Cleaning electronics with alcohol?

[J-S-Q]

Does anyone know if it is safe to clean electronics with isopropyl alcohol. The item in question is an iPhone (which I dropped in a bucket of paint :) ). It still seems to work ok but it won't charge because it's all clogged up with dry paint.

[pchristy]

Isopropyl alcohol should be OK, but test it on a small area of the plastic first!

Its unlikely to damage any of the electronics, but it might react with some of the plastic used for the case. I've also used surgical spirit (v.similar) for cleaning trannies in the past.

[debrooker]

i'm pretty sure you can use methalated spirit

[Gav]

Lol. Yeah should be ok to clean up the charging socket.

My work colleague dropped his phone in a bucket of paint too. I knew one guy who dropped his phone down the toilet. He said it plopped in at such an angle it glided right around the ubend never to be seen again lmao.

Good luck with the paint removal.

[Jamin_00]

I too heard a story of an iPhone being dropped down the toilet.

One of the blokes here done it and got it out too.

But it did not work properly again.

[rachel]

[quote=J-S-Q;546180]Does anyone know if it is safe to clean electronics with isopropyl alcohol. The item in question is an iPhone (which I dropped in a bucket of paint :) ). It still seems to work ok but it won't charge because it's all clogged up with dry paint.[/quote]

I think its best to drink the alcohol , especially if its wine :):)
but be carefull with the isopropyl as I think it will; disolve your phone. :(

Best just try a bit first.

HIC !!!

:grouphug:'S x Rachel

[Spanner]

You'll be perfectly fine using Isopropyl Alcohol, I use it all the time to clean PCB's and switch gubbins in the jets at work.

[url=http://www.electrolube.com/docs/cleaningmain.asp?id=15]Electrolube - Product guides - Cleaning - IPA-Electronic Cleaning Solvent[/url]

[Mojo]

I think you should be fine with most alcohols on plastics.. Some lower boiling (like methanol) could upset things like zaggi screen protectors and certain soft rubber cases.. But IMS and IPA should be fine.. As everyone already said, It won't harm to try it on a small area first..

Good luck..

[David Drew]

[quote=rachel;546224]I think its best to drink the alcohol , especially if its wine :):)
but be carefull with the isopropyl ........
.
:grouphug:'S x Rachel[/quote]

...............cos it gives you a wicked hangover:ack2:

[Kozmyk]

IPA would be my favourite.
It almost never attacks plastics, but it's worth doing a test as mentioned above.
Inside a lid is a good place to try.

Just very occasionally some PCB lacquers are softened by IPA but it's rare and not fatal if it does(just sticky).

Only problem I can foresee is that it might not attack the paint you want to remove.
Even then though it may well loosen the bond between paint and what it's stuck to.