Cleaning solution and PSUs probably don't mix...

[Turbonium]

Quite some time ago, I was cleaning the back of my PC case with some water+cleaner and paper towel (it had caked-on dust like you wouldn't believe). I somehow managed to get a bit of the cleaning solution into the PSU (the mist from the spray bottle). The computer was off at the time, so I just let it dry for a few hours, and hoping for the best, powered it on.

Luckily, nothing went wrong, and I used the PC for years afterwards without issue. The rails were fine also.

I did, however, notice a bit of tarnishing on the components inside the PSU (what looks like spots of oxidation, or "rust"). I figure this may have been due to the cleaning solution.

Did I shorten the life of my PSU? I was hoping to use it in a new build, but if it's possibly ruined somehow, I won't.

The PSU is a 430W Seasonic S12, if that matters. No bulging capacitors from what I can tell (I wouldn't use it if there were).

 

[Andle Riddum]

Now you've learned the only "cleaning solution" allowed is alcohol. I'd clean it again properly. Actually you're quite lucky that PSU's don't use much microscopic SMD resistors and the like (e.g on mobo's, graphics cards.) Because those die easily

 

[Turbonium]

Yea, I still don't know how I managed to pull that off. I mean, the least I could have done is sprayed the cleaning solution onto the paper towel instead of at the computer, lol.

It was late, I was tired.

 

[Blain]

Exactly what was the mystery "cleaning solution"?
Were you using distilled water?
Why didn't you use some type of compressed air to clean your PC?

 

[Turbonium]

Exactly what was the mystery "cleaning solution"?
Were you using distilled water?
Why didn't you use some type of compressed air to clean your PC?

Didn't have compressed air handy, and filtered (not distilled) water is free. I may have mixed it with a bit of cleaning solution (Lysol or something), I don't quite remember (I'm a germ freak, so I wouldn't be surprised if I did that).

Like I said, I wasn't really thinking, lol. /facepalm