Degreasing operations generate oil and lubricants along with allied contaminations which separate from the surface of the components and float on top of the cleaning liquid. This floating contamination needs to be continuously removed so that it does not carry-over to the next operating station, and also increases the life of the cleaner.

Various types of oil skimmers are under use, the most popular in present day applications are the disc type. The rotating disc with a scraper separates oil from the fluid surface when the cleaning machine is not in use or it can work continuously if attached to a separate chamber. The oil skimmer prolongs the service life of the bath 2- 5 times and ensures good cleaning results.

Alternatively for heavy-duty usage, specialized separators, connected to the degreasing tanks work as stand-alone units. The solution to be cleaned is circulated through such systems. Though relatively expensive, these equipments provide an effective method for removal of large scale floating contaminants from degreasing baths.