Method to clean thermal paste from cpu (i7)

Recently, I have removed the heatsink from the i7 920 used for a new build and proceeded to clean the thermal paste (MX-3) from the cpu surface.
After taking off most of the hardened thermal paste with some Q-tips, not very wise since they break the lint free rule, but handy and easy to grip, I have continued to rub the cpu surface with 70% alcohol as mentioned is several reports.
The result was a residue smear, albeit a very thin one, and no improvement could be seen beyond that with this method.

Having a scotch tape on the desk, I had the idea to place its sticky side on the cpu surface and see if it may help with the cleaning. I have also pressed the tape on the surface with the same Q-tips in order to reach as many irregularities as possible on the surface.
To my pleasant surprise the smear started to be taken off by the tape and after several applications covering all the surface I can say that the cpu is shining as new.
Same procedure may be used for the heatsink sufrace cleaning.

I realize that if the glue from the sticky side may be left behind on the cpu surface it will not be good for the temps. Therefore, you should make sure that the scotch tape is good quality and if it is appropriate for this task.

 

I use ArctiClean. It comes with a bottle of thermal remover and a bottle of surface purifier. It is good stuff and is not exclusive to using Arctic Silver as the thermal compound being removed or installed.

 

How about a tutorial for applying aswell ?

 

+1 combination of the remover and purifier leaves a grease free surface.

 

I just use 90% rubbing alcohol.

 

Same here Cleaner&Purifier works like a charm.

 

I personally use 70% percent Isopropyl alcohol and a coffee filter.

 

Kem wipes are good we have them here at the lab.

 

70% leaves residue. Use 90%+ isopropyl alcohol. Artic remover and purifer work really well too. Alcohol is cheaper though and it evaporates quicker.