Cleaning the inside of a computer

[_Elysium_]

Hello.

I was wondering how people clean the inside of their computer, because mine is getting quite dusty but I haven't found a good method of clearing the dust.

I had been using a hoover, but the attachments are too bulky and I'm worried about damaging something. I've heard about compressed air, but I want to get rid of the dust, not move it around.

Does anyone have any inexpensive methods of keeping the inside of a computer clean?

[Darkpriest667]

First slap yourself in the face really hard for using a VACUUM cleaner to do the job. You should not use a vacuum cleaner to clean inside the computer case. A vacuum basically creates static electricity which can damage many internal components.


Secondly.. Canned air is a decent way to clean them although most professionals use air compressors. I use a combination of both... canned air for the loose stuff and the air compressor for more caked on dust. I'd recommend keeping your pc off for 15 minutes before and after cleaning to make sure the temperatures have returned to room temp. Its not necessary but Im super paranoid about such.


The key to canned air is to hold the can upright like this | | not like this \ or like this --- tipping the can may cause the propellant to fly out and that can damage computer components as well.

[_Elysium_]

I didn't know about the static until I started looking into this. A number of people that own or work in custom computer businesses said it would be okay. I wasn't actually cleaning the components, just removing the dust from the bottom of the case, the fans and on top of the HDD enclosure. I've also read that a portable battery powered vacuum would be fine, but they're too expensive.

I had considered compressed air, but I'd rather get rid of the dust altogether.

I do the same with the temperature, though I usually clean the computer before I switch it on that day, so its been cooling overnight.

[Taiji]

lol I clicked this thread to joke about using a vacuum cleaner...

A nice soft paint brush works wonders

[_Elysium_]

I've been looking into this more, and while I can find it mentioned not to use a vacuum cleaner, I can't find anyone saying that its ever been a problem for them.

I'm hesitant to use a paintbrush aswell. It just doesn't seem right to touch the connections on the PCBs with anything. Using compressed air doesn't seem right to me either. I understand that it will move some of the dust, but couldn't it push dust into sockets and other crevices like that?

[Darkpriest667]

I've been looking into this more, and while I can find it mentioned not to use a vacuum cleaner, I can't find anyone saying that its ever been a problem for them.

I'm hesitant to use a paintbrush aswell. It just doesn't seem right to touch the connections on the PCBs with anything. Using compressed air doesn't seem right to me either. I understand that it will move some of the dust, but couldn't it push dust into sockets and other crevices like that?

ok let me get this straight. You think its ok to use an object that creates static electrical fields. But you don't think its ok to use a product thats specifically designed to clean electronics.

[E.K]

I've been looking into this more, and while I can find it mentioned not to use a vacuum cleaner, I can't find anyone saying that its ever been a problem for them.

I'm hesitant to use a paintbrush aswell. It just doesn't seem right to touch the connections on the PCBs with anything. Using compressed air doesn't seem right to me either. I understand that it will move some of the dust, but couldn't it push dust into sockets and other crevices like that?

I can understand your concerns but take the advice from everybody on this thread and use compressed air. It works perfectly, no more dust!

If you dont believe compressed air is good then go to google and type in "how to clean a pc" and see what everybody says. I bet that they say use compressed air

[Smokey]

Sorry to disagree with the other guys but I'm a fully qualified PC/Server engineer and have been using my vacuum cleaner for years..
I also prefer to remove dust than blow it around..

I bought a cheap accessory kit (made for cleaning PC's with a vacuum ) and it works great, there's loads of kits out there.



and one with the vacuum:


New Metropolitan Vacuum Datavac 3 Ta Black 4 Pc Micro Cleaning Tool Kit

Just make sure you touch some bear matal to discharge the staic, and never work on a carpet floor.
good luck..

[_Elysium_]

Thanks for the replies.

I can understand your concerns but take the advice from everybody on this thread and use compressed air. It works perfectly, no more dust!

If you dont believe compressed air is good then go to google and type in "how to clean a pc" and see what everybody says. I bet that they say use compressed air

I've seen loads of people saying they use those cans of compressed air or an air compressor, and they all seem to be very knowledgable with computers. The cans would be probably be a bit too expensive, but a one-off payment for an air compressor may be okay. I'll have to see how much they are.

Aside from possibly blowing dust into smaller areas, wouldn't all that dust moving around in such an enclosed space potentially cause static electricity, by the same principle that causes it in the nozzles of vacuum cleaners?

Sorry to disagree with the other guys but I'm a fully qualified PC/Server engineer and have been using my vacuum cleaner for years..
I also prefer to remove dust than blow it around..

I bought a cheap accessory kit (made for cleaning PC's with a vacuum ) and it works great, there's loads of kits out there.

New Metropolitan Vacuum Datavac 3 Ta Black 4 Pc Micro Cleaning Tool Kit

Just make sure you touch some bear matal to discharge the staic, and never work on a carpet floor.
good luck..

This is the sort of thing I've been looking for. I've only been able to find cheap USB versions or $300 beasts. I'll have a look at that. If I could get it a bit cheaper I think it would be a good investment.

[Taiji]

Elysium, if you know what's involved then using a vacuum is so absurd that it's funny.

Compressed air is solution number one, it's quicker and requires very little dexterity, but it costs more money in the long run than a paint brush.

I'd suggest to use a fine detail paintbrush with very soft bristles that are made from something organic.

[Taiji]

I stand corrected, Smokey (And I want one! )

[Rorarii]

d-u-s-t f-i-l-t-e-r-s o-n i-n-t-a-k-e f-a-n-s

prevention is better than cure.

R

[_Elysium_]

d-u-s-t f-i-l-t-e-r-s o-n i-n-t-a-k-e f-a-n-s

prevention is better than cure.

R

G-E-N-I-U-S.

I didn't think of that. Ebayahoy.

[Top-Tier-Tech]

d-u-s-t f-i-l-t-e-r-s o-n i-n-t-a-k-e f-a-n-s

prevention is better than cure.

R

If you have top exhaust fans on your case dust tends to come in that way too, funny how most cases with built in filters don't filter the top exausts... as long as the fan is running you are fine but when the PC is off then the dust falls right on in.

But ya, this is ultimately the best method to cure dust buildup.

[_Elysium_]

I've got what I'm assuming is the main cooling fan on the back, a fan on the PSU and a vent in the base which I'm assuming is for a GPU fan, to pull air in from below the case.

I suppose I should cover up the gaping hole where I removed the wrong expansion slot when I got my GPU aswell.

If I can reduce the dust getting in, maybe a light spray from compressed air now and again will be all I need. I'll still look for one of the cleaners at a price I'm willing to pay though. I think that would be my ideal solution.

[mrmouth]

Static discharge is not created by the vacuum, but by the movement of dust itself that might have static discharge build up. NASA uses vacuums in their clean rooms on things that cost significantly more than out PC's. And I use one on mine. I'm just careful not to really drag it over the circuit boards, etc. But I dont even think that matters quite honestly. I mean I know I have in the past when being lazy.

It's electricity, and there are fundamental principles that come into play. Most components in combination with modern cases, are designed to pass any discharge to the case. It is about where the charge stops. That is why a motherboard does not sit directly on the case panel, but raised on little metal pegs.

In the end static discharge is just bad luck, based on things you cannot really control as it is static electricity that attracts dust to electronics in the first place. Not just the fact that you are sucking air through it's components. It can happen just as easily by using only compressed air alone.

The best combination is compressed air, holding it upright to prevent refrigerant/propellant discharge, and a vacuum running to suck up the dust that it discharges. Honestly though, I only use compressed air when I clean the thing once every 6-12 months. Most times there isn't enough dust buildup to justify anything more than using my lungs.

And there is some debate about grounding while cleaning. Leaving you power supply plugged into the wall, etc.

[Ybbon]

Compromise. Use compressed air, but take the main casing off then use it, that way you can be sure you are blowing the dust out rather than around. You can also blow out of the fans so the dust goes straight out.

[The Black Reaper]

what case do you have? Kinda off topic but it allows me to see if you're able to effectively establish positive pressure airflow in your case. Adding dust filters to your intake fans as well as configuring your case to have more intakes then exhausts help limit the amount of dust that can come into your machine. Properly configuring your fans is crucial because it can lead to unwanted temps in certain parts of your motherboard that you don't want.

EDIT: from your description above it seems to me that you might not be able to configure positive pressure in your case

[Rorarii]

Not sure what the Op has but i have a DF 85, with 3 input fans on the front, 2 exhaust fans on the top, 2 exhaust at the back and 1 exhaust on the side (linked to the GPU). Trying to keep higher pressure internally, i run the input fans close to max and the exhaust fans at minimum. It seems to work. Only when the GPUS get hot does the side fan crank up. I have dual dust filtering on the input fans.

R

BTW, I use the vacuum cleaner on my old computer without problems, it's mostly all plastic anyway.

[_Elysium_]

This is my case. Its Megaware Piano Black, but I can't find any information or even a code for it. Must be out of production.



It has two vents on the side, so I'd need to put filters over those aswell.

Would this be any good for clearing the dust:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12V-CAR-ELECTR...item35b39cc605

Maybe I could use a manual (hand-driven) tyre or football pump. I'd consider using compressed air now, but I don't want to keep buying the cans.

I was looking at the reasons why vacuums shouldn't be used (ie: the physical principles) and it seems to be the collisions of the dust particles with the vacuum nozzle that are the main problem. Thats why I was asking about compressed air doing the same, when its blown all around the case and colliding with components and the structure itself.

I'm looking for a method of cleaning that I could use each month, to prevent a large buildup of dust. So I'll only be clearing thin layers rather than huge clumps. I'm not looking to do a regular deep clean either. Just a quick five minute job.