How do YOU clean your boards?

[BuddytheReow]

IPA and a toothbrush will work just fine. Doing it once will give you decent results, but like OP said there is still some residue. Simply clean it again.

 

[eatkinola]

Laying this soaked in IPA on the board works well for me. I'll do this once or twice then give it a good toothbrush scrub with more IPA. I'll invariably get some grime on the front of the board and use these soaked in IPA pushed around with a chopstick to clean that, too. The effects all sound the same, of course, but it makes me feel better when it's clean: therapeutic, even.

 

[Vicious C]

What’s the purpose of cleaning the boards?

 

[Audandash]

I personally use the @jimilee method and solder and forget it. It’s not like I am going to look at the board and it doesn’t bother me. Now @MichaelW has a plastic bowl filled with ipa and drops the whole board in it. He does this before he solders switches and pots so they don’t get messed up then wipes them clean. In all fairness most of my boards I layout for myself are red and the flux doesn’t show up very well. It does tend to show up more on the black boards. Not enough to warrant me doing anything about it though. From my understanding it’s purely cosmetic and doesn’t actually effect anything (not an expert so take it with a grain of salt).

 

[eatkinola]

What’s the purpose of cleaning the boards?

personal preference for the most part

 

[Band of Dans]

I'll invariably get some grime on the front of the board and use these soaked in IPA pushed around with a chopstick to clean that, too.

Ha! I do exactly the same thing. My spouse was just asking why I had a single chopstick on my bench and was extra confused when I replied, “it’s for cleaning.”

 

[dcfvgb]

Ha! I do exactly the same thing. My spouse was just asking why I had a single chopstick on my bench and was extra confused when I replied, “it’s for cleaning.”

I have 2 or 3 wooden chopsticks in my toolbox for amp troubleshooting . They raise raise eyebrows. Most ppl ask why I don't just use a screwdriver to poke around, which makes me laugh inside.

 

[andare]

99% IPA and your girlfriend's ex-toothbrush.

Don't be me and use your girlfriend's toothbrush cause it will soon be your ex-girlfriend's toothbrush.
She left, the toothbrush stayed. Not the best deal but a deal nonetheless.

 

[MichaelW]

99% IPA isn't worth the cost. Once you open it it becomes like 85%. I get the 91% as it's the best deal.
$3 at Walmart for a bottle.

 

[Passinwind]

91% IPA and then Goo Gone for any sticky residue, if and when I bother.

 

[gtfields13]

Also IPA (91% - as Michael noted IPA sucks moisture out of the air, so getting dry IPA isn't useful if you aren't taking measures to keep it that way). I add a drop of surfactant (i.e. dish-soap or espresso machine cleaner). Toothbrush until today. Ultrasound after today. rinse with water.

 

[Aentons]

What’s the purpose of cleaning the boards?

If I'm troubleshooting, I have to clean it to see what's up.

 

[bean]

I use water-soluble flux so I can wash my boards with water.

Same same. But, I still find ISO with a toothbrush then a water wash finisher gives the best results. It makes the solder joints look dull but they are very clean.

 

[Vicious C]

I’ve built a few pedals. Never clean them

 

[PapaBear]

I’ve built a few pedals. Never clean them

To each his own!

 

[wintercept]

For rosin flux, I take a single ply paper towel, place it on solder side of the board and douse with isopropyl alcohol from a little needle tip squeeze bottle. The intake a toothbrush and lightly scrub the soaked paper towel over the board in a circular motion. The flux dissolves and wicks into the paper towel.

I do this for aesthetics (even though no one will see it) and to avoid sticky fingers during the final assembly! Though, I don’t sweat the little bit of flux from soldering pots from the component side of the board.