Cleaning your computer

[KyleRiley]

What is the best way to clean your computer without damaging any components inside. Specifically dust, or anything that might hamper increased productivity. Need to keep my computer at 100% capacity!

[Mobojo]

I usually take mine outside when its nice out and take the side off and go crazy with some compressed air. Make sure to get the fans and heat sinks. Also try to do it outside since dust will fly everywhere.

[random_id]

If you have some kind of air compressor - it will work perfectly (that's what I always use - free compressed air! :D ), the hairdryer might also work (just don't set it on "hot air"). And yea, do it in some place other than your home as the dust will fly everywhere.

[Apache Warrior]

If you have some kind of air compressor - it will work perfectly (that's what I always use - free compressed air! :D ), the hairdryer might also work (just don't set it on "hot air"). And yea, do it in some place other than your home as the dust will fly everywhere.
Be careful with an air compressor. They can and do get moisture in the tank and can spray it out with the air. Also, some air compressors can have oil in the mixture too.
You can use an electric leaf blower. They will really blow the dust out. Just make sure nothing is laying around loose in the case.
Apache

[darth_nevus]

compressed air. but make sure to follow the directsion, and don't turn it updside down. you can pick up a can of it from just about any store that sells electronics. a few good blasts and your good to go.

[Ghost_Rain]

compressed air

[juneau]

compressed air. but make sure to follow the directsion, and don't turn it updside down. you can pick up a can of it from just about any store that sells electronics. a few good blasts and your good to go.

+1

Also, leave your PC at room temperature after cleaning for an hour, just in case some moisture did find it's way out of the can.

A small soft paintbrush can also be pretty useful.

[WalkinTarget]

I'm glad Apache chimed in on this, as I was going to reply directly with the same info, remembering he had warned about this in the past. Given his direct knowledge on the subject, it sounds a lot more official than any 'I heard from a friend ..' comment coming from me personally.

Be careful using compressed air !!! We are talking in most instances 120lb per sq. inch, and that can damage a sensitive mainboard's components.

[drunken_chef]

my compressor has a drain in the bottom. ive found that if i drain my pressure(and moisture) out of the bottom of my tank the moisture content is quite low after refilling it. i also set my regulator to 40 P.S.I. and it uses no oil.

i live in a pretty dry place. i tend to worry about static charge more than moisture.

kyle: for you, it's best to go to radio shack or a computer store and get cans of compressed air. less worry and hassle all the way around.

[darth_nevus]

The problem with air compressors is you can never get all the moisture out of the air, without using a special filter. the moisture is forming from the piston heating the air. as it comes in. you can drain it, or blast it first. but short of following Drunken_chef's route. there is no way to minimize all the risks. at least his way decreases them a fairly good bit :)

[random_id]

If you have some kind of air compressor - it will work perfectly (that's what I always use - free compressed air! :D ), the hairdryer might also work (just don't set it on "hot air"). And yea, do it in some place other than your home as the dust will fly everywhere.
Be careful with an air compressor. They can and do get moisture in the tank and can spray it out with the air.
Apache

That's an extremely rare occurence - I have used my air compressor (Craftsman model, with a large storage tank) for more than a year inflating stuff like car tires and blowing dust out of everywhere and never got even a single drop of moisture accumulating in the tank (and I checked many times - the air tank has a special (absolutely useless) valve for "draining water"). Also, everything that I used the compressor on (for blowing dust out) was always completely dry. So in my experience it's pretty safe to use :P

[th3st1ck]

i just buy a few cans of compressed air, and clean out my case and keyboard with them every now and then

[L_Mo]

....Need to keep my computer at 100% capacity!

As other's have mentioned, compressed air will certainly do the trick. However, unless the dust is so thick it's restricting air flow, I doubt it's slowing you down any. Personally, I've never had a problem and I just blow my dust out (w/ my own breath) every time I happen to open the case.

[RobotBanana]

I usually use a combo of compressed air in a can and the vacuum. I blow the dust loose off of the CPU, graphics card, etc using the can, and hold the vacuum nearby (but a safe distance away) to catch it all. Then things like any extra case fans and the bottom of the case can be cleaned by just taking the vacuum directly to it.

The front of my case has an intake fan with a filter on it, and that filter gets dusty to the point where you can't see the blue LEDs shining through. However, it doesn't look like any dust gets passed it. Other than the odd small clump on the bottom of the case, everything else stays pretty clean. It's not like some of my old computers where you can see dust hanging off the blades of the CPU fan a week after you clean it...

[th3st1ck]

I usually use a combo of compressed air in a can and the vacuum. I blow the dust loose off of the CPU, graphics card, etc using the can, and hold the vacuum nearby (but a safe distance away) to catch it all. Then things like any extra case fans and the bottom of the case can be cleaned by just taking the vacuum directly to it.

yeah, thats actually what i do most of the time

[Storm_Shadow]

Electric leaf blower on low. :D

[Cain]

I take mine on the front porch and hit it with my electric leaf blower....

It is fantastic !!

:2thumbs:

[Apache Warrior]

See Apache's post above. :D
Apache

[Sirex]

if you dont have a leaf blower, but do have a kirby vacuum cleaner, put that thing onto blow...

I did that with mine months back and it put any leaf blower to shame, and my machine looked new again from 1/2 a second of air.

[ViTO]

A quick suggestion !!!


Before you put it all back together, cut out some of that AC Filter Material and place in on the fan intake.
You will see the build-up occur quickly. I normally just hit them with the dust buster.

It will DRAMATICALLY cut down the amount of dust and costs pennies.
Makes cleaning a breeze later on.

Ounce of prevention ya know. :wink:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56/vitopagano/foamfilter.jpg

[tupinambis]

Be careful using compressed air !!! We are talking in most instances 120lb per sq. inch, and that can damage a sensitive mainboard's components.

A good compressor has adjustments to allow for this to be set lower. I use one daily on PC's at work and they all work 100% after being blown out. Now I set the compressor to 60 psi and keep a good 9-12 inches from the components, but it really gets the job done. Also you can equip your compressor with a moisture trap and that will catch about 99.9% of the water that could be an issue. With this installed and using as directed, it makes more sense to use the compressor than to use a can of air. Cheaper in the long run too and has many more uses. :wink:

[drunken_chef]

i wanted to add this thought. resist the urge to spin your fans with the air stream. it creates EMF that can damage your motherboard if they are plugged in there. stick a q-tip through the fan to stop the blades from moving.