Dusting outside of PC case with microfiber cloth - safe?

[Mike Soerensen]

Hello.

This is a really stupid question, but I want to make sure I'm not doing anything wrong, so I'm going to ask the experts

is it safe to dust off the outside of a case with a microfiber cloth and drag it over the USB ports or will that somehow damage them?

I've heard some say one shouldn't clean components with such a cloth, so I'm wondering if the same principle were to apply here.

[JZStudios]

They tend to build a lot of static, but as long as you don't jam it in the ports it's fine. Generally I just use a slightly used sock or a tissue and vacuum off the front grill of dust.

[Radium_Angel]

10 minutes ago, Mike Soerensen said:

Hello.

This is a really stupid question, but I want to make sure I'm not doing anything wrong, so I'm going to ask the experts

is it safe to dust off the outside of a case with a microfiber cloth and drag it over the USB ports or will that somehow damage them?

I've heard some say one shouldn't clean components with such a cloth, so I'm wondering if the same principle were to apply here.

Pull the power cord 1st, after that, clean system, and you'll be fine. Alternatively, used compressed air on the ports instead of the cloth.

Touch the case to discharge any static before plugging back in.

 

[Mike Soerensen]

Thanks for the replies.

 

Seems like the easiest thing to do is to just use a basic cloth and push it down on the floor, and then vacuum it. :]

[dgsddfgdfhgs]

2 minutes ago, Mike Soerensen said:

Seems like the easiest thing to do is to just use a basic cloth and push it down on the floor, and then vacuum it. :]

I tend to brush dust away over swiping with cloths, coz you will wipe dist deeper into the untouchable rails

[Mike Soerensen]

2 minutes ago, dgsddfgdfhgs said:

I tend to brush dust away over swiping with cloths, coz you will wipe dist deeper into the untouchable rails

What do you use? Just the brush from the vacuum cleaner or something else? Should I just vacuum clean it?

[dgsddfgdfhgs]

1 minute ago, Mike Soerensen said:

Just the brush from the vacuum cleaner or something else?

old toothbrush + fan (so you dont eat the dust)

vacuum for psu/ cooler or parts you seldom open up

 

techyescity got some video on cleaning too, worth a look

[Blue4130]

44 minutes ago, Mike Soerensen said:

Hello.

This is a really stupid question, but I want to make sure I'm not doing anything wrong, so I'm going to ask the experts

is it safe to dust off the outside of a case with a microfiber cloth and drag it over the USB ports or will that somehow damage them?

I've heard some say one shouldn't clean components with such a cloth, so I'm wondering if the same principle were to apply here.

You guys are WAY over thinking this. Wipe it down without worry, these things are not that fragile or susceptible to shocks/static. 

[Slayer3032]

The outside of your computer case has absolutely zero electronic components mounted to it, you could probably tap it with 120v and it would probably just ground through the PSU like intended AFAIK.

 

I frequently wipe down all my fans and case with a microfiber sprayed with some ammonia free windex. Occasionally I dry wipe down my psu, gpu backplate and the entire inside of the case where dust is extremely visible in between air compressor cleanings. My dust filters generally get vacuumed out while still on the case, with the computer always powered on too.

 

Unless you're wearing wool socks, rubbing your feet on the ground as fast as possible while wildly rubbing every exposed chip you can find in your computer, you'll be fine. If you're scared about static, just put your your hands on your PSU while it's plugged in and limit rubbing yourself/clothing against fabrics.

[NineEyeRon]

1 hour ago, Mike Soerensen said:

Thanks for the replies.

 

Seems like the easiest thing to do is to just use a basic cloth and push it down on the floor, and then vacuum it. :]

I don’t think my vacuum could suck up my cloths

[mr moose]

It's only during the install stage and assembly stage that components are at risk of static.  You'd have to be very very very very very very unlucky to kill anything wiping down the outside of a case.

[Kisai]

3 hours ago, Mike Soerensen said:

Hello.

This is a really stupid question, but I want to make sure I'm not doing anything wrong, so I'm going to ask the experts

is it safe to dust off the outside of a case with a microfiber cloth and drag it over the USB ports or will that somehow damage them?

I've heard some say one shouldn't clean components with such a cloth, so I'm wondering if the same principle were to apply here.

I would suggest using compressed air or pointing a small vacuum at it. The actual exterior of the case is fine to use a cloth on, but you're better off with compressed air. Don't use high powered compressed air / vacuum cleaners / shop-vac's, because those will literately blow fans off their mounts if not break them entirely or backfeed power into the motherboard..

 

 

[RasmusDC]

seriously have been using pc´s for many many years now, been building back to 386 dx40 days, have never used antistatic wrist bands, antistatic flooring, hot swapped plugs on the rear io (HDMI as an example should be able to destroy a port) and have handled the motherboards and other components with respect, but not with "special equipment" have NEVER had a board / ram or CPU failure..

 

have had dead PSU´s at arrival, since in the older day i bought cheap LC power units, and older...

 

usually i am not working in carpeted areas we normally always have hardwood floors, so of course static is less..

 

But seriously i would not care, i would just do it...

[Mark Kaine]

4 hours ago, Blue4130 said:

You guys are WAY over thinking this. Wipe it down without worry, these things are not that fragile or susceptible to shocks/static. 

On the contrary I think especially the front USB ports are more fragile than you think and I'd definitely wouldn't risk it getting static buildup there,  or pushing dust in there with a cloth . 

 

Use a blower or vacuum if you have to - and no, don't touch the PC with either of those,  and while  a vacuum might be at risk of static buildup too,  the risks are much lower,  you could use one that's certified for ESD safety, than literally rubbing the PC with a microfiber cloth. 

Just use a blower tbh. 

 

...did you say overthinking?  I don't think anyone is overthinking anything!