In performing these tests I'd like to point out that I didn't operate under laboratory conditions. I know none of you are likely to do so when cleaning flux off of your hands or a board, so there's no point in me putting in the extra effort to do so. I was careful to ensure that every precaution was taken to ensure that no reasonable variable was left unaccounted for.
If you'd like to see more tests with different things, you're welcome to conduct them yourselves and post a reply here. Alternatively, I might be willing and able to do so.
Test conditions:
Hot water: 90F - 98F (32.2C - 36.7C )(Just below a temperature that would be painful to work with.)
Cool water: 55F - 60F (12.8C - 15.6C)
Scrubbing force: 21.5oz (610g) - 24oz (680g) (You'd consider this as moderate pressure when scrubbing.)
Area of scrubbing head (toothbrush): 1.2in (30.5mm) x 0.4in (10.2mm)
Toothbrush type: Firm
House temperature: 74F - 78F (23.3C - 25.6C)
All cleaners selected are nonabrasive (for the easily confused, an abrasive cleaner could damaged the electronics and PCB).
All methods prescribed online were attempted, although of course, the "dish washer and dish detergent method" became "the toothbrush and dish detergent method" because using a dishwasher for some cleaners would leave the other cleaners at a disadvantage. Likewise, no ultrasonic cleaner was used either.
The method of cleaning was identical for all but the alcohol, acetone (aka. nail polish remover), and scrubbing bubbles which had to be reapplied between scrubbing methods due to evaporation or lack of product retention in the brush. Three scrubbing methods were used, each for 10s and then a rinse with the specified water under a normal tap was performed. Only circles should be necessary as it is the most effective and covers the other methods well. For completeness I also used vertical and horizontal scrubbing.
The PCB had no components on it when these tests were being conducted so that a lack of surface contact with the brush would not affect the results. It did have some left over solder on it.
The flux was applied and then I waited till it dried before doing any testing. This process had to be repeated several times each time the board became clean.
It's possible that whenever I write "A little" came off that the flux simply couldn't take the scrubbing anymore or that I scrubbed a little harder that time (about 31.7oz (900g)) is about the amount of force you need to remove it without any cleaner), not that the cleaner had any affect (which is what I'm testing for).
I did not let the cleaners soak for any great period of time, about 5 to 15s. I don't expect much change if I altered that (and only a few call for it), but you never know.
I chose not to use soaps like Dial because they're not recommended online, they are not detergents so they're unlikely to be effective, and I didn't have a good selection anyway.
I have close ups of all the cleaners used in case my description and general cleaner pictures are unclear.
Here are the results:
For those cleaners that worked, the temperature of the water didn't make much of an effect, so the following are done only at one temperature which I didn't record.
Next is the "bathe and rinse method" where I use those cleaners that seemed to dissolve the flux and apply and rinse them:
I used these cleaners on my hands to get the flux off of them:
* On a hot day (84F, 28.9C) this will not work (I have tried it), because the alcohol will evaporate too quickly. The same applies to the acetone.
As an aside, if you ever want to know where you missed when washing your hands you can use some flux and Scrubbing Bubbles to find out.
Finally, I took my container with flux inside of it and washed the outside to get the flux off (the pictures are of a different bottle of the same product). The Scrubbing Bubbles worked, but did not get it all off. I ended up using the 91% alcohol, but even that was hard because of the buildup in the crevasses in the bottles lid which none of the working cleaners could properly penetrate.
Conclusions:
People report multiple successful methods with glass cleaner, dish detergent, and alcohol. Only one of those methods worked for me. So, why do they work for them? The higher pressure of the water coming out of the dishwasher's jets when washing could easily clean the flux off. The same applies to an ultrasonic cleaner. The detergent just ensures that the flux goes down the drain as opposed to a different location in the dishwasher.^ In the case of the mirror cleaner I can only guess that the person was using a cleaner I don't have, or they are using more force then I am.
^ Please don't use a dishwasher for both dishes and PCBs that use lead in some capacity.
Mod: Removed Duplicated images.E
If you'd like to see more tests with different things, you're welcome to conduct them yourselves and post a reply here. Alternatively, I might be willing and able to do so.
Test conditions:
Hot water: 90F - 98F (32.2C - 36.7C )(Just below a temperature that would be painful to work with.)
Cool water: 55F - 60F (12.8C - 15.6C)
Scrubbing force: 21.5oz (610g) - 24oz (680g) (You'd consider this as moderate pressure when scrubbing.)
Area of scrubbing head (toothbrush): 1.2in (30.5mm) x 0.4in (10.2mm)
Toothbrush type: Firm
House temperature: 74F - 78F (23.3C - 25.6C)
All cleaners selected are nonabrasive (for the easily confused, an abrasive cleaner could damaged the electronics and PCB).
All methods prescribed online were attempted, although of course, the "dish washer and dish detergent method" became "the toothbrush and dish detergent method" because using a dishwasher for some cleaners would leave the other cleaners at a disadvantage. Likewise, no ultrasonic cleaner was used either.
The method of cleaning was identical for all but the alcohol, acetone (aka. nail polish remover), and scrubbing bubbles which had to be reapplied between scrubbing methods due to evaporation or lack of product retention in the brush. Three scrubbing methods were used, each for 10s and then a rinse with the specified water under a normal tap was performed. Only circles should be necessary as it is the most effective and covers the other methods well. For completeness I also used vertical and horizontal scrubbing.
The PCB had no components on it when these tests were being conducted so that a lack of surface contact with the brush would not affect the results. It did have some left over solder on it.
The flux was applied and then I waited till it dried before doing any testing. This process had to be repeated several times each time the board became clean.
It's possible that whenever I write "A little" came off that the flux simply couldn't take the scrubbing anymore or that I scrubbed a little harder that time (about 31.7oz (900g)) is about the amount of force you need to remove it without any cleaner), not that the cleaner had any affect (which is what I'm testing for).
I did not let the cleaners soak for any great period of time, about 5 to 15s. I don't expect much change if I altered that (and only a few call for it), but you never know.
I chose not to use soaps like Dial because they're not recommended online, they are not detergents so they're unlikely to be effective, and I didn't have a good selection anyway.
I have close ups of all the cleaners used in case my description and general cleaner pictures are unclear.
Here are the results:
Product | Cleaning effect | Cleaning effect |
Hot water | Cool water | |
Clorox dish detergent | A little | A little |
Palmolive Ultra Oxy | No effect | A little |
Palmolive Ultra Strength | No effect | A little |
Ajax Ultra Vinegar & Lime | No effect | No effect |
Windex Original with ammonia-D | No effect | No effect |
Clorox Foaming Glass Cleaner | No effect | No effect |
Kaboom OXI-Clean | No effect | No effect |
Scrubbing Bubbles | Works | Works |
Lysol Power Bathroom Cleaner | No effect | No effect |
Topcare Acetone | Works | Works |
Alcohol 70% | Works | Works |
Alcohol 91% | Works | Works |
Next is the "bathe and rinse method" where I use those cleaners that seemed to dissolve the flux and apply and rinse them:
Product | Cleaning effect |
Alcohol 60% | Needs addition soap of some kind for full effect. |
Alcohol 91% | Works |
Acetone | PCB is clean, component pads are still dirty. |
Scrubbing Bubbles | No effect |
Product | Cleaning effect |
Alcohol 60% | No effect |
Alcohol 91%* | Works |
Acetone* | Works |
Scrubbing Bubbles | Works |
As an aside, if you ever want to know where you missed when washing your hands you can use some flux and Scrubbing Bubbles to find out.
Finally, I took my container with flux inside of it and washed the outside to get the flux off (the pictures are of a different bottle of the same product). The Scrubbing Bubbles worked, but did not get it all off. I ended up using the 91% alcohol, but even that was hard because of the buildup in the crevasses in the bottles lid which none of the working cleaners could properly penetrate.
Conclusions:
People report multiple successful methods with glass cleaner, dish detergent, and alcohol. Only one of those methods worked for me. So, why do they work for them? The higher pressure of the water coming out of the dishwasher's jets when washing could easily clean the flux off. The same applies to an ultrasonic cleaner. The detergent just ensures that the flux goes down the drain as opposed to a different location in the dishwasher.^ In the case of the mirror cleaner I can only guess that the person was using a cleaner I don't have, or they are using more force then I am.
^ Please don't use a dishwasher for both dishes and PCBs that use lead in some capacity.
Mod: Removed Duplicated images.E
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