Hardware cleaners anyone?

[NotSoAnonymoussChris]

So, the title pretty much says all that is needed... anyone know of any good cleaners that they would use to clean out "old dusty" every now and then? ive been thinking about getting some canned air, but those things have bitterants in them, don't they? wouldn't that get onto the hardware?

[W-L]

17 minutes ago, NotSoAnonymoussChris said:

So, the title pretty much says all that is needed... anyone know of any good cleaners that they would use to clean out "old dusty" every now and then? ive been thinking about getting some canned air, but those things have bitterants in them, don't they? wouldn't that get onto the hardware?

Bitterants wouldn't affect the function of the hardware but if your doing this commonly a mini air compressor would work well. 

[NotSoAnonymoussChris]

3 minutes ago, W-L said:

Bitterants wouldn't affect the function of the hardware but if your doing this commonly a mini air compressor would work well. 

thanks! ive never even considered using a mini air compressor. touche! lol

[W-L]

1 minute ago, NotSoAnonymoussChris said:

thanks! ive never even considered using a mini air compressor. touche! lol

Just be sure to have a desiccate/moisutre filter on it if your using on electronics to make sure the compressed air is nice and dry. 

[AshleyAshes]

29 minutes ago, NotSoAnonymoussChris said:

So, the title pretty much says all that is needed... anyone know of any good cleaners that they would use to clean out "old dusty" every now and then? ive been thinking about getting some canned air, but those things have bitterants in them, don't they? wouldn't that get onto the hardware?

The bitterants won't harm your computer.  They'll just make it rather unpleasant to huff it.  ...Don't huff it.

[NotSoAnonymoussChris]

1 minute ago, AshleyAshes said:

The bitterants won't harm your computer.  They'll just make it rather unpleasant to huff it.  ...Don't huff it.

[NotSoAnonymoussChris]

7 minutes ago, W-L said:

Just be sure to have a desiccate/moisutre filter on it if your using on electronics to make sure the compressed air is nice and dry. 

would it suffice just to let the hardware dry over a sufficient period of time? or is it mandatory that i do this?

[W-L]

26 minutes ago, NotSoAnonymoussChris said:

would it suffice just to let the hardware dry over a sufficient period of time? or is it mandatory that i do this?

The worry is your blowing moist air or water vapor onto the components since the air was compressed, a desiccant filter is a simple solution and is usually a just recommended thing to ensure that from happening.

[NotSoAnonymoussChris]

i see, i get it. probably the best thing to do just to  make sure that the moisture is gone. thank you W-L!

7 minutes ago, W-L said:

The worry is your blowing moist air or water vapor onto the components since the air was compressed, a desiccant filter is a simple solution and is usually a just recommended thing to ensure that from happening.

 

[GeekJump]

bitterants...that explains the nasty taste in my mouth w/e I clean  (I like to get all up in there)

 

My cleaning combo

Air Can + Small Paint Brush = Clean

[NotSoAnonymoussChris]

9 hours ago, Quibiss said:

A leaf blower works aswell as demonstrated by Mr. Holzman.

if i had a leaf blower (which i need to get one, because i am NOT raking the 12 acres that my house sets on lmao), i would try that!

[NotSoAnonymoussChris]

2 hours ago, GeekJump said:

bitterants...that explains the nasty taste in my mouth w/e I clean  (I like to get all up in there)

 

My cleaning combo

Air Can + Small Paint Brush = Clean

this is great!

[mr.squishy]

Isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol also work extremely well. It removes sticker goo and cleans dust really well, and it dries really fast too.

[NotSoAnonymoussChris]

1 hour ago, mr.squishy said:

Isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol also work extremely well. It removes sticker goo and cleans dust really well, and it dries really fast too.

see, i was thinking that since the rate in which alcohol evaporates is really high, i could try this method. but when i opened my case, there wasn't anything caked on. really, there wasn't much in the way of dust either, besides in the intake grilles. i figure here in a few days, when another of my cases arrive, ill break my rig down piece by piece and try the alcohol method. just so everything is shiny when i get it inside the new housing.

[mr.squishy]

2 hours ago, NotSoAnonymoussChris said:

see, i was thinking that since the rate in which alcohol evaporates is really high, i could try this method. but when i opened my case, there wasn't anything caked on. really, there wasn't much in the way of dust either, besides in the intake grilles. i figure here in a few days, when another of my cases arrive, ill break my rig down piece by piece and try the alcohol method. just so everything is shiny when i get it inside the new housing.

Sounds like a plan, just make sure you aren't accidentally stripping the paint from the chassis! Alcohol is a powerful substance.

[CtrlAltELITE]

7 hours ago, mr.squishy said:

Isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol also work extremely well. It removes sticker goo and cleans dust really well, and it dries really fast too.

 

I've used cheap Vodka to clean out PCBs (on nothing expensive!). Has the same effect with a very slightly higher chance of shorting everything out (Your average rubbing alchohol is ~60-70% Alchohol with occasional specialised ones being close to 100%, vodka 40-60%). I always leave for atleast 2 hours in dry area before applying power. Hasn't failed me yet, used on keyboards, a GPU, removing thermal grease on various CPUs & for cleaning oil with metal shavings out of the electric parts of diesel-electric generators (Im sure a sparky would shoot me if he caught me doing that).