How to properly clean a CPU Heatsink

[Dive5885]

My issues here is I managed to clean the outside of the heatsink but inside of it there is dust I can't remove because I can't stick anything within the heatsink fins to clean it.

 

So what would be a proper way to clean it?

 

Can I rinse it with water? Power wash? Maybe use a leaf blower?

 

Let me know what ideas you guys have and what would work!

 

Thanks!!

[HPWebcamAble]

If you take the fan (and any other electronic components off), its fine to rinse the heatsink with water. Make sure to let it completely dry before putting it back together.

[Moonzy]

take off the fans and any electronics (like LED and what not)

 

then dump it into a bucket of water and swirl it around (dont break/bend the heatpipes or fins while doing so)

and then dry it with hair dryer (dry it completely to prevent corrosion issues)

[GreezyJeezy]

just give it a bath and dry it 100% before putting it back on

[SeanAngelo]

13 minutes ago, Dive5885 said:

My issues here is I managed to clean the outside of the heatsink but inside of it there is dust I can't remove because I can't stick anything within the heatsink fins to clean it.

 

So what would be a proper way to clean it?

 

Can I rinse it with water? Power wash? Maybe use a leaf blower?

 

Let me know what ideas you guys have and what would work!

 

Thanks!!

put it in water then dry it

[Dive5885]

16 minutes ago, HPWebcamAble said:

If you take the fan (and any other electronic components off), its fine to rinse the heatsink with water. Make sure to let it completely dry before putting it back together.

 

16 minutes ago, Moonzy said:

take off the fans and any electronics (like LED and what not)

 

then dump it into a bucket of water and swirl it around (dont break/bend the heatpipes or fins while doing so)

and then dry it with hair dryer (dry it completely to prevent corrosion issues)

 

14 minutes ago, GreezyJeezy said:

just give it a bath and dry it 100% before putting it back on

 

8 minutes ago, SeanAngelo said:

put it in water then dry it

Alright cool!

 

I'll give it a wash and then dry it with a hair dryer or maybe use the leaf blower.

[zMeul]

remove the fan any other electronics attached to it

prepare some soapy water - give it a bath; rinse with fresh water and dry

 

do you have a dish washer? give it a bath

[Dive5885]

3 minutes ago, zMeul said:

remove the fan any other electronics attached to it

prepare some soapy water - give it a bath; rinse with fresh water and dry

 

do you have a dish washer? give it a bath

Yes I do have a dish washer. Would putting it in the dish washer be a better idea than hand washing it?

[zMeul]

1 minute ago, Dive5885 said:

Yes I do have a dish washer. Would putting it in the dish washer be a better idea than hand washing it?

you can't get in between the fins, and there's a film of dust stuck in there - the dishwasher will do a better job

[Moonzy]

6 minutes ago, Dive5885 said:

Alright cool!

I'll give it a wash and then dry it with a hair dryer or maybe use the leaf blower.

hair dryer is better

because it'll heat up the entire thing causing water in creeks and crevices to evaporate away

[Dive5885]

4 minutes ago, Moonzy said:

hair dryer is better

because it'll heat up the entire thing causing water in creeks and crevices to evaporate away

Yeah that makes sense.

 

I was thinking the leaf blower would of been better because its more powerful

[Dive5885]

6 minutes ago, zMeul said:

you can't get in between the fins, and there's a film of dust stuck in there - the dishwasher will do a better job

Should I also let the dish washer dry it using the heat dry or should I just dry it myself after the wash?

[aisle9]

11 minutes ago, zMeul said:

you can't get in between the fins, and there's a film of dust stuck in there - the dishwasher will do a better job

I don't even want to imagine the look on my wife's face if she opened up the dishwasher and pulled out a heatsink lol

[Dive5885]

19 minutes ago, aisle9 said:

I don't even want to imagine the look on my wife's face if she opened up the dishwasher and pulled out a heatsink lol

That would be pretty funny!

[aisle9]

3 hours ago, Dive5885 said:

That would be pretty funny!

Not for me. She'd be impressed that I'd finally run the dishwasher myself, then enraged when she opened it up and the only thing that came out was the body of an H5.