Tip #6: Choosing Cleanroom Consumables

Can you use 100% DI Water with a wipe in a cleanroom?

Whether you spray it on a dry wipe or use a presaturated wipe, 100% DIW alone is not recommended for surface cleaning in a cleanroom environment.

So, what is DI Water? Sometimes referred to as DIW, DI H₂0, DI Water or demineralized water. Deionized water is just like it sounds; water that has the ionic mineral contaminants removed.

We learn in Wiping Surfaces Clean, “Wipers that have been diluted with DIW are susceptible to bacteria and mold growth unless specific antibacterial agents are added to the water (unacceptable from an ionic or NVR contamination perspective), or unless the wipers are immediately sterilized after dampening (impractical and expensive).”¹

Tip #6: Choosing Cleanroom Consumables: Do not use a wiper with 100% DIW in a cleanroom unless it is sterilized. Using a wiper pre-wetted with a combination of a cleaning agent like Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) diluted with DIW is a good choice for critical cleaning applications. Caution: lower concentrations of 6% IPA with DIW is not recommended due to potential bacterial and mold growth from the DIW. The appropriate combination of IPA/DIW is dependent on many factors including the specific contamination, environment, and application.

1 H. Siegerman, Wiping Surfaces Clean, p.26

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About the Author

Howard Siegerman, PhD, earned B.Sc., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in analytical chemistry from the University of Toronto. He is a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Society for Testing Materials, the Institute for Environmental Sciences and Technology and the Parenteral Drug Association. He holds two patents.