Cleaning Fans

[Lancer33]

It has been a while since I have posted here but need some advice. I have my rig in a CoolerMaster 831 case and am running 8 120mm fans (4 intake, 4 exhaust). Is there a viable way to clean these fans? I know that I can wipe them down and get the dust off but over time they actually turn dull and get a film on them. replacing is an option but I would like to avoid it if possible......$$$$$.
I have read several posts in other forums that say fans can be submerged and scrubbed as long as they are left for a long period to insure they are dry. I am hesitant to do this as I am sure it can't help the bearing lube much.

[WhiteFireDragon]

a duster can to blow all that junk off?

[MikeB12]

yeah, I just use compressed air for regular maint. like once a month. like a real air tank, not a canned deal. I've also had an electric duster, but that's not as strong as a good blast from a tank and nozzle.
if you do it regularly they never get superbad.

but if you've neglected them (and I have on some of my older crunchers), I use a paint brush and give them a good brushing. then blow all the chunks out.

but if you've neglected them so bad that that wont do it, chalk it up as lesson learned (laziness pays back) and buy new ones.

[SoulsCollective]

Good grief, no need to chuck them out. Just dunk them in hot soapy water and give them a good scrub, good as new. Don't stress about the bearings, I've done this many times over the years, as have many others, and I've never heard of any damage being done in that respect. If the accumulation of grit and dust isn't going to damage the bearing, a good scrub won't.

If you don't mind spending a bit more, you could give them a bath in some non-polar cleaning alcohol instead of water, it'll do just as well for removing crud but won't carry any risks of shorts if the fans aren't perfectly dry inside when they're next used.

[MikeB12]

wow, that's pretty cool. everything in me says, NO don't dunk it in water!!! LOL..
I might have to try this on a neglected dirt monger one day..

[SoulsCollective]

Yeah, water + electronics is major bad karma Takes a bit of getting over, which is why many people refuse to WC. But seriously, as long as you dry them out well afterwards, there's no issue. If you can't hack the karma and want to be super careful, cleaning alcohol works just as well.

[Lancer33]

Thanks for the replies. I will give the alchahol a try....:-)

[kraifect]

I use my dads air compressor in the garage with a different tip.

[Dee]

I remove the fan and use a brush. A paintbrush is fine.

[zepper]

I use a soft bristle art brush on mine. But if I've procrastinated too long I may have to start with a 1" natural bristle paint brush. Try to support and hold the blade while you are brushing so as not to damage the bearings. If the dust is glued in place by tobacco and/or cooking oils, I'll have to moisten the brushes with Simple Green diluted 10:1 with distilled H2O followed by a distilled H2O "rinse".

.bh.

[Kaldor]

I use a shop vac with this cleaning kit http://www.shopvac.com/detail.asp?id=221 to get my fans clean. Works great. If they get really nasty, an old kids toothbrush, and a little windex works pretty well.

[PhxProvost]

I use my dads air compressor in the garage with a different tip.

i find that an air compressor is really the best option when going after dust, though you really must be carefull that the compressor isnt retaining moisture, as mine did. cant even tell you how agrivated i was when i went to clean my case and a lovely mixture of rust/water/air came blasting out of the end attachment

[theorie]

i have always just used a damp kitchen sponge with mild soapy water. no joke. i've never had a fan die on me, not even once. i just wipe each blade clean with the corner of the sponge, and try to get off as much dust as possible.

[ThugsRook]

I remove the fan and use a brush. A paintbrush is fine.

yup, same here.

[kraifect]

I would get to agrivated if using a paintbrush, don't have time for that when a air compressor can do the same thing a paintbrush does in more than half the time. I just hold it a safe distance away, making sure the air (which can be really strong if filled up all the way) doesnt come to close to my hardware where it can damage it.

[eternaljammer]

wow, that's pretty cool. everything in me says, NO don't dunk it in water!!! LOL..
I might have to try this on a neglected dirt monger one day..

OMG!! Makes me want to gag. Hit it up with an air compressor.

[tbone8ty]

It has been a while since I have posted here but need some advice. I have my rig in a CoolerMaster 831 case and am running 8 120mm fans (4 intake, 4 exhaust). Is there a viable way to clean these fans? I know that I can wipe them down and get the dust off but over time they actually turn dull and get a film on them. replacing is an option but I would like to avoid it if possible......$$$$$.
I have read several posts in other forums that say fans can be submerged and scrubbed as long as they are left for a long period to insure they are dry. I am hesitant to do this as I am sure it can't help the bearing lube much.

if u jsut have the the water running on the outer diameter of the fan it works fine.

make sure its hot water

and make sure u wipe them dry before turning back on

ive done it many times with out problems