I just use a heatgun. heat underneith the board, and pull em streight out.

if the braid wont remove the solder, those cheapie radio shack solder suckers, do exactly that, SUCK.....

but i use a tiny 1/64th drill bit thats in a pack of dremel bits, and make holes through any solder that hasnt been removed. CAREFULL.... but it works for me.