How often do you clean you PC & how?

[peche]

Hey Billy Boy
You Forgot to Mention you should disconect Fans before Cleaning especialy if you spin Clean them or Jamb them so they cannot spin
Fans are DC Moters and if you Spin them Fast Enough they become Generators and feed Power back into the motherboard unregulated. ( even low voltage/current is not good )
As you will no doubt concure that's not a good idea.

this is something that maybe mostly have forgotten or maybe just didn't care at all...

My gaming box and server were at my back door until 2 weekends ago, and the amount of dust and pet hair (2 indoor dogs and cats) was a tremendous mess constantly. I didn't clean it nearly enough, but we moved to a different room in the center of the house, away from the main traffic area, and I'm really looking forward to not stressing so much about having not cleaned it recently
For my server, I completely dismantled it, and moved it to a different case, and the dust in that was a mess, but easy to clean once you decide to pull everything out. I really wish I'd gone with a different case than the LanBoy Air we got a few years ago: preferably one with removable filters

epic i took out my filters... just leave the one on the PSU and the one from intake ...

 

[Bill_Bright]

this is something that maybe mostly have forgotten or maybe just didn't care at all...

I doubt this is a problem. Maybe on cheap motherboards but I suspect there is a diode or two in the circuit to prevent any current flowing the wrong direction. But again, if you don't intentionally spin them up, it will be no problem.

 

[peche]

I doubt this is a problem. Maybe on cheap motherboards but I suspect there is a diode or two in the circuit to prevent any current flowing the wrong direction. But again, if you don't intentionally spin them up, it will be no problem.

completely understand you point on spinning the fans... thanks!

 

[sneekypeet]

I clean mine about once a month. Take a Vacuum with the duster attachment so I don't scratch the stuff inside the PC. ESD is overrated and I honestly have never had an issue because of it. I do tend to keep fans from spinning, but I vacuum cards, the chassis, motherboard, keyboards, whatever is in range when I have it out.

 

[Blue-Knight]

How often do you clean you PC & how?

My desk area and monitor, keyboard, mouse...: Once a week, on Mondays.
The computer's parts (internal): Once every 3 months with an air blower.

If you don't clean it at regular intervals the dust will not leave it so easily and will start thinking it is a part of the hardware.

 

[Chris36]

I use an electric leaf blower. It does the job in 90 seconds (seriously) and totally thorough. Every nook and cranny including inside the power supply, keyboard Etc..
I also use it to clean my car. Under the seats and vents are a breeze. Say goodbye to Q-tips and air cans.

 

[redundantslurs]

I use an electric leaf blower. It does the job in 90 seconds (seriously) and totally thorough. Every nook and cranny including inside the power supply, keyboard Etc..
I also use it to clean my car. Under the seats and vents are a breeze. Say goodbye to Q-tips and air cans.

Same here Chris36, 20 seconds with my electric leaf blower about every 6 months. Been using a leaf blower to clean my computers for ages.

 

[Mussels]

Air compressor. Jam all fans so they cannot spin, blow the tits out of everything.

Clearly you should not set the air pressure too high, nor do you want to get too close, you're dusting it not giving it a blowjob.

too many people just blast air and trash their fans and wonder why they rattle.

 

[redundantslurs]

Air compressor. Jam all fans so they cannot spin, blow the tits out of everything.

Clearly you should not set the air pressure too high, nor do you want to get too close, you're dusting it not giving it a blowjob.

too many people just blast air and trash their fans and wonder why they rattle.

I stick pens or pencils in mine to stop them from moving.

 

[Ebo]

I clean mine whenever I see fit. Actually I have a spider living in my pc atm. and its quite fun to see how it builts webs from my GFX down to my PSU. I just dont understand how it dosent get electricuted ?, but I call it Annie. Does my styff burn off because of it, then its okay as long as the spider survive.

 

[F-Zero]

It really depends but usually once a month. I use paint brushes, vacuum cleaner, q-tips with alcohol for the fan blades. As i don't have an air compressor i use a foot pump which makes a good amount of pressure for getting rid of dust that you can't get out with the brush.

 

[peche]

If you don't clean it at regular intervals the dust will not leave it so easily and will start thinking it is a part of the hardware.

agreed!

I stick pens or pencils in mine to stop them from moving.

i just tape a blade and thats it.....

the best thing definitively is blowing, i will clean mine next Sunday, in the office using the blower...
i will replace my case pretty soon, so the hardware will get a complete cleaning process sooon! all hardware!

Regards,

 

[Ikaruga]

I do major cleanups on my PCs in every 3 months (taking them apart and and cleaning with soft brush and pushing out everything gently with an air compressor), but I also clean the dust filters once a month.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Clearly you should not set the air pressure too high, nor do you want to get too close,

Good point. As I mentioned previously, I have mine toggled to 80psi but simply backing the nozzle out a bit works, regardless the pressure set.

 

[EarthDog]

I take heat in electronics very seriously.

That was more than clear when you posted when things get above 60C, over 30C less than Intel's own throttling point (not shutdown/protection), you start to clean things. Some just go overboard... and that is OK. I will gladly run, and have, many of them, darn close to that point. You should need another CPU before heat kills it within specifications. There are reasons Intel specs it where it does.

 

[Jaffakeik]

I clean Monitor weekly.
Graphic card, when I sell it.
CPU coolers, same as GPU
And monthly I clean dust off my Tower

 

[Bill_Bright]

That was more than clear when you posted when things get above 60C, over 30C less than Intel's own throttling point (not shutdown/protection), you start to clean things.

Specifically, I said when my CPU inches towards 60° it is usually a sign I need to clean my air filters. The CPU is not the only heat sensitive device inside a computer and pulling a filter is much easier and faster than lugging a system outside.

And actually, my personal 60°C threshold is MUCH more conservative than many on this site who believe cooler is always better - even if temps are already below 40°C, for example. I don't go that far, nor do I seek bragging rights in that area. I just prefer to have my temps comfortably within a "normal operating range", which below 60°C is. This is why I am also a proponent for OEM coolers unless extreme overclocking or silent running in home theater setups is desired.

I also said I clean my case interiors once, maybe twice a year. That's hardly overboard. Others might say using the dishwasher and applying Vaseline, and sub-zero applications are a bit overboard!

"Extenuating circumstances", no? If they apply to one, they must be allowed to apply to others.

 

[dont whant to set it"']

I clean my pc about once a year and before every bench sesion under 0 deg C by taking everything apart ,dusting things off and washing with water and maybe liquid soap any part that does not have electrical components.

 

[EarthDog]

LOL Bill... good stuff. You missed the point and misapplied the context of the extenuating circumstance comment... but I digress.

 

[RealNeil]

My house is less dusty now that I've had a new furnace (heat pump) and air conditioner installed.
I clean all of my PCs four times a year. I have a calender marked. If I happen to upgrade something inside of one, I'll blow it out before I work on it.
I have a large Sears Shop-Vac that can blow air through a small nozzle at high speed, and a good two-inch paint brush.
I take each PC outside and blow it out, taking care to use the brush to keep my fans from over spinning. I use the airflow with the brush to clean the fans and blow out my radiators.
The Shop-Vac really does a good job.

 

[hapkiman]

Air compressor works wonders, and a small super soft bristle brush (it's almost like a feather duster). Usually about every three months. I always make sure I lock my fans (case fans and GPU fans) into position with a small piece of electrical tape or the air compressor could over spin them too fast and damage them.

 

[peche]

Air compressor works wonders, and a small super soft bristle brush (it's almost like a feather duster). Usually about every three months. I always make sure I lock my fans (case fans and GPU fans) into position with a small piece of electrical tape or the air compressor could over spin them too fast and damage them.

well said thats allmost what i done, i understand !
i hate the small craps that get into rad fins.... those little devils are so hard to take out!

Regards,

 

[yogurt_21]

psh you don't clean a PC, you wait till it gets dirty, then buy a new one. Duh.

seriously though a can of air every few months will do it as long as you keep it up. Miss for too long and its time for a full tear down. This of course assumes a decent environment for your pc, in a wood-shop surrounded by sawdust is a different story.

 

[peche]

Well my home got some works and repairs, my mom decided to replace this here, that there and you know, there is some dust over my loved hardware, so decided to give a clean to my babe and this thread came to my mind,

Gotta do some cleaning this weekend at job, cuz you know, might have some time!,
the things I have for Cleaning:

• Makita Electric Air blower {Added Ruber strap at blower ip to avoid static and other craps..}
• Ruber hand brush
• Contact Cleaner
• Coffe Filters As towels since they are almost lint free,

If missing something feel free to advise!

Keyboard and peripheral Cleaning:
Well I did yesterday's night a clean out for the rest of the hardware, leaving the Rig for this saturday's,

Keyboard was.. well, dust everywhere, didn't knw where to start, my keyboard is waterproof I was thinking about a soak on some water & soap, but unfortunetely was 9.30pm when started, didn’t want ot wake up everyone washing my keyboard, so decided to give a few brushes and take all caps out, then using some baby wipes simple cleaned keyboard and plungers layout, no dust there… for the keys, well a complete bath, water + degreaser spray + Meguiars wax for my car after some soaks and washes did the keys now fell brand new! for my mouse did cleaned with brush and baby wipes, some degreaser with a dry towel, done! brand new again !

Oh, almost forget, mouse pad received a hand wash with dishes soap, some degreaser and got all its dirty off, brand new again with lemon fragrance lol, its amazing how dirty mouse pads could get, they absorb sweat, dust, and almost everything, this one was washed this Sunday Morning!


Waiting for this weekend to give a clean to my Rig,

How about you? Want to share some cleaning memories or also some cleaning tips ?
Feel free to post!



Regards,

 

[Vayra86]

Recently reinstalled the HTPC downstairs and it was CAKED in dust. Not sure what happened, but I guess it reflects how much I care about that box.

It even runs a non genuine Win 7. Living on the edge!