The present invention reduces adhesion of trace metals in ultrapure water for cleaning products, and inhibits the metal contamination of an object to be cleaned. Provided is a metal contamination inhibitor that contains a polymer having an ion-exchange group, such as a polystyrene sulfonate having a molecular weight of at least 100,000. Trace metals in ultrapure water are adsorbed through an ion-exchange reaction of the polymer having the ion-exchange group, and can thus be inhibited from adhering to products. Also provided is a method for cleaning a product with ultrapure water to which the metal contamination inhibitor has been added. Preferably, the ultrapure water to which the metal contamination inhibitor has been added flows through a separation membrane module, and the products are cleaned with permeated water.