Use of electrostatic bias to clean non-electrostatically sensitive components with a carbon dioxide spray

A method of cleaning a surface of a component using a cleaning spray device that generates a carbon dioxide cleaning spray, said method comprising:

• a) providing a cleaning spray device for generating a carbon dioxide cleaning spray;
• b) connecting a component to a programmable power supply;
• c) cleaning the component a first time using the carbon dioxide cleaning spray, thereby generating a first charge on the surface of the component as a result of cleaning the first time with said carbon dioxide cleaning spray;
• d) monitoring the first charge to determine an amount and polarity of the first charge that is generated by the carbon dioxide cleaning spray;
• and
• e) applying a reverse bias to the component by said programmable power supply to produce a second charge which is opposite in polarity to the first charge, wherein said second charge reverses the polaity of the first charge on the surface of the component, such that contaminating particles bound to the surface of said component are released;
• f) cleaning said component a second time using said carbon dioxide cleaning spray to remove said contaminating particles present on said surface.