alternative to isopropyl alchol - cleaning circuits ater soldering

[IanB]

In the USA denatured alcohol always contains gasoline.

Have you got a reference for that?  It sounds like an old wives tale.  As far as I can tell, denaturants are usually more specific substances designed to have particularly bad taste or digestive effects.  Gasoline might contain the same compounds (or not), but gas is better thought of as "somewhat undefined mix of lighter hydrocarbons..."

Alcohol comes under Federal control in the USA. There are standard formulas normally required to be used for completely denatured alcohol (CDA), which is the stuff available for the public to buy in containers from a hardware store. See formula nos. 18, 19 & 20:

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2011/aprqtr/pdf/27cfr21.23.pdf

You are correct that "gasoline" in this context may be a somewhat vague description, but it is generally stuff you might put in your car, one way or another.

Industrial users are allowed more freedom, but the purer formulations are much more restricted in their distribution and use.

[IanB]

The notion that gasoline is added to denatured alcohol is simply not true.

It is true. See the reference linked above.

See the attached data sheets for two examples of denatured alcohol for sale in the US.  As wkb says, denatured alcohol means simply making ethanol undrinkable.  This stuff is often used in science labs; a mix as crude as gasoline would not be suitable.

Your datasheets contain formulas for "specially denatured alchohol", SDA. These formulas are very restricted in their availability, for example to industry, food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical uses, and science labs. SDA is simply not available for the general public to purchase.

[grenert]

Well, that is an interesting reference, IanB.  I guess there are a lot of different possible formulations out there.
Gotta edit my prior post...

[klafaille]

I use 100% Acetone for cleaning flux off boards, works great, dries quick, it's cheap, and apart from flammability it's relatively harmless as long as you don't drink it or pour it in your eyes. Do watch out for certain plastics, and styrenes though, it'll mess them up quick. My Macbook can attest to that, (it also didn't like the soldering iron resting on it either)  .

[Psi]

I have a spray can of jaycar circuit board cleaner.
Unfortunately it tends to dull the solder mask and makes it sticky for a while (probably slightly dissolving it).

So i don't really recommend it.

It removes flux perfectly well though.

does it dull the solder aswell ?

yeah, maybe a little.
What does that tell you?

[siliconmix]

thats what my cd cleaner does as well