CT813 WetSwab Large Pre-Moistened Foam Cleanroom Swab

The pre-wet swab that eliminates the “open-bottle variable” at the bench

Open solvent bottles solve one problem and create three more: inconsistent wetness, solvent purity drift, and uncontrolled cross-contamination from repeated dipping. In electronics and precision work, that shows up as streaking, redeposited oxides, and “mystery residue” that only appears after evaporation. CT813 WetSwab is designed to remove that variability by delivering a repeatable, pre-moistened foam cleaning surface in an individually foil-sealed format.

In practice, this is less about convenience and more about process control. When wetness is standardized, results become easier to reproduce across operators and shifts. And when supply is consistent, the method stays stable over time. SOSCleanroom supports that reliability by keeping point-of-use cleaning consumables predictable across replenishment cycles, reducing the pressure to substitute “close enough” options when the line is busy.

What It’s For

CT813 WetSwab is intended for precision cleaning of tape heads, electronic circuitry, and small electronic assemblies, including removal of oxide buildup on tape transports. In cleanroom-adjacent workflows, the same format translates well to localized cleaning where a metered wetting tool is preferred: connector housings, small recesses, seams, rails, and parts where a wipe cannot maintain stable contact without flooding the area.

Decision Drivers

• Consistency at the point of use: individually foil-sealed, pre-moistened presentation reduces operator-to-operator wetness variation and evaporation drift.
• Solvent chemistry you are actually applying: the swab is pre-saturated with 91% isopropyl alcohol, commonly described as a 91% IPA / 9% water system, which affects evaporation behavior and streak risk on certain surfaces.
• Foam head geometry: a large rectangular foam face supports controlled, linear strokes on narrow flats (tape heads, rails, small housings) without resorting to circular scrubbing.
• Workflow control vs. “more solvent”: pre-wet repeatability helps, but the operator still needs a discard discipline to avoid overworking a loaded foam face.
• Packaging format supports staging: 25 swabs per box supports controlled dispensing and reduces unnecessary exposure of inventory.
• Reliability in replenishment: a cleaning consumable is a process input; stable availability reduces the risk that technique changes are introduced via substitution.

Materials and Construction: Practical Implications

CT813 uses a foam head on a long, easy-grip handle, with the foam presented as a rectangular face intended for controlled, linear strokes. Foam is often selected for oxide films and light residues because it holds liquid in a pore structure and releases it at the contact point under light pressure, which can improve wetting control versus a cotton applicator that can shed fibers or vary more widely from batch to batch.

A precision note that prevents bad assumptions: no swab is truly lint-free. Foam can be low-linting in normal use, but it can still shed fragments if it is torn on sharp edges, dragged across burrs, or overworked dry. Low-linting outcomes are preserved by technique: damp contact, light pressure, one-direction strokes, and early discard.

A related floor-control reminder for Texwipe CleanTips programs: ITW Texwipe commonly identifies many cleanroom swabs with a protected light-green/green handle identifier (trademark registration Re. No. 5,343,973) and “Texwipe” embossing on the handle. Treat these as practical authenticity and traceability cues where Texwipe swabs are specified. CT813 uses foil-sealed unit packaging as its primary control signal, so identification is driven by box labeling and unit-pack markings.

Cleanliness and Performance: Interpreting the Data

1. Repeatability is the main performance lever: the pre-wet format reduces the influence of bottle age, cap-off time, and operator solvent-dosing habits, which are common sources of streaking and inconsistent results.
2. Residue behavior is a qualification topic: many pre-wet maintenance swabs do not publish the same ionic/NVR tables as cleanroom swabs built specifically for ultralow background. If residue budgets are tight (optics, coating, bonding, high-impedance electronics), qualify CT813 with a simple blank swipe on a representative coupon and a dry-down inspection under your acceptance lighting and magnification.
3. Solvent behavior is part of the “spec”: a 91% IPA / water system can improve wetting on certain soils and slow evaporation slightly, but it also increases the chance of visible patterns if an operator floods seams or allows pooling to dry.
4. Particle and fragment risk is geometry-driven: foam reduces fiber variability versus cotton, but it can fragment if pressed into sharp features. Manage risk with light pressure, straight strokes, and early discard when the face loads.

Why Individual Foil Packaging Matters

Each CT813 is individually foil-sealed, which prevents evaporation drift across a box, reduces exposure to ambient contaminants, and eliminates the “shared solvent reservoir” failure mode created by re-dipping. It also supports point-of-use discipline: open one, use it, discard it. For traceability, retain box labels and record lot information where provided in the cleaning log or work order, especially when investigations are likely.

Best-Practice Use

• Work cleanest to dirtiest so you do not drag oxide or residues across adjacent features.
• Use single-direction strokes with overlap; avoid circular scrubbing unless a written procedure requires it.
• Use light, consistent pressure to control wetting and avoid flooding seams and corners.
• Rotate to a fresh foam face early; a loaded face redistributes contamination.
• Treat each swab as single-use. Do not “extend” performance by dipping into bulk solvent.
• For validation-sensitive work, separate “cleaning” from “evidence.” Use method-controlled sampling systems where blanks, recovery, and chain of custody are defined.

Common Failure Modes—and How to Prevent Them

• Over-wetting that creates streaks or rings: reduce pressure, shorten dwell time, and switch swabs early.
• Smearing with a loaded face: rotate faces and discard on a defined stroke count or visible-loading rule.
• Foam damage on sharp edges: adjust angle, reduce force, and avoid dry rubbing in abrasive geometry.
• Treating a maintenance cleaner as a sterile or compliance tool: align the consumable and method to the requirement, especially in USP <797> and regulated sampling workflows.

Closest Competitors

CleanTex CT815 WetSwab formats
Same foil-packed pre-wet concept with different head geometry for alternate access problems.

ITW Texwipe dry foam swabs paired with controlled IPA dispensing
A stronger fit when cleanroom-grade documentation posture and published background characterization are required, and you prefer to control solvent chemistry and wetness at the station.

Contec CONSTIX foam swab families paired with controlled IPA
A credible alternative when you want a cleanroom-focused foam swab architecture while maintaining solvent control through a controlled dispense method.

Where CT813 Fits in a Controlled Cleaning Program

CT813 fits best as a repeatable point-of-use cleaning tool in electronics, maintenance, and precision assembly contexts where open solvent bottles create wetness drift, purity drift, and cross-contamination risk. It standardizes wetting and simplifies training, but it still requires disciplined technique: linear strokes, controlled pressure, frequent face changes, and early discard. When the program shifts into residue-budgeted final cleaning, sterile practice, or compliance evidence generation, move to systems that are explicitly positioned and qualified for those requirements, and lock the method parameters under change control.

• SOSCleanroom product page: CT813 WetSwab Large Pre-Moistened Foam Swab (description, packaging units, application positioning).
• CleanTex product literature/catalog: CT813 WetSwab (solvent description and intended-use framing; dimensional conventions where published).
• Manufacturer Safety Data Sheet: WetSwab product family (handling and storage considerations for alcohol-based pre-wet swabs).
• Controlled cleaning best practice: one-direction strokes, wetness control, no re-dip discipline, and face-rotation discard rules for localized swabbing.