Weirdest substance you have used to remove thermal grease?

[Kakumba]

Pretty self explanatory. After reading someone say they used vodka, I got intrigued. Personally, I stick to tried and true products..

 

[F1shF4t]

I use toilet paper to remove thermal grease. In the end it leaves the heatsink polished with the grease so it migh be good lol.

 

[Stoneburner]

stridex pads

 

[cleverhandle]

Rubber cement. Just spread some on, let it dry for a few minutes, and peel it off.

It works really well, in fact. I think someone around here told me about it. Apparently it contains hexane, which dissolves the grease. But then the rubbery part kind of holds everything together so that you don't smear stuff all over the proc when you peel it off.

 

[Kakumba]

well, thats certainly our current winner. but srely someone has tried soemthing really odd. or dumb. dont be shy now....

 

[TrevorRC]

Haha. Some xylene based cleaner. In retrospect, idiot move.

--Trevor

 

[Gstanfor]

first wipe excess of with a tissue, then cleanup with Tea Tree oil.

 

[AnandThenMan]

Dish soap and a toothbrush. After a nice rinse, good as new. I've done this many times with no ill effect.

 

[imhungry]

Finger and water :x.

 

[taylor77]

I use paper towl / finger nail polish then clean with rubbing alcohol

 

[TuxDave]

Peanut Butter! Ok not really.. but it's great for removing sticky stuff. I believe the basic story was that polar substances dissolve in polar fluids and non-polar with non-polar. Since sticky stuff is usually some hydrocarbon that's non-polar, you end up using some oil based solvent (not water) to break it up.

 

[maluckey]

The dishwasher on pots and pans cycle!

 

[RibSpreader]

Don't try brake cleaner, 'nuff said.

 

[Viditor]

The back of my brother's shirt (while he was wearing it). Man was he pissed!

 

[Valingnor]

Fresh Mint Listerine. It'll remove the grease and leave my processor smelling nice. It doesn't take it off as well as regular Isopropyl (Rubbing) alcohol, but it works.

 

[Kakumba]

Originally posted by: RibSpreader
Don't try brake cleaner, 'nuff said.

PLEASE tell me you did that. you win if you did.

 

[superHARD]

U use thermal grease? I have found that it only slows down the heat transfer from the cpu to the HSF...water works the best. And there is no clean up

 

[5t3v0]

The wife's nail poilish remover & toilet paper.

 

[imported_Smash]

naptha

 

[F1shF4t]

um does a pocket knife count

 

[NaOH]

409 and paper towels.

 

[yelo333]

91% Isopropyl & Q-tips...

Seriously, this stuff is cheap...why risk killing your expensive processor?

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: yelo333
91% Isopropyl & Q-tips...

Seriously, this stuff is cheap...why risk killing your expensive processor?

You forget and run out. Then laziness owns you.

 

[deeznuts]

Gunk engine cleaner. No joke. Helping my cousin (who is a mechanic) install a HSF a few years ago. It had not thermal grease but one of them sticky thick thermal tape jobs on it. This stuff would not come off with anything. Razor, acetone, alcohol, finger nail, etc.

Cousin grabs Gunk engine cleaner sittin in my garage, sprays it on and rubs the tape off. I proceed to clean with acetone and alcohol, and temps were fine. Been doing this for probably 5-6 years now. My temps are always good.

For thermal grease I just wipe with TP and clean it afterwards.