Methods for etching alkali metal compounds are disclosed. Some embodiments of the disclosure expose an alkali metal compound to an alcohol to form a volatile metal alkoxide. Some embodiments of the disclosure expose an alkali metal compound to a β-diketone to form a volatile alkali metal β-diketonate compound. Some embodiments of the disclosure are performed in-situ after a deposition process. Some embodiments of the disclosure provide methods which selectively etch alkali metal compounds.