A process using primarily aqueous-based surfactants for cleaning machinery, tools, containers and the like to remove polyester resin residue. This process involves four stages, each having one or more steps. The first stage is a pre-wash or preliminary cleaning stage which is followed by an ultra-sonic wash stage. The third stage is a rinse stage and the fourth and last stage is for drying the parts cleaned during the previous three stages of the process. Additionally, a fifth evaporation/drying stage is periodically carried out to remove polyester resin residues from the process as solid waste.