What is everyone doing to clean and reinstall O-rings?

I recently had an enclosure flood due to a dirty O-ring, and I’m looking for some advice to build a process to prevent this in the future.

Remove them with a plastic tool, wipe them clean with a rag or tissue, apply a generous amount of Molykote 111. Before re-installing, make sure the mating surfaces for the o-rings are clean as well, wiping them down with some soapy water is usually a good idea.

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usually best to use a lint-free option - like blue paper shop towels !

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Yes, we use Kimtek wipes because they’re the best!

It’s also a good idea to replace the o-rings annually, especially if they’re getting a lot of use or exposure. In my experience o-rings tend to fail more because they get hard rather than because of a lack of cleaning/greasing.

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