The present invention relates to a water-based heavy-duty multifunction metal cleaning agent, wherein the components in the formula comprise a mixed inorganic salt, a surfactant, isononanoic acid, triethanolamine, a sodium salt having corrosion inhibition function, a corrosion inhibitor, polymalic acid, a defoamer 585, a preservative 1227 and the like. According to the present invention, the metal cleaning agent has characteristics of no toxicity, no harm, no pollution, no damage on human body, no corrosion on metal surface, no odor after long term use, no deterioration, extremely excellent cleaning function and extremely excellent rust resistance, especially and completely cleans thick and hard deposited carbon and stubborn stains, does not corrode various types of cast irons, carbon steels, copper, aluminum, zinc and other metals, and is suitable for ultrasonic machine cleaning, spraying machine cleaning, manual soaking rinsing and the like, wherein the natural anti-rust time of the cleaned work-piece achieves more than or equal to 50 days.