The influence of gas turbine degradation on operating costs is high. Gas turbine cleaning is one of many actions taken for power recovery and is considered preventive maintenance. It is generally performed within the industrial and occasionally within the aero sector. Following a survey about potential for cost reduction in gas turbine operation the cleaning issue appears to be overlooked from an engineering point of view and there is a large potential for efficiency improvements. Engine development with corresponding high blade loads and ever-increasing temperatures require more efficient and careful cleaning methods. Together with emission taxes and environmental regulations, optimized cleaning methods will play an ever-growing role in future gas turbine operation. In order to achieve cost effectiveness regarding hardware, man-hour and consumables a new cleaning method has been evaluated for a standard process. The economic evaluations show that a standardisation of cleaning with the new method would enable the aviation sector to perform engine cleaning on a routine basis as well as the stationary sector to make significant cost savings in equipment purchase and operation.