Occasionally, DigiKey will be asked if an ESD cleaner such as Desco Industries’ 16-1586-ND will directly aid in reducing ESD. They see that the cleaner is labeled as static dissipative and ask if it can, in effect, ‘clean away’ lingering static electricity. Is this true?
While that would be awesome, unfortunately the answer is no. The only way to dissipate static charge is to ground the charge via normal ESD precautions. Products such as 16-1586-ND are instead designed to clean static dissipative tools and surfaces, such as ESD work mats, while preserving their dissipative properties. Proper care and cleaning of your ESD equipment with solutions such as 16-1586-ND can extend the life of your working surfaces and tools, as well as avoiding unforeseen ESD problems down the line.
For more information, see Cleaning your ESD mat