What is the difference between contact cleaner and air duster?
Unlike compressed air which just blows away debris, contact cleaner will remove oil and dirt and grease and condensation, and even help in the clean up of corrosion (although it is a good idea to have a brush handy -- a toothbrush that you're not using in your mouth works great).
A contact cleaner (also called electrical cleaner, switch cleaner, electrical contact cleaner, and, specific to automotive repair, battery terminal cleaner) is a solvent cleaner designed to remove contamination from electrical contacts, the conductive surfaces of connectors, switches and other electrical and electronic ...
The answer is yes! WD-40 Contact Cleaner from the Specialist Range is the ideal solution for cleaning dirt, dust, oil and flux residue from your electronics.
Isopropyl Alcohol
99% Purity IPA cleans well, and dries quickly, which is exactly what you want in an electrical contact cleaner.
Isopropyl alcohol, a compressor, an ESD-safe brush: all this from just one StackExchange thread. Unless it's a device where literally nothing can reach the dust except air, you don't have to pretend you work in a clean room on archaeology finds. A small brush or not-too-pointy stick can suffice.
The contact cleaner works to clean special impurities on electronic boards, sockets, cables, etc. Electronic parts in automotive, or household appliances can easily become dirty due to oil or dust which reduces the electrical conductivity of their parts.
A contact cleaner is typically an aerosol filled with compressed air and a cleaning agent. Within contact cleaner, you can use a number of cleaning chemicals; however, isopropyl alcohol is the most common.
Ordinary rubbing alcohol can clean sensitive electronic parts. Alcohol-based cleaners are safe to use on sensitive materials like plastics and ABS pipe, too. Acetone works similarly to alcohol, but should not be used on ABS, plastic or rubber components.
For basic dusting
Instead, you can more successfully capture dust with a soft cloth lightly dampened with water or a furniture dusting spray, a microfiber duster or an electrostatic duster, which use static electricity to pick up more dust particles.
Can WD-40® be used as an electrical contact cleaner? We don't recommend using any WD-40 product as a contact cleaner apart from our Fast Drying Contact Cleaner. Our specialist contact spray is designed to remove residue, condensation and dirt from electrical equipment with pinpoint precision.
What are the two types of brake cleaner?
Standard brake cleaners can be divided into two main categories Chlorinated and Non-Chlorinated. Each type has its own positives but in each case these positives are far outweighed by the negatives.
WD-40 Specialist® Contact Cleaner, featuring patented Smart Straw technology, blasts away oil, dirt, flux residue and condensation from sensitive electronics and electrical equipment with pinpoint precision.

Most contact cleaners are safe to use on printed circuit boards (PCBs) in electronic devices. Make sure the contact cleaner solvent is compatible with all components, connectors, and packaging by testing on a scrap part or inconspicuous area.
It can be difficult to directly clean all the tight areas of electrical connectors and switches, so you may need to use some kind of chemical method. On the mild side, a mild acid like vinegar can be used, and other agents are offered for battery terminal cleaning, such as baking soda.
A simple 1:1 mixture of isopropyl alcohol and distilled water!
Yes, this product helps to clean corrosion from electrical contact points & connections, and can be used with sensitive electronic components. Thanks for choosing WD-40 Brand Products. Helpful?
Air Duster, also called “canned air”, “compressed air”, and “dusting gas”, is used to provide a pressurized blast, knocking loose dust and dirt. Think of it as a portable replacement for an air compressor line.
- Hydrogen Peroxide.
- Saline Nasal Spray.
- Eye Refreshing Drops.
- Home-Made Saline Solution.
Hydrogen peroxide and multipurpose solutions both clean and disinfect contact lenses by breaking up and removing trapped debris, protein, and fatty deposits (lipids).
Isopropyl alcohol removes oils, adhesives, fingerprints, soldering flux and other contaminants, making it ideal for cleaning electronics. However, it is important to note that only alcohol with a grade of 90% or more should be employed on circuit boards and other internal electronics.
What is the safest way to clean electronics?
Dust with a microfiber cleaning cloth. Use an ammonia-free electronics cleaning wipe or lightly dampen a clean cloth with water and wipe from top to bottom in an S pattern. Do not spray water or screen cleaner directly onto devices, especially onto a screen.
You can use 70%, 91%, or 99% isopropyl alcohol to clean various types of electronics – what you choose will depend on what you're cleaning. For externals – such as disinfecting your smartphone or TV remote – 60-70 percent will do a better job.
Household rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol is great for cleaning electronics. It kills fungus, bacteria and viruses, including E. coli, S.
You can clean your electronic devices very effectively with a simple microfiber cloth. This will remove most dust and dirt. However, to sanitize your devices, you should also use a bleach-free disinfectant wipe or 70% isopropyl alcohol solution.
The science behind why damp dusting is more efficient than a dry cloth comes from the fact that a damp cloth introduces capillary force to the dust particles. In short, the damp cloth draws the particles in and lifts dust from the area instead of moving them around.
We recommend dusting before vacuuming, this is because dust particles usually get moved around the room when you dust, meaning all your hard work will go to waste. A top tip is to wait at least 2 hours after dusting to get the vacuum out.
Consider using a dryer sheet to get rid of dust. Dryer sheet are meant to trap dust, so it shouldn't take too much work. Also, a dry sheet can help prevent dust from sticking to your baseboards and furniture.
Brand | CRC |
---|---|
Dry Time Fully Dry | 30 Seconds |
Evaporation Rate | Very Fast |
Flammability Class - CPSC | Extremely Flammable |
Flash point (C) | <-17.8°C |
Spray MANNOL Contact Cleaner on dirt and leave for 5-10 minutes to act, depending on the intensity of the contamination. Remove dissolved dirt with a cloth or brush. Remove excess product with a damp cloth. In case of contact with the surface of plastic and lacquered parts, remove the composition with a damp cloth.
Avoid using brake cleaners on plastic, rubber, and painted surfaces, and read the user manual carefully before use. Brake cleaners containing chlorine can emit highly toxic gas in contact with heat or other chemicals, and those containing acetone are flammable.
Where not to use brake cleaner?
Brake cleaners could only be used on metallic and plastic surfaces. It is not advisable to apply these formulations on plastic surfaces as they can damage such appliances, surfaces or materials.
Brake cleaner, often also called parts cleaner, is a mostly colorless cleaning agent, mainly used for cleaning the brake disks, the engine compartment and underfloor of motor vehicles.
WD-40 Drying Contact Cleaner spray is a non-conductive spray that is suitable for use on all sensitive electrical components. It provides excellent cleaning with minimal fuss, and removes dirt, dust, condensation and flux residue with ease.
Contact cleaner is designed to remove grease, oil, corrosion and sludge from electrical equipment. This 11oz container is filled with a non-flammable, chlorinated, non-ozone depleting liquid cleaner designed for use on items that carry an electrical current.
What is the difference between a degreaser and a contact cleaner? Degreasers are intended to remove oil, grease, oxides and handling contamination from equipment and assemblies, while a contact cleaner does the same thing specifically for electrical contacts.
Electrical contact cleaners are designed for a highly specific purpose: to clean electrical contacts. However, because different users have different contact cleaning needs, not every formulation of contact cleaner is the same.
If you have a PC laptop with an LCD screen, you should not use disinfecting wipes. Manufacturers, such as Hewlett-Packard, say that active ingredients found in both Clorox and Lysol wipes could damage your screen.
It's not recommended to clean thermal paste using toilet paper. In any case, you should stay away from trying it, even if you don't have any other solution at hand. In such a situation, you'd want to wait until you find a more optimum solution to clean up the paste.
Electrical contact cleaner is simply compressed air with a cleaning agent that evaporates, such as isopropyl alcohol. It is useful for cleaning electric components that have food, grease, or oils on them. It can dislodge foreign elements and clean components.
Don't rush off to grab your canned air, however. Never use compressed air to clean a camera sensor, as it's not only too powerful, but the gas inside can briefly liquefy and stain your sensor.
What is the difference between air duster and compressed air?
Air Duster, also called “canned air”, “compressed air”, and “dusting gas”, is used to provide a pressurized blast, knocking loose dust and dirt. Think of it as a portable replacement for an air compressor line.
Can WD-40® be used as an electrical contact cleaner? We don't recommend using any WD-40 product as a contact cleaner apart from our Fast Drying Contact Cleaner. Our specialist contact spray is designed to remove residue, condensation and dirt from electrical equipment with pinpoint precision.
Yes, air duster is generally designed for use on electronics. There are a few things to watch out for: Avoid spraying the refrigerant liquid, which can happen if you shake the can, or angle it too much.
WD-40 Specialist Electrical Contact Cleaner is safe for all electrical contacts, even sensitive electronics.
Use sensor swabs and gently pass a swab over your sensor. Make sure you are in a clean room. Bathrooms are usually a great place for sensor cleaning! If you have image stabilization turned on or enabled on your camera, turn it off so that the sensor is locked.
In fact, some amount of blur can even make the dust more visible. You can then inspect the image on your camera's LCD magnified to 100%, or transfer the image to your computer for better viewing. If you see any grey marks or spots, then it's most probably sensor dust.
An important note from the video: NEVER use compressed air to clean your lens sensor. Compressed air cans have a pressure that is too intense for your camera sensor and will likely damage the photosites on your sensor.
NEVER USE IT TO CLEAN CLOTHING OR HAIR! Don't use it to “dust” yourself off. See the risks above. ALWAYS FOLLOW PRESSURE RATINGS AND LIMITATIONS!
An air duster high will last for anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. Detecting whether or not someone is using air duster or other inhalants is difficult.
Air dusters are safe to use on most surfaces, but you should avoid using them on delicate electronics, such as smartphones. Also, be sure to hold the duster upright so that the nozzle will not spray liquid. Contact between the propellant gas and the skin can cause mild frostbite and should be avoided.
Should I use contact cleaner?
Whether it is oil, grease, corrosion, or a food substance that contaminates an electrical or electronic component, a contact cleaner can be used to effectively dislodge all of these foreign elements so that the components can be put back into place, in their original condition.
The contact cleaner works to clean special impurities on electronic boards, sockets, cables, etc. Electronic parts in automotive, or household appliances can easily become dirty due to oil or dust which reduces the electrical conductivity of their parts.
On the mild side, a mild acid like vinegar can be used, and other agents are offered for battery terminal cleaning, such as baking soda. Regardless of the cleaning material, care should be taken to rinse it off. A cleaner strong enough to remove rust could continue to work on unintended metal surfaces.
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