As time passes, circuit boards not only become oxidized, but can also become grimy and sticky, attracting dirt and dust, which affects their performance. You can restore the circuit boards' condition by cleaning them with lemon juice.
In the book, "Living in the Environment: Principles, Connections, and Solutions" by G. Tyler Miller and Scott Spoolman, Ray Turner, one of the Hughes Aircraft managers in California, wanted to find a cheap, environmentally safe product to clean electronic circuit boards instead of the ozone-destroying, chlorofluorocarbons used. After experimenting, he discovered lemon juice worked best to clean circuit boards and reduced circuit board defects by 75 percent. As of 2008, Hughes Aircraft continues to use citrus-based cleaners for circuit boards.
Instructions
1 Pour 1/2 tsp. of lemon juice into a bowl. If you do not have lemon juice, lime juice will also work.
2 Dip a cotton swab into the lemon juice and use it to clean the circuit board surface. As you clean, you will notice the copper becomes shiny and will look like new. Use several swabs if needed.
3 Rinse the circuit board well using clean tap water.
4 Preheat your oven to 170 degrees F.
5 Use a clean, microfiber cloth to gently blot excess water from the circuit board while the oven preheats. Microfiber cloths do not leave lint on surfaces and absorb liquid well.
6 Turn your oven off when it reaches 170 degrees F, then place the cleaned circuit board inside of the oven.
7 Close the oven door and let it dry for two to three hours or overnight to ensure the removal of all moisture. Moisture left on a circuit board will damage the board and components.
