Methods of removing metal from a portion of a substrate are useful in integrated circuit fabrication. Methods include exposing the substrate to an oxidizing environment comprising at least one oxidizing agent and at least one reducing agent, determining whether metal remaining on the portion of the substrate is less than or equal to a particular level, and if the metal remaining on the portion of the substrate is deemed to be greater than the particular level, exposing the substrate to a reducing environment comprising at least one reducing agent and at least one oxidizing agent.