Too much dust in my case

[rigmah]

I have alot of dust in my case. You can see a thin layer covering my PCI and ISA cards. The fans are alos filthy with dust.

How could i go about cleaning all thes parts? I know i should use compressed air but the dust just goes up and then an hour later it settles and im back to the beginning

rigmah

 

[eyor]

Get a big tank of compressed air and an air compressor. Set the compressed air to blast out gently. have a vaccuum cleaner a few feet away catching the dust in the air.

 

[teiresias]

vaccum very carefully. It makes the fans kinda fun because you put a flat attachment on the hose and hold it up to the fans and they spin really fast as you suck the dust out.

I've never found a really GOOD way of getting the thin layer of dust off my cards though. Use the compressed air and try to suck with the hose as much dust as you can out of the air before it settles again. Be careful not to take off a capacitor anywhere though

My bedroom, where my PC is, is dusty all the time anyway no matter how much I clean it so I'm in the same boat.

 

[dadx2mj]

I bought a "Micro Vacuum Kit" at the local Target store. It hooks up to a normal vacuum cleaner hose and has lots of little attachments to vacuum out the dust. I have heard people say that this could cause static and short out components I just try to be careful and use some comon sence and have never had a problem in the 3 years I have been doing this to the two computers here at home.

 

[The Wildcard]

What i do is take the computer out to a hallway, or near a window, or to an open space. then i take off both sides of the case and just go crazy with the compressed air can. I make sure to always to blow the air in one way only.

 

[Big Lar]

What The_Wildcard said/ c'mon guys/// Vaccum Cleaners??? Static Electricity???

 

[Zab]

I just unhook my case and take it outside, then blast with commpressed air.

To help rectify the initial problem, you could install a filter on the intake fan(s).

 

[Lalakai]

also helps to have a small air filtering unit running in the same room that your system is in. Just place it close by and leave it on low/medium; really surprising how much dust and dirt it'll pick up. That way when you blow the dust off your system, the filtering unit will get the majority of it.

 

[Bignate603]

I keep my computer off the floor to help keep it clean. That front fan at floor level would just suck dust right in.

 

[MGallik]

A used fabric softener sheet taped over the air intake makes a great filter.
I change it once a month and it really makes a difference.

 

[PowerJoe]

When I worked as a PC tech, i used a 1/2" paint brush (without paint!) to brush off the dust from cards, connectors, etc... worked very well. For entire PCs, we used a leaf blower.

-PJ

 

[dennilfloss]

I'm planning to start doing that fabric softener sheet soon. Sounds like a good idea. I'll use a used one though or I'll sneeze like mad.

 

[Mule]

Actually pantyhose works best. The fabric softner sheet takes away a lot of the fan's CFM. What you do is superglue stretched out pantyhose over the intake fan and glue on all sides so it doesn't fall off, then what you have to do is just take a tissue and wipe off the dust on the pantyhose every week/month. Maybe change the pantyhose every year??

Anyways it's been working for me for a while now.

 

[MrJoe]

Water hose always works for me...

 

[fs5]

ROFL @ MrJoe

I didn't know you guys were all neat freaks. I've never actually cleaned out my system, dust doesn't do any damage and if it does one of these days I'll just have an excuse to upgrade

 

[Zab]

As per MrJoe's suggestion I guess you could take it to the local fire station and get them to give it a blast.

 

[Edfan]

Try the new "microfiber" cloths, they really pick up dust. 3M makes some using the Scotch-Brite name. I got a pack at Costco, about $10 for the bunch. They are woven to trap dust and pick up even grease without using cleaners. You can wash them and reuse. If static is a concern, spritz rag a little bit with a 50-50 fabric softener and water. It smells a little perfumey though. And can smear the monitor screen.

For cleaning keyboards, the best cleaner I've found is Dow Scrubbing Bubbles. Put a little on a rag, dab foam onto surface, wait a few minutes, then wipe off. Cleans that skank body oil stuff on keyboards especially. Looks new afterwards.

 

[Mday]

i use the compressed air and vacuum method, as well as a wipe with a cloth with rubbing alcohol.