Do I need alcohol to remove thermal paste?

[Supreme Calamitas]

I wiped the whole thermal paste off the CPU without alcohol, It wasn't applied that long ago so it didn't harden yet. Is there any other reason why I should wipe it with alcohol because I don't have any especially that "isopropyl" type I've never even heard of.

[Levent]

We recommend %99 isopropyl because it evaporates fast and leaves little to no residue. You can use any tissue or slightly moist toilet paper.

[DoctorNick]

19 minutes ago, Marko1600 said:

I wiped the whole thermal paste off the CPU without alcohol, It wasn't applied that long ago so it didn't harden yet. Is there any other reason why I should wipe it with alcohol because I don't have any especially that "isopropyl" type I've never even heard of.

 

Judging from the picture I would wipe.

[ToboRobot]

isopropyl is a solvent that leaves no/minimal residue.  Water tends to have impurities that are left behind.

artic clear is TIM product that I think is based on limonene to function as the cleaning solvent.

I'd wipe it with iso, because you should be able to get a bottle at a pharmacy for a couple bucks.

[HanZie82]

It will be fine like that. But the cleaner the better.
Just make sure you wipe all if not most of the CPU you can.

[Needfuldoer]

29 minutes ago, Levent said:

We recommend %99 isopropyl because it evaporates fast and leaves little to no residue. You can use any tissue or slightly moist toilet paper.

91% is fine too, and should be easier to find at drugstores.

 

Don't use TP, it's designed to crumble apart when it gets wet. Use a facial tissue or paper towel instead. (Pro tip: if something says to use a "lint-free cloth", you can get away with using a coffee filter.)

[mariushm]

It's isopropyl alcohol, not isopropyl.   It's a light solvent, that evaporates quickly. 

 

You don't have to use isopropyl alcohol, you can use ANY liquid or substance that has solvent properties, as long as you clean the substance afterwards (if it doesn't evaporate)

 

You can also use these anti-covid liquids, anti-covid stuff ... look at ingredients, a lot of them are basically 60-70% isopropyl alcohol, 30-40% water and some perfume ... the 60-70% Isopropyl alcohol is the best at killing bacteria, that's why it's used.. the water helps alcohol break the walls of cells and damage them from insides.

 

As for other solvents...

 

For example you can use acetone which is sold in pharmacies or regular stores often as nail polish remover - just look at ingredients and get one that's almost 100% acetone, for example 99.9% acetone and a drop of perfume is fine. 

Acetone is a bit stronger than isopropyl alcohol, for example it can dissolve the printed text from some plastics, but the cooler and the cpu top is metal so you'd be fine.

 

Sanitary alcohol (usually regular alcohol with some blue coloring -at least in my country- and a few drops of a substance that makes you puke if you drink it directly)  is also a solvent, just weaker than isopropyl alcohol.  You can pour some on a paper towel and rub the surface.

 

Gasoline and Gas lighter fluid are good solvents, you could use gasoline or gas lighter fluid on a paper towel to soften paste and remove it, then use a tower wet with regular water to remove the gasoline residue from the surface. 

 

WD40 can be used if needed as a solvent .. it's basically a mix of isopropyl alcohol, some petroleum based solvents and some anti-rust chemicals .. again, clean surface with wd40, then use a towel with water to clear the residue left by wd40

 

car / bike brake cleaner (WITHOUT chlorine , the non-chlorinated variety) can be used.. they contain quite strong solvents, even stronger than acetone... it's strong enough that you should only use it in front of an open window, or in the courtyard.

and you MUST NOT put it on rubber and plastics, because the solvents will start to soften and eat rubber and plastics ... so again, apply on metal surface of cpu or heatsink and then clean with water.

 

The brake cleaner with chlorine can be toxic, and at high temperatures or under strong UV light they can release a gas that can damage your lungs, toxic stuff... so again, not chlorinated brake cleaners... the regular brake cleaners are totally fine, but strong solvents.