It's kinda like asking, "What kind of wine should I have with my dinner?" Plethora of choices and opinions.
Watcha cleaning? Rotary, pushbutton, toggle, etc? Where is it? Buried between PCB's in a console, or something that you can hang out and flush? Perfect world is to clean the contacts and not the switch, like with paddle power switches or Pultec rotary. And some switches lose the plating on their contacts where no cleaner will help.
I have settled on ProGold with a hypodermic for most situations like console pushbutton or rotary switches. I stay away from pressurized sprays, especially with lube as they really make things worse. You can get subcutaneous (SC) at a drug store without hassle, and sometimes they have intramuscular (IM) customer returns that you can get without filling forms. The IM are longer and stronger than SC, like 1-2" compared to 1/2". I do not like the "tech needle tips" as they are dull at the end and larger than most hypos.
Any flushing comes with consequences because you have removed the switch lubricant. Pushbuttons HATE that. That tiny metal pin traveling the switch grooves needs lube. I use LPS-1 to put some love back if I have flushed something. If I can get to the rotor/key I use the smallest amount of silicon grease. The ProGold is cleaner and conditioner and stays for a while in pushbuttons and toggles. I don't squirt it all over rotary switches.
MS sprays have their place, and again are usually NOT "sprayed" around my bench. I have used CAIG products back to CRAMOLIN R-5 in the 80's and they have solid fixing power.
That said, once you start cleaning switches en mass, you will be back again cleaning the same switches depending on environment and usage. Eventually replacement is the only answer.
CRC? That takes me back to my Dad spraying it on the snowblower and our snow shovels to repel ice, oh about 50 years ago. I would proceed with care there, and test it on some loose plastics first. I will check it out!
Misty water-colored memories. . .
Happy New Year all!
Mike
