A biodegradable acid cleaning composition for cleaning stainless steel, and other surfaces is disclosed. The composition comprises urea sulfate in combination with gluconic acid which serves as a corrosion inhibitor. The composition retains the cleaning and corrosion prevention properties of similar phosphoric acid solutions but is safe for the environment and is less expensive to produce. Applicants have surprisingly found that the traditionally alkaline corrosion inhibitor, gluconic acid, can work effectively in an acidic cleaning composition.