How To Clean Solder Flux

If I just soldered the board I literally just have to dunk it in an ethanol bath gently swish the PCB around to agitate things a bit and tip it as I take it out.

How to clean solder flux. While this may be adequate for no-clean flux where the goal is a visually clean PCB this may not be clean enough when more heavily activated fluxes are involved like RA or aqueous. Never allow solvents or water to drain into connector body. Isopropyl alcohol is generally used for the removal of flux residues on circuit boards.

In case of fluxes that need cleaning after soldering solvent cleaning or aqueous cleaners can be used. However there are indications that such hygroscopic solvent such as the IPA is harmful to clean the soldered printed boards. The dissolved flux residue sticks to the wipe and is therefore not spread around the board.

Repeat the cleaning step using the clean portion of the wipe until the board is clean. Solder flux residue can be removed in two steps. Then use a gentle scrubber or a cotton swab to wipe it away.

Modify the soldering irons temperature to a standard work temperature of around 300 degrees Celsius. Following the reflow process the flux leaves a small amount of residue around the various solder joints. What it leaves behind can keep you circuit from working.

The fluxes in most of todays no clean pastes contain up to 60 percent solids. To remove any kind of flux you need to apply a lot of removers. The lower the total solids the fewer residues on the board.

In the second step another fluid is used to rinse away the solvents leftovers. No-clean flux doesnt need any cleaning. Check with the manufacturer for recommended solvents.