedule, especially if you’re only an occasional hobby shooter.
The solvent is non-toxic and odorless. Moreover, it doesn’t leave any sticky, unpleasant residue and is pH-neutral. So it won’t stain wood, polymer, plastic, stainless steel, nickel, hydro-printing, and other materials. This makes it completely safe for all kinds of finishes and surfaces.
The cleaner is made from a 100% synthetic formula with low vapor pressure, so it won’t freeze or gum up in extreme temperatures and also won’t expire. Buying this cleaning solvent is a fantastic investment as you can use it for other purposes aside from cleaning guns.
This military-grade material is also effective for cleaning knives, fishing reels, boats, brakes, and other tools and automotive parts. The company is also known for its excellent customer service. So if you encounter any problem with your product, you can always reach out to its team to get the support you need.
Quick Facts
- Volume: 0.5 fluid ounces, 2 fluid ounces, 6 fluid ounces, 16 fluid ounces, 32 fluid ounces
- Type: Spray
- Smell: Odorless
Pros
- Reduces cleaning frequency
- Multi-purpose
- Non-carcinogenic and odorless
- No sticky residue
- Doesn’t stain surfaces
- Comes in different sizes
- Doesn’t freeze or gum up in extreme temperatures
- Doesn’t expire
- Great customer support
Cons
- Needs to be used along with a cleaning oil or lubricant for thorough cleaning
- Not suitable for heavy carbon fouling
Best Non-Toxic Gun Cleaning Solvents
Hoppe's Elite Gun Cleaner Spray Bottle
Alternative: Mossy Oak Gun Oil Cleaner, Lubricant & Protectant
Short summary
Mossy Oak Gun Oil CLP is an all-in-one gun cleaning solvent, lubricant, and protectant. It is excellent for removing oils, dirt, plastic wad, rust, lead, copper, carbon, powder fouling, debris, and other impurities.
The thin, non-greasy, petroleum-based solvent cleans and lubricates guns by going beyond the surface into their interior to remove debris and protect against rust and corrosion.
The solvent effectively keeps firearms in good working condition for years and can be used in all types of weather conditions and climates. It can be stored and used in temperatures as low as -65°F and as high as 400°F without freezing or running.
It does not corrode or harm wood, leather, plastics, polymers, camo coatings, Cerakote, gold inlays, and other surfaces, making it safe for different finishes, surfaces, and materials. However, don’t use the gun bore cleaning solvent on painted surfaces to avoid damaging them.
Also, it has a slight oily odor but is not nearly as strong as other harsh gun cleaning liquids and oils. Otherwise, the product is excellent for its price point and makes for a budget-friendly alternative to leading gun cleaners.
Quick Facts
- Volume: 8 fluid ounces
- Type: Spray
- Smell: Minimal
Pros
- All-in-one CLP
- Great quality
- Affordable
- Doesn’t freeze or run in extreme temperatures
- Safe for different finishes, materials, and surfaces
Cons
- Can’t be used on painted surfaces
Best Non-Toxic Gun Cleaning Solvents
Hoppe's Elite Gun Cleaner Spray Bottle
Alternative: Original Gun Oil CLP
Short summary
Original Gun Oil CLP is a high-quality, synthetic gun cleaning oil that effectively removes dirt, rust, carbon, lead, copper fouling, and other contaminants and prevents corrosion.
It makes your firearm as good as new without using any harsh chemicals. Its non-toxic formula makes it safe for you and the environment. It also won’t harm or stain wood stocks, metal, bluing, polymers, or plastics. Moreover, it is unscented, so it won’t cause headaches or tearing of the eyes when you use it.
This gun oil is one of the best gun cleaning solvents on the market, and it boasts a low viscosity which allows it to penetrate deep into the moving components of your gun to clean and lubricate it thoroughly. This ensures minimal wear and tear and can significantly prolong the life of your gun.
It also enhances your firearm’s performance in extreme temperatures due to its smooth, thin viscosity. The best part of this product is that despite being an oil-based solvent, it doesn’t leave any oily, sticky residue.
The non toxic gun cleaning solvent is tested to withstand different environments and temperatures, such as swamps, mud, desert sand, salt spray, prolonged underwater submersion, and even sub-zero temperatures.
It repels heat, water, moisture, and humidity, and also comes with a 100% money-back guarantee. So if you are not satisfied with the product, you can always contact the brand and get your money back.
It is touted to be used by hunters, professional shooters, firearm owners, and even the US military, so you can safely buy it knowing it is military-grade.
Quick Facts
- Volume: 2 fluid ounces
- Type: Liquid
- Smell: Unscented
Pros
- Removes all kinds of contaminants
- Prevents rust and corrosion
- Eco-friendly and unscented
- No oily residue
- Improves your gun’s performance in extreme temperatures
- Can withstand all kinds of weather conditions
- Thin viscosity for deep cleaning
- 100% money-back guarantee
Cons
- Relatively expensive
- Doesn’t come in a large size
Best Non-Toxic Gun Cleaning Solvents
Hoppe's Elite Gun Cleaner Spray Bottle
Alternative: FrogLube Extreme Lubricant
Short summary
FrogLube Extreme Liquid is an all-in-one cleaner, lubricant, and protectant (CLP) that easily removes carbon, rust, dirt, oil, fouling, copper, lead, and other contaminants. It enters the metal surface of the gun to degrease and condition it from the inside.
Using the solvent for gun cleaning creates a slick, wax-like shell that eliminates fouling, reduces friction by up to 40%, and prevents rust from forming.
This bio-based liquid solvent contains non-carcinogenic, USDA-certified, food-grade ingredients and is free of petroleum and water. Its non-flammable, biodegradable formula makes it safe for you and the environment and allows it to be disposed of without the need for HAZMAT controls.
The solvent also doesn’t harm nylon, plastic, urethane, and wood surfaces, and instead works to increase the shelf life and performance of your firearm.
It has a lovely mint aroma that leaves your gun pleasantly scented. The solvent comes in a convenient 4-ounce squeeze bottle for easy use.
Quick Facts
- Volume: 4 fluid ounces
- Type: Liquid
- Smell: Minty
Pros
- Cleans, lubricates, and protects guns on the surface and inside
- Removes fouling, friction, and rust
- Leaves gun with a pleasant minty aroma
- Non-toxic, biodegradable, and all-natural formula
Cons
- Leaves a wet film that later becomes sticky and gummy
Non-Toxic Gun Cleaning Solvent FAQs
What Solvent Can I Use to Clean My Gun?
There are different kinds of solvents that can be used to clean guns. They include the following:
Liquid Solvents
Liquid cleaning solvents are perfect if you wish to remove dust, dirt, debris, sand, lead, copper, carbon, or powder fouling from your firearm.
But be careful when dispensing these solvents. It’s best to use them in small quantities, or else they can leave an unpleasant, sticky film that can be rather messy.
Aerosol Spray Solvents
Aerosol spray solvents can effectively eliminate debris and residue. They usually have a thin viscosity, so they can get into hard-to-reach areas of your firearm.
The spray mechanism makes application easy to control, and the force of the air stream will quickly remove any lingering dirt or grime on the surface of the firearm.
Foaming Solvents
If you wish to remove built-up grime and residue from your gun, foaming solvents do the job well. Also, they’re fairly easy to use and apply, and they aren’t as messy as liquid solvents and don’t leave too much sticky residue.
One simple spray of the foam will expand in the bore and ensure maximum coverage. The foam then breaks down and becomes a breeze to wipe away. Practical, right?
CLPs
A cleaner, lubricant, and protectant (CLP) not only cleans and degreases your gun but also lubricates and protects it from rust and corrosion. It helps to remove built-up residue and debris, and conditions the gun’s surface and interiors.
Again, it’s best to use a light hand when dispensing CLPs. Applying much of it can negatively impact the performance of your gun.
Can I Use WD-40 to Clean My Gun?
The simple answer: no. Do not use WD-40 to clean your gun.
WD-40 is a popular cleaning solvent used mainly in automobiles and home improvement projects. Considering a lot of solvents for gun cleaning are multi-purpose anyway, it’s easy to assume that you can use your spray can of WD-40 to clean your gun and it will work just as well.
But the truth is that WD-40 is not a CLP, although it is touted as such. It is primarily a solvent that can be used for other cleaning purposes, but not for guns. Using WD-40 will only displace the grime and dirt to parts of the gun that are harder to reach.
This will further increase the difficulty of cleaning your gun. It can also slow down your gun’s mechanism and jam it up when you use it in cold weather. WD-40 also evaporates rather quickly, and does not contribute to a gun’s cleaning or maintenance processes.
However, if you are planning to disassemble your gun for its regular deep cleaning, you can use WD-40 if you don’t have any other gun cleaner at home. It effectively repels water and prevents rust and corrosion. Just make sure to clean your gun thoroughly after using WD-40 to prevent displacement of grime and water.
Make sure to apply a lubricant or oil before putting your firearm back together to avoid attracting rust and dirt.
Can I Use Q20 to Clean My Gun?
Q20 is another well-known, multi-purpose lubricant that protects against rust and corrosion. It is a popular choice for light-duty use in homes and garages worldwide.
Q20 is rather cheap and easy to use, and yes, you can use it to remove dirt and grime from your gun. Just be careful while using it on the polymer and rubber components of your firearm, as it is a strong solvent and can damage sensitive materials.
Why Are Some Gun Cleaning Solvents Toxic?
Some gun cleaning solvents contain harsh chemicals that are used for cleaning and degreasing guns but can be toxic if inhaled, ingested, or exposed to the skin of humans or pets.
One of the most commonly used toxic ingredients in gun cleaners is trichloroethylene or TCE, an industrial solvent used for degreasing metal parts. It can negatively affect the liver, kidneys, central nervous system, and reproductive system, and also have an impact on fetal development during pregnancy.
Butoxyethanol is also used in gun cleaners and can affect the eyes, skin, central nervous system, and reproductive system.
Nowadays, however, you can easily buy non-toxic and eco-friendly formulations that do not harm humans, pets, and the environment. The gun cleaning solvents that we have included on this list are all non-toxic.
Final Thoughts
Whether you use your gun regularly or once in a while, cleaning it regularly with a high-quality, effective solvent will help you keep it in great condition and even improve its performance.
Some of the gun cleaning solvents we mentioned on this list even claim to make your gun better than its pre-fired condition, so do try them out and tell us what’s the best gun cleaning solvent among them.
While we are on the topic, let us tell you that gun cleaning doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need a heavy-duty solvent tank for gun cleaning. A simple cloth rag, cotton swab, gun brush, pipe cleaners, a bore snake, and a little cleaning solvent are all you need for at-home cleaning.
We hope our guide on the best non toxic gun cleaning solvents helped you discover a product that’s suitable for your specific needs. If you try any of them, do tell us about your experience with them. Or if you use another solvent to clean your gun, we’d love to hear all about that, too!
Resources:
Hoppe’s Elite Gun Cleaner Spray Bottle
- Odorless cleaner
- Advanced firearm care and cleaning
- Professional and military technology
Best Non-Toxic Gun Cleaning Solvents
