Cleaning out my computer case

[Natalia]

What is the safest and most efficient way to clean out a computer case and get rid of all that icky dust?

I know they have those cans of air, but they seem pretty useless.

[Emerica]

The cans of air are really good at cleaning out the hard to reach places like RAM slots and stuff like that. You could just use damp paper towels to pick up all the dust out of the case.

[nibble]

What is the safest and most efficient way to clean out a computer case and get rid of all that icky dust?

I know they have those cans of air, but they seem pretty useless.

A cloth/vacuum cleaner, I guess. If you want to do a really good job though you'd have to strip all the hardware out.

[psyconut713]

air compressor, like the cao-o-air, but bigger :-D used to do that for the "power cleaning" at CompUSA

[Solarfall]

to get rid of *icky dust* :D i use a vacuum ...

[Pigeon]

I just take mine outside with an air compressor and give it a good seeing to

[Ad1tya]

Leaf blower :D.

[Natalia]

Leaf blower :D.

:rofl:

[G.Foyle]

Take everything out, use vacuum cleaner on the case and make-up brush to clean the dust from motherboard video card etc. No, seriously!

[tylerdustin2008]

First off get some fan filters. Clean if out, best way is to strip it all down, and just clean in.

And then just clean the filters. Wont have to clean if for a good while...

[tiro_uspsss]

i use a air compressor & a screw driver to prevent the fan blades from spinning to oblivion hehe

[Cracker]

I wish I had an air compressor. :(

But I can get a system reasonably clean by taking it outside and using canned air. After that I wipe whatever I can with some paper towels and Windex although I spray the Windex on the towel and then wipe. I don't display the insides of my case so I go for function over 100% cleanliness. :p:

[Monkeywoman]

i heard that a vacume will create static and fry the mobo, all i do is blow the dust out then vacume it out of the air

[Vice]

i heard that a vacume will create static and fry the mobo, all i do is blow the dust out then vacume it out of the air

Exactly what I do.

[Cordite!]

What is the safest and most efficient way to clean out a computer case and get rid of all that icky dust?

I know they have those cans of air, but they seem pretty useless.

Vacuumcleaner for lose stitting dustparticles and a dry toothbrush to gently brush off remaining dust.

[[XC] gomeler]

Vacuums can generate static charges and toast your gear. I myself use my dry nitrogen cylinder and just blast the hell out of the motherboard, guess that's the advantage of having phase change as a hobby :p:

[Soulburner]

Leaf blower :D.
That's what I use.

And no, I'm not kidding.

Toro 200mph electric (though I use the lower setting, its still about 100mph).

[xenoasd]

i just blow it... usually goes to my mouth...

[Navig]

I typically use a canned air to get rid of the dust dragons. Then those disposable swiffer dust wands works pretty well.

[ColonelCain]

Take everything out, use vacuum cleaner on the case and make-up brush to clean the dust from motherboard video card etc. No, seriously!

Or did you say that because she's a girl? :rofl:

I just use as others said, a damp paper towel for the inside casing, an air compressor for the parts, and then q-tips for the boards. :yepp:

[nfm]

Air compressor is the way to go. I use it at 200psi with special nozzle at the end and it is capable of damaging fans, bending graphics card and even the big typhoon cooler :eek: . Seeing the big cloud of dust is pretty cool.

[NickS]

I used a leaf blower once on a really dusty case I had, it had some old AXP stuff in it too. Everything worked fine afterwards, and ALL of the dust was gone. It was like the case was new. I'll probably use this method on even my main rig sometime in the future, I can't think of any downside. It's not a powerful leafblower, only an electric one, but still.

[Viss]

I use a paintbrush to get dust of the board.

[Ad1tya]

Well, I wasnt joking when I recommened a Leaf blower to Natalia :P.

[ovethetop]

when i clean my pc out i do the following:

1) take out all the pci/pci-e cards
2) hold a vacuum about 3 inches from one edge of the card and gently sweep the dust off of them with a fine make-up brush ( mine has plastic fibers )
3) put the cleaned cards aside
4) use my air compressor at about 60 psi and spray the inside of the case, especially all the nooks and crannies while holding the vacuum extension somewhere outside the open case to catch some dust
5) dust off the mobo / hdds with the make-up brush and wait a few minutes for the dust to settle to the bottom of the case
6) vacuum the bottom of the case carefully
7) use damp paper towel to clean the insides / outsides of the case and any pc parts
8) use the compressor and spray any parts that could be damp ( theres no such thing as spraying it too much because a wet computer is a sad computer )
9) put the cards back in and start her up :)

thats how a clean freak cleans his computer. . aka me

[Soulburner]

I used a leaf blower once on a really dusty case I had, it had some old AXP stuff in it too. Everything worked fine afterwards, and ALL of the dust was gone. It was like the case was new. I'll probably use this method on even my main rig sometime in the future, I can't think of any downside. It's not a powerful leafblower, only an electric one, but still.
Yeah it literally looks almost spic and span when you're done...and I can't think of ANY faster method.

[i found nemo]

i just blow it... usually goes to my mouth...

yuck i hate when that :banana::banana::banana::banana: happens

[Jedda]

GMC clean air compressor.
It has no oil or water droplets in the feed. Normal air compressors need water and oil traps to remove the droplets. Be wary of using a compressor without traps. You can short your box that way.
Pin the fans too. A gazzillion rpm isn't good for them.

[GameGuru]

For those without an air compressor or not wanting to use a vacuum cleaner, here is something I use which works well and is intended for electronics. You can pick one up at you local frys for about $35 or search the web. It's a Datavac and comes with three different attachments.

http://shop3.outpost.com/%7BSmRfjF4OSgICDGcWHhLVWw**.node1%7D/product/2016326;jsessionid=SmRfjF4OSgICDGcWHhLVWw**.node1? site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

[Jodiuh]

When air isn't enough.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/jodiuh/Stacker%20810%20Black/IMG_0255.jpg

I cut some holes for wires and what not. All the little metal bits got everywhere...hehe...water cooled. :D

[Emerica]

When air isn't enough.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/jodiuh/Stacker%20810%20Black/IMG_0255.jpg

I cut some holes for wires and what not. All the little metal bits got everywhere...hehe...water cooled. :D

Nothing beats a nice soak in the tub... with some candles... ahhhh.

[tiro_uspsss]

Nothing beats a nice soak in the tub... with some candles... ahhhh.


quick Jodiuh! protect ur pc! Emerica hasnt been with a lady in a while & is feeling all romantic - he might just boot ur pc up the hard disk! :p: :D

just messin' Emerica! :up:

[Zytek_Fan]

Air compressor FTW!

[Emerica]

quick Jodiuh! protect ur pc! Emerica hasnt been with a lady in a while & is feeling all romantic - he might just boot ur pc up the hard disk! :p: :D

just messin' Emerica! :up:

Haha, all in good fun. :)

[NickS]

Pin the fans too. A gazzillion rpm isn't good for them.

But its fuuuunnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!

[tiro_uspsss]

Haha, all in good fun. :)

awww come on, its ok to 'retaliate' in good humour :D :up: *thinks of a couple good 'yo momma' come-backs Emerica could use* :D

[MasterChiefElmo]

Use a air compressor

[Sparky]

For gunk and stuff in the drive bays and case floor I use a vacuum, but I keep the hose away from the circuitry (usually... sometimes I don't). Air compressor at 100PSI works well for everything else, I just found out the hard way that most fan bearings weren't meant to spin 2x faster than my hard drive and tend to be a little "loose" afterwards lol :p:

[JargonGR]

I use a Makita blower (around 160 Euros) and it kicks the :banana::banana::banana::banana: out of the dust. But it needs caution since it is too strong and I once blew my PSU for good (broken capacitors). I tried an air compressor but its size is not convenient at all at home.

http://www.makita.co.jp/global/product/category/dust/ub1101/ub1101.html

Here it is and it operates free of static electricity too. I got the variable speed model and I advise it over the simpler one.

[lawrywild]

i heard that a vacume will create static and fry the mobo, all i do is blow the dust out then vacume it out of the air

I can imagine you and the other guy waving around the end of the vacuum cleaner trying to catch all those little lumps of dust :ROTF: