Dust + Computers

[allies]

Hey all... I have a question on dusty computers. I live in a dorm which I think is a spawning ground for dust. I was wondering how I should go about cleaning the dust off of internal components. I think I once read that compressed air is a bad idea, but I may be mistaken. Should I just use compressed air on the whole thing or should I attack from some different angle when I get around to cleaning it?

 

[suicidalpigeon]

compressed air is what i'd use. more convenient and safe for your hands and the components. post a pic of the system here before you do anything else.

 

[Matthias99]

Compressed air is definitely the way to go (just take it *outside* first). They also make little handheld vacuum cleaners you can buy (sort of like a dustbuster, but smaller), but that seems like overkill unless you spend all day cleaning computers out.

Getting a case with filters over the intake fans (or modding them in place yourself) can help quite a bit; then you just clean the filters once in a while (although some still gets through).

 

[Ghouler]

they say compressed air, no vacuum, no water, but some people stick to their old ways, I have always vaccumed...using water on mobo seems crazy to me though.
Check this thread

 

[bigboxes]

Compressed air to blow out and loosen the dust and then a vaccuum to get out the stuff that refuses to leave the bottom of the case.

 

[dwcal]

Originally posted by: Ghouler
they say compressed air, no vacuum, no water, but some people stick to their old ways, I have always vaccumed...using water on mobo seems crazy to me though.
Check this thread

I think they say no vacuum because of static electricity. At work we have a special 3M electronics vac with static dissipative nozzles. At home I blow the dust to the bottom of the case and vacuum it up with the dustbuster.

 

[corkyg]

Compressed air moves the dust from one place to another. I do that and then wipe it up with a "Swiffer" or a "Grab-It" mitt. They pick up the dust and then you can get rid of it rather than just blow it around to resettle.

 

[manly]

Don't use weak cans; get an air compressor.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: dwcal

Originally posted by: Ghouler
they say compressed air, no vacuum, no water, but some people stick to their old ways, I have always vaccumed...using water on mobo seems crazy to me though.
Check this thread

I think they say no vacuum because of static electricity. At work we have a special 3M electronics vac with static dissipative nozzles. At home I blow the dust to the bottom of the case and vacuum it up with the dustbuster.

Yep. Electronics vacs are OK, but probably overkill unless you do this regularly. Regular vacuums can generate static electricity that can fry components (unlikely, but possible).

If you have crud on there that compressed air won't get off, try a soft toothbrush and 90+% isopropyl alcohol (available at any drugstore -- ask at the counter to see if they have 99%). Scrub gently and it should come right off. Just make sure you give it a few hours to dry. If isopropyl doesn't work, you can try using a VERY small amount of 100% acetone ('nail polish remover' -- but make sure it's 100% acetone), but don't go crazy, because it can soften plastic and may hurt some PCBs.

As noted in that thread, you can also wash it with water (after unplugging and removing all components and the CMOS battery!), but you have to let it dry for *days*, since the water gets into all the little crevices between solder joints, pins, etc. and takes forever to evaporate.

 

[CrispyFried]

careful around fans with canned air, its easy to overrev them and damage bearings.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: CrispyFried
careful around fans with canned air, its easy to overrev them and damage bearings.

Agreed, can just hold them "still" with your finger while blowing out the heatsink(s).

Fern

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: manly
Don't use weak cans; get an air compressor.

thats what i use every once in a while to clean mine.

 

[loudSilence]

I personaly use my flloor vacuum cleaner with the propper tip, and to clean in fine place, like on the gpu or to wipe the hd, I use alchol based wet wipes (aka cd cleaners), the alchol makes it vaporize very quickly.

 

[allies]

Thanks for the tips all. I'll probably clean in a couple a weeks after I pick up a can of compressed air.

 

[foodfightr]

I purchased a special mini computer vacuum made for computer cleaning.

 

[rickn]

take the computer outside, get a dirt devil, switch it from suck to blow, and blow it out all the debris. for the tinier stuff that is on fans, compressed air. just sick a pencil in the blades before you do it, that will stop the fan from spinning