can i clean my case fans by dunking them in water?

[vexingv]

so i'm cleaning out my entire system for the first time in a year and the case fans are quite dirty. whats the best way to clean them? using a damp paper towel and wiping the blades? would it be possible to soak them in a bucket of water and then give them a couple of days to dry?

these are regular ball bearing fans (no temperature sensors, ie. pcb board) though a few have leds.

thanks

 

[Mermaidman]

Powerful suction. I use a vacuum cleaner.

 

[dquan97]

I use compressed air + wipes

 

[Insane3D]

I use a small detail brush I got @ the local auto parts store, and if the dust is real bad, I wet it a little bit. I imagine you put them in water, but you would need to allow ample time for them to dry.

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Moistened towelettes. Wipe em all down.

 

[aircooled]

Dont dunk them in water!
Either wipe them down, vacuum them, or take them outside and blow them off with compressed air.

 

[vexingv]

thanks y'all...
i guess i'll just wipe em down real good.

 

[monk3y]

Vacuum..

 

[Ynog]

Originally posted by: dquan97
I use compressed air + wipes

 

[MAME]

water but they have to be ON in order for it to clean.

report back

 

[TitanDiddly]

Wipe them down with a damp cloth.

 

[Zhou]

you will be amazed by how well compressed air works.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Remember the dust will come back, don't try to make it spotless

 

[gistech1978]

canned air and a vacuum

 

[angrymaxx]

yes. make sure they are plugged in and running though, it helps scrub the blades.

 

[Amorphus]

Water works well in cleaning all electronics. Swear. But you have to use de-ionized water (for the PCBs, mostly).

 

[WobbleWobble]

I find that the compressed air that comes in cans isn't strong enough to blow all the dust off, so I use a toothbrust and brush it off.

 

[fs5]

bring case outside, use a air compressor (not canned air)

 

[0roo0roo]

take em out. then spray the blades with cleaner or a water spray bottle .. use qtips, tissue whatever to wipe em clean. just don't get water in the hub and your fine. most of the time i just use can o air. when it builds a fine dust film i use qtips/tissue and spray

 

[BadNewsBears]

Originally posted by: fivespeed5
bring case outside, use a air compressor (not canned air)

Helps if you have an accumulator on ur compressor, as to not be spraying water onto it, I had to buy one back in the day when I did my first paintjob on a truck.

 

[Carbo]

Dishwasher on sanitize cycle.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Carbo
Dishwasher on sanitize cycle.

But, run it through the dry cycle twice... just to be sure.

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: Amorphus
Water works well in cleaning all electronics. Swear. But you have to use de-ionized water (for the PCBs, mostly).

I thought you had to use dehydrated water.

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: MAME
water but they have to be ON in order for it to clean.

report back

That's funny to think about, because they'd probably actually work for a little while underwater, assuming it's just plain water, which doesn't conduct electricity very well.

 

[EMPshockwave82]

Originally posted by: dquan97
I use compressed air + wipes

same here