Removing Cigarette Smell From Components

[Patriclis]

Good afternoon all,

So about a year and a half ago I gave someone my old gaming PC, and they recently gave it back (no longer needed it).

It's still a decent PC... 5 years old tops, so I want to make use of it.

The problem is that the person who had it was a heavy smoker and this PC was in their smoking room... so it reeks. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on cleaning the smell. Last night I pulled out and disassembled the GPU and cleaned the entire thing (thoroughly... took about an hour and a half) with compressed air, followed by isopropyl alcohol... and it still stinks. There's no more dust on it but the smell seems to have seeped so far into the components that an alchohol rub-down isn't enough to get it clean. There's still a motherboard, CPU, and RAM to clean. 

Does anyone have any ideas to offer on cleaning these components more thoroughly?
I had considered letting them sit in a bath of isopropyl for a while (This is one of the suggestions I had seen online) but I don't know if that would damage anything or not.

Note: 
- the fans & CPU cooler are being replaced with quieter models,
- the PSU is being replaced with something modular
- the case is being replaced with a smaller model and then getting cut down into a testbench.
So none of those components need cleaning (except some parts of the case... but thats just metal... I can soak it in bleach for a few hours. ez pz.)
 

[Ginger_]

I don't know if you will ever be able to, I helped a family that moved into an ex smoker house, and that smell just never leaves. We scrubbed the walls with every kind of cleaner and even painted over them eventually, you can still smell it though. 

[FoxAxe]

7 minutes ago, Ginger_ said:

I don't know if you will ever be able to, I helped a family that moved into an ex smoker house, and that smell just never leaves. We scrubbed the walls with every kind of cleaner and even painted over them eventually, you can still smell it though. 

https://thickash.com/product-review-whiff-out-spray-mist-odor-eliminator/

Maybe this?

Im glad Finland has very strict smoking laws and usually renters

[Crunchy Dragon]

7 minutes ago, Ginger_ said:

I don't know if you will ever be able to, I helped a family that moved into an ex smoker house, and that smell just never leaves. We scrubbed the walls with every kind of cleaner and even painted over them eventually, you can still smell it though. 

To get the small out of the walls, you'd have to do a bunch of stuff. Basically everything short of replacing the drywall itself, although that might have to be done depending on how bad it is.

 

18 minutes ago, Patriclis said:

Does anyone have any ideas to offer on cleaning these components more thoroughly?
I had considered letting them sit in a bath of isopropyl for a while (This is one of the suggestions I had seen online) but I don't know if that would damage anything or not.

As long as they properly dry, I'm not aware of any cause for worry.

[Patriclis]

@Crunchy Dragon 

Alright well, the MOBO and RAM soaked for an hour. Now the GPU is soaking.

Won't be even thinking of testing them out for another 24 hours. 

Will follow up with results... here's hoping it works.

Honestly, though, this is a topic I'd love to see someone at LMG actually cover.  (removing the smell, not necessarily the alcohol bath)

[0x1e]

40 minutes ago, Patriclis said:

@Crunchy Dragon 

Alright well, the MOBO and RAM soaked for an hour. Now the GPU is soaking.

Won't be even thinking of testing them out for another 24 hours. 

Will follow up with results... here's hoping it works.

Honestly, though, this is a topic I'd love to see someone at LMG actually cover.  (removing the smell, not necessarily the alcohol bath)

I would give it 3 days (72 hours) , why? Because everything comes in threes.
Stick to that rule and you'll be fine.