How to Clean Electronics With WD-40 Specialist Electrical Contact Cleaner

Cleaning electronics components is an exercise in frustration. Just like any other piece of equipment, electronics get dirty and grungy, but also have some unique attributes that make cleaning difficult. First, the elephant in the room – liquids and electricity do not mix. We know this because we have all read the warning tags, and while “Do not blow dry hair while in shower or bath” may seem obvious, even a small amount of liquid on a circuit can render it useless. This is why the radio in your car rarely gets cleaned, even though the buttons and dials may be sticky and gross. But there is a solution: WD-40 Specialist Electrical Contact Cleaner.

Corrosion is the enemy

Beyond the obvious casual build-up of crud, electronics are subject to corrosion that is special to electrical components. This is due to the fact that the flow of electricity has a bad habit of grabbing onto all kinds of compounds from the air. Over time, this forms a chalky powder that is actually a lot harder than it looks. As the connection is diminished, the build up of corrosion further reduces the flow of electricity, compounding the situation. Furthermore, replaceable batteries release hydrogen gas, which can cause the battery seals to leak, which lets the potassium hydroxide, which can cause severe burns and damages your components. 

Cleaning the right way

Cleaning electronics and their components requires a special type of cleaner in order to keep from damaging the components. WD-40 Specialist Electrical Contact Cleaner is the perfect tool to keep your sensitive electronics clean and free from corrosion and gunk. This cleaner is made from special chemicals that evaporate quickly while breaking down gunk and corrosion, making it perfect for just about any electrical device. 

It also works great for removing flux after soldering. When you solder a connection, the flux tends to burn off, leaving a sticky brown residue. A few blasts of WD-40 Specialist Electrical Contact Cleaner will blast that flux residue away with a quickness. 

This is not just for the garage, where it can be used to clean electric motors, switches, contacts, electronic tools, and plug and terminals in your vehicle, this is a necessary tool for your entire life. Cell phone not getting a good connection with your charging cord? A few blasts will help. Scratchy pots (volume knob, etc) on your amplifier, guitar, or stereo? Skip the expensive repairs and take care of it yourself with WD-40 Specialist Electrical Contact Cleaner. 

Beyond the garage

We recently purchased a used bass guitar amplifier, and while it is in excellent condition, a couple of the knobs are scratchy. When you adjust the knob, it turns just fine, but there is a scratchy static noise that comes through the speakers. This is very common for amplifiers and guitars, and the average cost to repair or replace a single potentiometer (that’s the technical term) can hit you at $150-300. We decided to give the WD-40 Specialist Electrical Contact Cleaner a shot at fixing this. In fact, we tried it on several amps and guitars, as a few of these are vintage hollow-body guitars that would be on the upper end of the repair cost. 

WD-40 Specialist Electrical Contact Cleaner is safe for most paints and surfaces, but if you are even a little concerned, then you can take precautions against it by using a rag or towel to keep it from running over the surface. First, we removed the knob cover. Most of the time, these just pull off, but some knobs have set screws (non-guitar stuff), this gives you access to the potentiometer shaft. In most cases, you do not even have to remove the component, which is a huge bonus. 

Flip the Smart Straw up into position on the can. You want the straw for precision cleaning. The fan nozzle is for big jobs such as fogging down a stereo or circuit board. Direct the Smart Straw to the base of the pot shaft and give it a good blast. 

Immediately start turning the knob to work the cleaner into the pot. You can spray and twist at the same time. WD-40 Specialist Electrical Contact Cleaner can be very cold and irritating to the skin, so wearing a latex or nitrile glove is recommended. 

Let things dry for a few minutes. WD-40 Specialist Electrical Contact Cleaner dries very fast and leaves no residue. At this point, you can test out your cleaning job. In most cases, one treatment does the job, but if you have a really dirty component, it may take a few more cleanings to get the job done. 

This is a great way to get the best performance out of your electronic devices. WD-40 Specialist Electrical Contact Cleaner is safe for all electrical contacts, even sensitive electronics. Do not use WD-40 Specialist Electrical Contact Cleaner directly on certain vehicle sensors, such as MAF sensors, which require MAF cleaner. 

Check out all the chemical & lubricant products available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on how clean electronics with WD-40 Specialist Electrical Contact Cleaner, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.