BW-100 Non-Flammable Electronic Contact Cleaner Aerosol Spray- Safely Cleans Joycons, Computers, PCB and More - Removes dust, Dirt and contaminants on Contacts - Quick Dry|8oz/225g |

A practical, fast-drying contact cleaner that actually solves small electronics problems

A good contact cleaner can save a controller, a mixer channel, or a mouse from the trash. Over the past month I’ve been using the BW-100 contact cleaner on a mix of everyday fixes and bench work, and it has earned a permanent spot in my kit. It’s a non-flammable, quick-evaporating spray that leaves no residue, and the 8 oz can ships with an extension straw for precise shots into tight mechanisms. That basic formula isn’t unique—but the way this one balances cleaning power, control, and material safety makes it stand out.

Setup and ergonomics

The can is a straightforward aerosol with an attached red straw. The actuator has a predictable, linear feel; feathering the trigger is easy, which matters when you’re trying not to flood a tiny switch body. The spray pattern is a fine, even jet with the straw, and a modest cone without it. Pressure is strong enough to displace grime but not so aggressive that it kicks fluid back in your face.

A few niceties:
- The straw fits snugly and doesn’t pop out mid-spray.
- The can isn’t overly loud; you can use it at a workbench without sounding like you’re power-washing your controller.
- The scent is faint and evaporates quickly.

As with any solvent work, I recommend good ventilation. I also power everything down, disconnect batteries/power, and discharge caps where relevant. Non-flammable doesn’t mean “spray on live boards.”

Performance on real fixes

I ran BW-100 through several common problem cases.

• Joy-Con and other stick drift: Lifting the rubber dust flap, giving two short bursts around the stick gimbal, and exercising the stick through its full range cleared intermittent drift on a stubborn left stick. I repeated that twice more, letting it dry each time, and the drift stayed gone in subsequent sessions. The cleaner flows well into the potentiometer can and evaporates in well under a minute in my shop conditions.

• Sticky controller buttons: A PS5 controller with a mushy, intermittently sticking face button responded quickly. A brief spray around the button perimeter, followed by rapid actuations, restored normal feel without residue leeching out later.

• Noisy analog sliders and pots: A synth data slider that jumped values calmed down after two passes. On an older amplifier volume pot with scratchiness, BW-100 removed the crackle. Note: this is a cleaner, not a lubricant/conditioner. If a control feels rough after cleaning, pair the process with a purpose-made fader lubricant.

• Mouse mis-clicks and double-clicks: A wireless mouse with unreliable actuation improved significantly after a targeted shot into the switch housing and repeated clicking to work the cleaner in. Again, dry time was rapid and there was no oily film.

• Edge connectors and ports: For oxidized or contaminated edge contacts, a quick spray on a lint-free swab and light wiping cleaned mating surfaces well. It also helps with charge ports, but I prefer to follow with a mechanical pick or swab rather than blasting fluid into a phone cavity.

• PCBs and small mechanisms: On dusty PCBs with light finger oils, BW-100 cut through grime without smearing. It’s not a heavy-duty flux remover; for post-solder cleanup, dedicated flux remover is still better, but for light contamination it’s effective.

Across these jobs, the hallmark was consistency: fast evaporation, no residue, and very little evidence of plastic stress. I always test a hidden spot, but I didn’t see clouding or whitening on common controller plastics, keycaps, or rubber membranes.

What sets it apart

• Non-flammable chemistry: Many contact cleaners use flammable solvents. BW-100’s non-flammable formulation lowers risk around hot tools and reduces anxiety on a crowded bench. It’s still a solvent—take standard precautions—but it’s a more forgiving option in real-world workflows.

• Residue-free finish: Some cleaners leave a faint film that attracts dust or affects feel on sliders and buttons. BW-100 dries clean. I haven’t had to come back later to wipe oily trace off housings.

• Plastic and rubber friendliness: No cleaner is universally safe on all plastics, but BW-100 has been kind to the usual suspects in gaming controllers and small consumer devices. I still recommend a quick compatibility test.

• Control: The spray is easy to meter, which sounds minor until you’ve over-saturated a switch and watched it wick fluid where it shouldn’t go.

Limitations and cautions

• Not a cure-all: If a joystick’s potentiometer is mechanically worn or a dome switch is physically damaged, no cleaner will “fix” it. BW-100 is excellent for contamination and oxidation—not for end-of-life components.

• Avoid screens, keyboards, and adhesives: I don’t spray it on laptop keyboards or directly on display panels. It can creep under layers and compromise adhesives. For keyboards, I use compressed air and targeted swabs instead.

• Packaging variability: Aerosols occasionally ship with minor leakage or dinged caps in transit. Mine arrived clean, but it’s something to watch for.

• No added lubrication: On some faders and pots, a dedicated fader lube after cleaning will restore feel and longevity better than cleaner alone.

• Price: It sits above bargain-bin cleaners. The 8 oz can, however, goes a long way; precision use stretches it across dozens of repairs.

Best practices and tips

• Power down and disconnect. Even with non-flammable chemistry, treat it like any solvent around electronics.
• Use short bursts. Let capillary action pull the cleaner into the mechanism rather than flooding.
• Actuate while wet. Move the switch, stick, or slider through its range to break up oxidation and distribute the cleaner.
• Let it evaporate. BW-100 dries quickly, but give it 30–60 seconds between passes and a couple of minutes before reassembly.
• Protect surrounding areas. A small paper shield or painter’s tape helps keep overspray off cosmetics and adhesives.
• Test plastics. Hit a hidden area first; if there’s no whitening or softening after a minute, proceed.

How it compares

If you’ve used general-purpose electronics cleaners that flash off oily or leave scent and residue behind, BW-100 will feel noticeably cleaner. Compared with some flammable, ultra-fast solvents, its evaporation rate is fast but not so aggressive that it flashes before penetrating a switch housing. And while specialty contact conditioners (the kind that leave protective films) have their place, I prefer BW-100 for first-pass cleaning and follow with conditioner only when needed.

Who it’s for

• Console and controller tinkerers keeping sticks and buttons alive.
• Musicians and audio techs dealing with scratchy pots and jumpy sliders.
• PC builders and repairers who want a non-flammable bench cleaner for connectors and light PCB work.
• Anyone maintaining low-voltage switches, relays, and contact points in consumer electronics.

If your work leans heavily into deoxidizing vintage gear and preserving contacts, you might complement this with a contact conditioner. If you’re removing baked-on flux or heavy grease, a more aggressive, purpose-made solvent belongs in the drawer alongside BW-100.

Value and longevity

After several dozen targeted uses, my can is still over half full. Because it meters well, you waste less. The cost premium over generic sprays is real, but offset by avoided re-buys and, frankly, by the devices you won’t need to replace. For hobbyists and repair pros alike, it earns its keep quickly.

The bottom line

BW-100 is a well-behaved, non-flammable, residue-free contact cleaner that does what you want a cleaner to do: restore reliable electrical contact without leaving new problems behind. It’s precise, fast-drying, friendly to common plastics and rubber, and effective on the everyday failures that plague sticks, buttons, sliders, and connectors.

Recommendation: I recommend BW-100. It’s not the cheapest option, but its combination of safety, control, and consistent, residue-free cleaning has solved enough real problems in my shop to justify the price. Pair it with good technique—and, when appropriate, a follow-up lubricant—and you’ll have a dependable first-line fix for a wide range of small electronic issues.