We investigated which factors govern the critical steps of cation exchange in metal-organic frameworks by studying the effect of various solvents on the insertion of Ni²⁺ into MOF-5 and Co²⁺ into MFU-4l. After plotting the extent of cation insertion versus different solvent parameters, trends emerge that offer insight into the exchange processes for both systems. This approach establishes a method for understanding critical aspects of cation exchange in different MOFs and other materials.