Contact-cleaner, also known as switch-cleaner, is a term for a chemical, or a mixture of chemicals, intended to remove or prevent the build-up of oxides or other unwanted substances on the conductive surfaces of connectors, switches, and other electronic components with moving surface-contacts, and thus reduce the contact resistance encountered.
[4] An example of a simple contact-cleaner is isopropyl alcohol.
[5][2] Some contact-cleaners are designed to evaporate completely and rapidly, leaving no residue.
[8][9] Lubricants themselves should not necessarily be used as contact cleaners, especially if they are designed to leave an unsuitable residue.
[10] However, appropriate lubricants may work well as contact cleaners.