Vacuum clean computer?

[Moromann]

I built my desktop computer about 2 years ago. Opened it today and it's full of dust. Is it safe to vacuum clean it? I have heard stuff about static electricity and that it might damage the components, but is it really that bad? And if so, how should I clean it? 

[helping]

With compressed air and maybe a soft brush at most.

[Sarcasm]

Dust swirling inside the vacuum can cause a static charge. Stick with compressed air.

[Altecice]

Just blow on it, worked for me (no the moisture in your breath wont harm hardware its very hardy stuff)

[simtransporter]

You can get special ESD safe vacuum cleaners, but it's probably easier and cheaper to just use compressed air.

[Ramzez]

I would suggest you vacuum clean the air filters because they can often be taken off from the case. Also you will need the vacuum cleaner even when using compressed air. Otherwise you are going to move the dust from your pc to your room. So you can keep the vacuum nozzle some distance away where you are blowing the air and this way the dust gets vacuumed off right away.

 

Using compressed air can also create static electricity just like vacuum cleaner. However the possibility is somewhat smaller.

[Guest GRRigger]

blow dryer

[Lord Pantaloons]

canned air q-tips and alcohol

[KamiKatze]

Carry it outside and use a leaf blower! Ha ha!

[Theo]

I use a hair dryer ( on the cool setting, not blowing hot air which has a charge ) and a paint brush to brush off any dust from the back of the gpu pcb and stuff.

People shouldnt be intimidated by their pc, its not THAT fragile  

[IDprofile]

I've been using an air compressor and I'm always scared to let it go full blast on my PC so I usually do it from a distance or only press the handle down a little and also make sure It's not spinning my fans. I'm not sure if this it's the safest to use an air compressor but I haven't broke anything yet

[Najuno]

Never use a vacuum cleaner, because of static electricity that is created by dust.

 

Just like the othe people wrote before, use compressed air. You can buy them already in cans and it's easy and handy in use.

[someone]

just for information me and one friend have cleaned pc's with vacum cleaners probably a dozen times without any problems.

we were just being careful about touching the circuits thats all..

[LogicalDrm]

I use compressed air AND vacuum cleaner. But I always keep pipe outside of case and use lowest power possible. I use compressed air to get dust moving and then collect it to vacuum. Like blow air into GPU heatsink and hold vacuum pipe over it to prevent dust landing inside case again. No problems with that methot.

[Mo5]

I know I'm breaking the laws but I always use the vacuum cleaner - and then I finish it off with a brush

 

P.S. In like 10 years of doing that nothing went wrong and I've cleaned a lot of computers

[CocaholicApe]

blow dryer

That can melt plastic pieces.

[ElephantCrave]

Used a vacuum cleaner for a long time and not done any damage that has been vacuum related , it works but I recently switched to compressed air, I find it's easier to get between the fan blades and tiny spaces with compressed air

[Scottonpc]

I use a can of compressed air.

[Guest GRRigger]

That can melt plastic pieces.

If you set it on lowest heat, it really cant. Or if you can turn heat off. And what plastic you are talking about?  Any plastic in PC is pretty heat resistant and durable.

[dushypoo]

I use my electric leaf blower.

[Vitalius]

Do whatever works.

This guy is a perfect example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrKyxhkjsLA

 

[cafe]

lol pls no

[mgsstar]

I used a vacuum cleaner to clean my computer with the help of compressed air. I would keep a distance between the parts and your vacuum cleaner when you are cleaning it.

[vyogan]

I use a soft brush to brush off fine dusts while holding the vacuum cleaner a few inches away (being very careful not to touch any parts). Haven't had any problems so far. 

[Ramzez]

I would like to point out that using compressed air that has come from an air compressor can cause issues! If the air humidity is high, that humidity is going to be transferred into water when compressed. So using an air compressor, you might accidentally blow fine water vapour to your components and that's not good. When using an air compressor, use some distance and do not use the full pressure! I would suggest using 2-3 bar from a distance.

 

Of course you can use the canned stuff, which is completely dry air but it's somewhat expensive if you plan to use it regularly.