You can use a desoldering gun to clean away solder from SMD pads after the component is removed—Pace has videos demonstrating this. To make better contact with the pad, they have a series of SMD tips with an optimized bevel; I don't think Hakko has something similar.
But desoldering braid, freshly fluxed, will also work to achieve the same result. The disadvantage to braid is that it can become frozen to the pads which can be hard to fix without damage. The workspace also gets covered in used braid pieces if you aren't conscientious.