Good cleaning habits and care of a wire EDM machine is highly recommended. Regular and systematic cleaning of the machine also can extend the life of some consumable items.
Care should be taken when selecting a cleaner.

It is recommended that a general, all-purpose household cleaner/degreaser be used for general cleaning. A mild, watered-down solution of acid (typical EDM acid cleaners are phosphoric acid based) is used for the cleaning of more heavily soiled machine components.
When using any cleaner, it is best to apply the cleaner to a rag and not directly spray cleaners into the machine. This will result in using less cleaner as well as controlling the contamination of the water reservoir.

Do not allow caustic or acidic cleaners to sit on some surfaces too long as they may etch, bleach or damage surfaces. And avoid getting cleaners on attachment points where power cables connect to the machine heads, as cleaners can act like a corrosive agent and degrade the power cables.

After cleaning, be sure to wash and rinse cleaned surfaces with water. This will ensure that the cleaners are properly removed prior to operation.

Keep in mind, the underlying concept and operating strategy for wire EDM is to maximize the unattended machining time. With a properly maintained wire EDM machine, the goals of maximizing machine up-time and greater overall process efficiency can be more easily achieved and realized.

Due to machine design differences, the type and time intervals of machine maintenance can vary. It is highly recommended to check with and follow the maintenance specifications, intervals and procedures supplied by your machine OEM. If maintenance requirements, procedures or intervals are in question, contact your OEM or refer to your machine’s maintenance manual for more information.