Monitor PCB cleaning

ted429

New member

Donor 2011-2012
Joined
Jun 10, 2011
Messages
232
Reaction score
0
Location
Michigan
I have been searching the Internet and it seems the best way to clean PCBs is isopropyl alcohol. So I thought I would ask on here. What and how people clean there PCBs.

Thanks in Advance.
 
I use simple green and water in the sink. Scrub with a toothbrush or any other brush for that matter. If they're really dirty I rinse them under running water first to get the big chunks and thick layer of non-sticky dust off. Then I squirt them down with simple green, let it sit for 5 minutes or so and go at it with the brush. Rinse and repeat. Dry upside down for a day or so, turning after a few hours to the side to make sure moisture between the components is airing out well.
 
there are a few ways going about this choice is yours and it depends on how "clean" you want it.


  • for the cleanest, the washing method is the best way to go (hose and some cleaner in driveway or pulling chassis and running it under the sink or in the dish washer), but i'd say only do it if you plan on rebuilding the chassis anyways. water can get into places you don't want it, or you can power it up when it's not 100% dry causing failure if not careful

  • canned air and brush is definitely a good safe way to go but you can blow dust/ect places you don't really want it. this method can be expensive as canned air isn't cheap unless you have one of those refillable cans.

last (the way i like to do it)

  • break out the air compressor (preferably filtered/dried non oiled) set the output psi to 40-60 and go to town.

a small dusting brush helps with the 2 dry methods, a soft bristle brush helps w/ the wet method.

there's always a chance for losing the factory labels on the chassis/tube/frame, the water method can be the most destructive while the canned air method is least (only issue with compressor is you might blow a few off and not find them or where they were (which can also happen with the canned air i suppose but is less likely).

edit: I've also seen ESD vacuums but never really trusted them or liked the job they did (tho the one i used was fairly cheap but for commercial use and not sold to the public from what i understand).
 
Last edited:
Ya, air duster is really expensive. I also thought the same thing so I ended up getting a cheap air compressor used off of craigslist and just blow it out. The little spaces where the dust i built up more I go in with a chip brush and blow it out again.

If you do use the wet method all I ever did was take some packaging tape and cut it slightly bigger than the label and stick it on and hose it down. No one is going to see it but you anyway.
After your done washing it blow out the extra water with an air compressor and let it sit in the heat to dry for an amount of time you KNOW it's dry.
I really don't like taking the risk though. This is the method I use when someone spills pop into a TV into the vent holes. CRT tv's nowadays are a dime a dozen and wouldn't sweat it if I lost the chassis. Still got the tube.

Good luck and let us know what method you used and the outcome.
 
Last edited:
ok this is something i learned while working in the arcade over the years...


most Electronic pcb's can be washed tho there are a few that you really wouldn't want to..but yeah monitor boards is one i hadn't really tried before..tho i used to wash Daytona usa boards and they were $3000 a Piece :D

anyway...we used to use DAWN dish soap...the reason being Dawn dish soap will stop corrosion on contacts and oxidation on solderpads... so i would say try the dawn dish soap...Use a WET/DRY vac that allows the Blower Option with the hose and use a Crevace tool :) thats what i use to blow off most of the water..or shake most of mine off...BUT..to get the boards dry..I use a 1600 WATT HAIRDRYER and i heat up the board on BOTH sides untill i can barely hold the hot board..i do this for about 5 mins...then let it air cool....then i inspect it..., shake it and when cooled enough i use the WET/DRY vac and blow it down again to see if there is any mosture...if there is..i re Hairdryer it till it's BONE DRY :) then i'm good to Go.... thats how we did it at the arcade and i saved a MANY Game Boards and Computer Boards that way :) remember.... DAWN , WET/DRY Vac, 1600WATT Hair Dryer !


GOOD LUCK ALL !


END OF LINE.


Daniel.
 
Ive done the purple cleaner and a hose method, ive done the dishwasher method..

Both made nice sparkling clean chassis, both acted goofy with picture issues for days despite through drying over several days.


These days, i use compressed air to dust them off, and thats it. Any further cleaning is not worth the risk of ruining something, IMHO.
 
Back
Top Bottom