Cleaning heatsink/cpu... what is a lint free cloth?

[Casanova]

Need to clean my heatsink up. What exactly is a lint free cloth? Will a hanky work? Kleenex? Really don't wanna go out to get anything tonight.. will I have to, but would like to know what it is!!

Thanks
Dwayne

 

[JohnnyPastrami]

I really don't think you need a "lint-free" cloth to clean your heatsink, just make sure that what you use is clean and doesn't leave any lint. A diaper, cheese-cloth, or good quality tee-shirt type cotton is fine. Just blow off any lint with some clean air. A good example of non "lint-free" cloth would be kleenex.

Typically a "lint-free" cloth is a tack cloth used for refinishing wood or in automotive finishing because it doesn't leave lint behind that would spoil the finish.

Johnny

 

[corkyg]

Kleenex can be very "linty." Why not use a moistened Swiffer towelette?

 

[zippy]

Here's how I did it:

I took a credit card (well, old library card- same difference) and got most of the goop off
I proceeded onto an old wash cloth (heh, it was a rag- but clean) and acetone nail polish remover
I finished it off by using the hanky and rubbing alcohol and nailpolish remover

This was to get the thermal pad off of a TaiSol 760092 heatsink/fan unit. Make absolutely sure that the pad is 100% off. If it isn't and there is still a film or something, using Arctic Silver 2 or any thermal grease will not be good because it will just be between some crap and the CPU...and that crap isn't going to conduct heat very well. 😉

 

[MrHelpful]

<< Why not use a moistened Swiffer towelette? >>


Swiffer has a static charge. I suppose you could touch your heatsink to the power supply in a running PC to ground it, though.

 

[Casanova]

Just went and picked up a eye lens cleaning cloth to be safe.. thanks anyways!!

 

[corkyg]

>Swiffer has a static charge.<

Not the pre-moistened ones. Static can't happen on a wet surface.