How to clean the inside of your PC?

Chalex4

Chalex4

Chalex4

Associate
Joined
13 Dec 2007
Posts
283
Location
Oxford
Hey guys,

I have previously used a traditional vacuum cleaner with a nozzle to remove the dust from inside my PC. However, I have recently learnt that this can cause static, so I no longer want to use this method. Since my PC is fairly new, I would rather not break it quite yet ;).

I did some research and it seems that using a can of compressed air seems to be the best way to get rid of the pesky dust. I did some searching and found the following can of compressed air in one of my drawers (click for full res):



I have never really used compressed air before, and just wanted to check that there weren't other types of compressed air that I should be using. When I shake this can, I can hear a liquid sloshing around inside which makes the can cooler. When I spray the can with a light behind it, I can see something coming out of the end, I am not sure if this is the liquid or just the compressed air, so I just wanted to ask here if it would be safe to use before I go spraying it around in my PC.

I was also wondering if blowing the air into my Thermalright Ultra 120-Extreme HS would actually remove the dust. Here is a pic from the inside of my PC:



Since my case is the Antec 900 I do get a lot of dust accumulating on the inside of my PC, so I need to find an efficient way of cleaning it, with minimal risk. Cheers in advance for all of your help.
 
Outcast said:
I've always used the trusty hoover !!
Click to expand...

Many Hoovers have nylon nozels (sp?) and these can pick up huge (in terms of IT) static charges and zap RAM and other components on a motherboard. I have had to repair a few PC's that people have ruined with a hoover!

Tony :)
 
Compressed air is fine, It works great for cleaning heatsinks because there isn't much else that can clean them.
 
Cheers guys for all the great responses.

If I was to use a vacuum with just the plastic attachment, a bit like this:

461.jpg


Would this still pose the risk of static electricity? Also, I was to just use the grounded metal as shaffaaf27 suggested, would this be OK? And is a hairdryer on "cool" mode actually risk-free, or does that have the same problems as the vacuum.

Also MeatLoaf, how did you clean your PC?
 
Last edited:
Tone-e said:
Many Hoovers have nylon nozels (sp?) and these can pick up huge (in terms of IT) static charges and zap RAM and other components on a motherboard. I have had to repair a few PC's that people have ruined with a hoover!

Tony :)
Click to expand...
i swearrrrrr i seen some guy in PC Globe use a vacuum cleaner in the "tech person" zone cleaning PCs ppl had brought in..
 
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