How to clean the dust inside PC ?

[bug]

So, how to clean the dust inside the PC case? For example, ram, CPU, graphic card, CPU cooler fan and the case fan, these area should I need to buy some equipment to do it?
Any suggestions about this issue, welcome to comments and discuss about that problem here. I appreciated your valuable opinions.

The most straightforward way to do it is: you take the dust from inside the PC and move it outside. Done.

 

[Shrek]

View attachment 300437

FYI: just pulled apart my DataVac; the motor has ball bearings!

 

[80-watt Hamster]

Don't be mislead or fooled by this old wives tale nonsense! Volts kill too. Yes, it is the amperage that is the actual lethal component, but it is the higher voltage from the wall outlet that overcomes the resistance in the body and thus delivers (provides the "pressure" or "push" for) that lethal punch. You need both - but make no mistake, voltages as low a 42 - 50V can still kill.

It's not an old wives tale. You've even alluded to why. The thousands of volts in a static shock are not a threat to life, because there's no current behind it. But, as you noted, a household circuit can supply at least 15 amps, making household 110V, despite being orders of magnitude lower in voltage than said static shock, a much bigger deal.

 

[Bill_Bright]

What I am saying is, from a "safety" standpoint, the comment, "Volts hurt. Amps kill" can and has led the naïve and misinformed into believing exposure to high voltages with low current is always safe when in fact, there are scenarios when high voltage with low current kills, or results in serious injuries.

"Old wives tale" was probably a poor choice of words. My apologies for that.

As a formally trained and certified electronics technician working in and around deadly voltages for 50+ years (as noted via the link in my sig), and as one responsible for the safety and education of new and upcoming techs, red flags immediately go up when I see advice or comments being given that can easily be misconstrued by the less-informed. Since we don't know the skillsets and education levels of everyone reading these forum posts, I think it prudent to assume folks don't know the difference and relationship between volts and amps.

 

[A Computer Guy]

Anyway, it's hard to kill something with static alone.

 

[caroline!]

View attachment 301359

You're talking to someone who as a 5 year old opened a 90's disposable Kodak camera and shorted both flash capacitor's pins with her left pinky.

Yes the burn mark is still there if you're wondering.

 

[theFOoL]

I just take outside with a air compressor blower (ofc hold the fans) and water/wipes

 

[eidairaman1]

It's not an old wives tale. You've even alluded to why. The thousands of volts in a static shock are not a threat to life, because there's no current behind it. But, as you noted, a household circuit can supply at least 15 amps, making household 110V, despite being orders of magnitude lower in voltage than said static shock, a much bigger deal.

The curcuits at a minimum are 110V but from measuring most homes its been 120-125 (240/250 at the main breaker).

Point is putting a load on it and then while you are attached to the circuit with load running will bring you down. Its like on Phone Wires (POTS) if you are on the circuit, which is 48-53VDC and a phone rings it can take you down.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Its like on Phone Wires (POTS) if you are on the circuit, which is 48-53VDC and a phone rings it can take you down.

I can vouch for that. Our key control lines from the control tower out to the transmitter site were essentially dedicated phone lines where the 48V keyed the transmitters. Getting hit by that gets your attention fast.

Fortunately, we always wore electrical safety boots and it was ingrained in our heads to keep one hand in our pockets when "probing" around with the other hand. So, no path through the heart was established - but again, it got your attention and felt like a mule kicked your arm.

 

[eidairaman1]

I can vouch for that. Our key control lines from the control tower out to the transmitter site were essentially dedicated phone lines where the 48V keyed the transmitters. Getting hit by that gets your attention fast.

Fortunately, we always wore electrical safety boots and it was ingrained in our heads to keep one hand in our pockets when "probing" around with the other hand. So, no path through the heart was established - but again, it got your attention and felt like a mule kicked your arm.

Touching test leads together creates such a nice flash and melted leads on a 110+ circuit lol

 

[P4-630]

Ofcourse do it on a dry day and take your PC case outside so you can blow out all the dust...

 

[de.das.dude]

View attachment 300427
Neat! It's basically a bike inflator with a nozzle for blowing out dust.
CO2 means it's super dry, and Static wouldn't be an issue either.
I wonder how the cost/use works out vs. the overpriced refrigerant-pressurized 'dusters'?




Assuming an 'ideal' no smoking, vaping, or kitchen-use...

Near perfect:
an air compressor w/ a good dryer on it, and the regulator turned down.

Meant-for-purpose:
an ESD-safe 'data vac'.
(IIRC, the plastics have carbon in them to help dissipate/prevent static buildup).

Usable:
a shop-vac, hose attached to the exhaust side; DIY nozzle using shipping tape
(this, theoretically 'is a bad idea'. Moving air + plastic = static build up, typically.)

Laughable, but often effective in a pinch:
A disposable drinking straw and one's own hot air

Fan blades and the 'face' of heatsink-fans (even in non-smoking, etc. use), will have impacted dust in the pores of the material.
Ex. shrouded HSFs (like on a lot of GPUs and most laptop HSFs) will often have a hidden dustcake on the 'face' where the fan blows at the heatsink.

You'll need a brush, regardless but, if you want them 'resale clean' you'll need some rubbing alcohol and patience. FYI, fanblades are delicate AF for people like me; be careful.


Beyond the 'ideal' (central HVAC'd home/office, with no smoking, vaping, or cooking residues)...

Everything will need 'mechanical cleaning'.
No matter how destructively-blasting your air is, it will not de-adhere crud; it'll have to be gently scrubbed:
If it's from a kitchen, or a heavy smoker, you'll need a solvent like alcohol.
If it's a vaper's PC, warm water w/ just a little alcohol to aid in drying works well.

honestly i would worry about CO2 being too cold and causing wet condensation on components and under capacitors and stuff.

i use a brush to brush off dust and into a vacuum nozzle.

for the radiator i just use the vacuum after removing the fans. For the fans i take a damp rag and wipe the blades gently while supporting them from the back with other fingers.

 

[eidairaman1]

honestly i would worry about CO2 being too cold and causing wet condensation on components and under capacitors and stuff.

i use a brush to brush off dust and into a vacuum nozzle.

for the radiator i just use the vacuum after removing the fans. For the fans i take a damp rag and wipe the blades gently while supporting them from the back with other fingers.

You use bursts and never flip the can, Ive never damaged anything using co2 dusters

 

[Bill_Bright]

honestly i would worry about CO2 being too cold and causing wet condensation on components and under capacitors and stuff.

Nah! That worry is totally unfounded. First, there shouldn't be extreme cold temperatures if the CO2 is dispensed correctly. They are used to make soda drinks, and cocktails, and as emergency bicycle tube inflators. They don't cause the water in the soda to freeze or the rubber inner tubes to become brittle.

Second, even if frozen CO2 is dispensed, it would not hurt the electrical components unless they were hot. And since one should never, as in NEVER EVER attempt to clean the electronics while power is applied, those components would not be hot. That also means condensation would not have a chance to form.

Third, note what cans of "dusting gas" consist of. As I posted way back in post #21,

those cans of dusting gas... ...contain difluoroethane or a similar gas. These gases are typically used as refrigerants

So if "refrigerants" are safe with electronics, so too is CO2.

i use a brush to brush off dust and into a vacuum nozzle.

Actually, I would be MUCH MORE concerned about ESD generated by your brush, and especially by your vacuum nozzle - unless the brush uses natural (animal hair) bristles (NOT synthetic) and the vacuum is specifically designed for electronics and ESD prevention.

The problem is, as dust and air particles zoom past the nozzle, many will crash into the nozzle end (especially with plastic nozzles), knocking off free electrons in the valence (outer) shell of the molecules. This can quickly generate an extremely high potential of static electricity in the nozzle end. When those potentials get high enough and/or the nozzle come into close proximity to sensitive devices - ZAP! Time to empty the wallet.

The only time I use a vacuum is when it is pouring down rain outside. And then I always take the following extra precautions:

1. Unplug the computer from the wall.
2. Touch bare metal of the case interior BEFORE reaching in to discharge any static in your body, and most importantly, to put you and the computer "at the same potential".
3. Wrap your hand around the nozzle end and extend a pointed finger out past the nozzle.
4. Plant extended finger on to bare metal of the case interior when reaching in with the nozzle to prevent build-up, and then discharge of static.
5. Use a clean, soft, natural bristle (not synthetic) dusting or paint brush to gently persuade the dust towards the nozzle.
6. Keep that finger planted, and immediately replant it onto bare metal when re-positioning the nozzle.
7. Better yet, wait for it to stop raining, then use an air compressor or cans of dusting gas.

 

[LabRat 891]

View attachment 301359

TBF, I don't recall Force Lightning ever being particularly lethal, alone (at least in the cinematic universe)

 

[metaldc4life]

Coffee Filter For The Thermal Paste Removal On The CPU but wrong place to post this I guess.. lol

 

[LabRat 891]

Coffee Filter For The Thermal Paste Removal On The CPU but wrong place to post this I guess.. lol

Yup, 'drip coffee-maker filters make great low-lint 'wipes'.
I've also used them to 'polish' a bare-copper base, along with Ketchup. (The acids and consistency work as well or better than straight white vinegar)

It is related with 'cleaning dust'; I've had a couple instances of needing to remove a cooler and take it to the sink for cleaning. Especially, if it's a smoker's PC or a kitchen computer, you're not getting the dust, grime, and tar off with just 'air' or a brush.

(Don't forget to remove the fan, first. I can only imagine the havoc water and detergent would cause to unsealed bearings in most PC fans...)

 

[maxfly]

It never fails that a simple. How should I clean my dusty case? Thread. Turns into 3 pages of...this.
Hilarious.

 

[OkieDan]

Volts hurt. Amps kill.

Volts are necessary to overcome skin resistance so your body draws enough current to kill you as well.

 

[Bill_Bright]

It never fails that a simple. How should I clean my dusty case? Thread. Turns into 3 pages of...this.
Hilarious.

Sorta like how it never fails someone will join a thread just to add a post that has the only purpose of criticizing how the thread has progressed!

Hilarious? No. Sadly ironic? Yes.

 

[OkieDan]

Touching test leads together creates such a nice flash and melted leads on a 110+ circuit lol

Folding a foil gum wrapper and pushing it into an outlet was a blast in high-school.

 

[maxfly]

Sorta like how it never fails someone will join a thread just to add a post that has the only purpose of criticizing how the thread has progressed!

Hilarious? No. Sadly ironic? Yes.

You call this progression, as if the last 2 pages of predictable, off topic droning served an actual purpose in answering the OPs question. Who btw hasn't responded since his op. Hahaha, if you don't see the humor in that alone...shrug, I don't know what to tell ya man. That shit is funny.

 

[eidairaman1]

Coffee Filter For The Thermal Paste Removal On The CPU but wrong place to post this I guess.. lol

No, Ive used paper towels with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide

This thread has run its course and is going off topic, lets see if op returns if at all

 

[Shrek]

How does hydrogen peroxide help for cleaning?

 

[eidairaman1]

How does hydrogen peroxide help for cleaning?

Vaporizes fairly quick on plastics and ihs/hs, better than using gasoline/diesel, acetone, ammonia, bleach.