Computer Cleaning - Recommendations?

[Vectraat]

So I'm looking for a way to clean off the thin surface level layer of dust that's typically found on video cards/fans/drives/drive bays/PSU's etc. Y'know the kinda dust that doesn't come off with a blower/compressed air no matter how close up you blow. 

Was thinking about getting this: Link

But one reviewer from else where said the bristles aren't protected against electrostatic charges, just the handles. *shrugs* 
Is this product fine or no? I'm not looking to disassemble to clean, I just want something I can use to do a quick wipe-down every 3 months with the PC unplugged and the PSU off. I'm ordering/using an ED500 DataVac to blow, but as I said, that's not gonna get rid of the surface layer of dust or anything that's caked on and It's ridiculously dusty where I live.

So if I'm wanting to wipe down my equipment what should I use? I've seen some strange things on YouTube. People spraying WD40 on what appears to be some sort of towel and wiping down the internals or using microfiber cloths, which seems like a really bad idea to me.

[Cookybiscuit]

Alcohol wipes work breddy gudd.

[Phentos]

15 minutes ago, Vectraat said:

So if I'm wanting to wipe down my equipment what should I use? I've seen some strange things on YouTube. People spraying WD40 on what appears to be some sort of towel and wiping down the internals or using microfiber cloths, which seems like a really bad idea to me.

Those people are most likely using a petroleum distillate based cleaner meant for electronics. This contains no water and wipes away clean. It is extremely flammable though, so exercising some precautions when using it is always best.

[Vectraat]

1 hour ago, Phentos said:

Those people are most likely using a petroleum distillate based cleaner meant for electronics. This contains no water and wipes away clean. It is extremely flammable though, so exercising some precautions when using it is always best.

They specifically said WD40. I've used WD40 before, but I'd never want to use it on a desktop. 

[Phentos]

3 minutes ago, Vectraat said:

They specifically said WD40. I've used WD40 before, but I'd never want to use it on a desktop. 

WD40 is harsher and leaves residue. The type of cleaner I mentioned dries very quickly, is gentler, and doesn't leave residue.

[Vectraat]

8 minutes ago, Phentos said:

WD40 is harsher and leaves residue. The type of cleaner I mentioned dries very quickly, is gentler, and doesn't leave residue.

Hmm, what about alcohol wipes?

[Phentos]

7 minutes ago, Vectraat said:

Hmm, what about alcohol wipes?

95-99% isopropyl alcohol wipes work well. Just make sure the wipes are robust enough to not leave fibers all over. 

[Vectraat]

2 minutes ago, Phentos said:

95-99% isopropyl alcohol wipes work well. Just make sure the wipes are robust enough to not leave fibers all over. 

Hmm, a few videos I watched said 70% Isopropyl Alcohol is fine. Does it really need to be 95-99%? 

What would you use for a rag/cloth if you're not using the wipes (due to fibers being left behind)?

[Crunchy Dragon]

1 minute ago, Vectraat said:

Hmm, a few videos I watched said 70% Isopropyl Alcohol is fine. Does it really need to be 95-99%? 

What would you use for a rag/cloth if you're not using the wipes (due to fibers being left behind)?

I used 70% isopropyl alcohol and a normal washcloth when compressed air fails me.

 

Microfiber cloths are pretty good, I haven't found those to leave fibers behind.

[Phentos]

4 minutes ago, Vectraat said:

Hmm, a few videos I watched said 70% Isopropyl Alcohol is fine. Does it really need to be 95-99%? 

What would you use for a rag/cloth if you're not using the wipes (due to fibers being left behind)?

70% should be okay. I am OCD about PC cleaning though, so I use nothing less than 95%. 

 

Microfiber cloths are best to use.

[Vectraat]

Just now, Crunchy Dragon said:

I used 70% isopropyl alcohol and a normal washcloth when compressed air fails me.

 

Microfiber cloths are pretty good, I haven't found those to leave fibers behind.

Hmm ok, interesting. Others have said the microfiber cloths and towels in general are static magnets. 

These two products were actually recommended. Link / Link

[Crunchy Dragon]

Just now, Vectraat said:

Hmm ok, interesting. Others have said the microfiber cloths and towels in general are static magnets. 

These two products were actually recommended. Link / Link

Paper towels work too.

 

I hadn't considered static, but I usually don't use cloths on components, I save them for cases for the most part.

[Vectraat]

1 minute ago, Phentos said:

70% should be okay. I am OCD about PC cleaning though, so I use nothing less than 95%. 

 

Microfiber cloths are best to use.

Yeah, I'm kinda OCD too about the cleaning lol. 

Yeah, but the microfiber cloths are static magnets? Some people are on the fence about using them. And I guess you have to wash them after a while and they'd get lint on them? 

You're talking about these kinda cloths right?

[Vectraat]

1 minute ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

Paper towels work too.

 

I hadn't considered static, but I usually don't use cloths on components, I save them for cases for the most part.

Hmmm I use paper towel a lot and they tend to tear and shed all over everything (not as bad as tissue does, but I stopped using paper towel to clean stuff because of fibers). That would definitely be an issue when going over a video card or motherboard. Need something that doesn't rip or generate static electricity. 

[Phentos]

2 minutes ago, Vectraat said:

Yeah, I'm kinda OCD too about the cleaning lol. 

Yeah, but the microfiber cloths are static magnets? Some people are on the fence about using them. And I guess you have to wash them after a while and they'd get lint on them? 

You're talking about these kinda cloths right?

Yes. 

 

Microfiber cloths can be prone to static discharge if you dry them in laundry. So I typically just use them for cleaning non-electronic components or cables in a computer. For the actual components, you'll want to use alcohol wipes, paper towels (not recommended unless you have nothing else) or anti static cloths (not cheap). 

 

Alcohol wipes sold in grocery stores are robust enough that they can safely be used to clean around components so long as you don't use the same wipe for very long. Probably 15-20 seconds total per wipe. Wasteful but still better than leaving fibers all over. Use compressed air afterward to blow out loose dirt and any residual fibers.

[Vectraat]

1 minute ago, Phentos said:

Yes. 

 

Microfiber cloths can be prone to static discharge if you dry them in laundry. So I typically just use them for cleaning non-electronic components or cables in a computer. For the actual components, you'll want to use alcohol wipes, paper towels (not recommended unless you have nothing else) or anti static cloths (not cheap). 

 

Alcohol wipes sold in grocery stores are robust enough that they can safely be used to clean around components so long as you don't use the same wipe for very long. Probably 15-20 seconds total per wipe. Wasteful but still better than leaving fibers all over. Use compressed air afterward to blow out loose dirt and any residual fibers.

Ok, that sounds like it'll work for me.

Do you have any links to anti static cloths that you consider "good"? I'll try looking for them in my area. And are you able to wash them or is that going to create a problem as it will with the microfiber cloths? I mean, if they're anti-static I'd imagine washing them is fine. 

[Phentos]

3 minutes ago, Vectraat said:

Ok, that sounds like it'll work for me.

Do you have any links to anti static cloths that you consider "good"? I'll try looking for them in my area. And are you able to wash them or is that going to create a problem as it will with the microfiber cloths? I mean, if they're anti-static I'd imagine washing them is fine. 

I personally don't use anti static cloths as I feel they aren't worth the price compared to cheaper microfiber (for general use) or disposable alcohol wipes for cleaning PC components. I mentioned them because I know others who do use them to clean their PCs. Using a clothes dryer will cause static buildup on any cloth surface, so washing them is counter-intuitive if you want to use one of these for only PC component cleaning.

 

What I use to clean PCs are microfiber cloths for cleaning off caked on gunk accumulated on case parts, fans, cables, and drive covers. I then use disposable alcohol wipes for cleaning actual components though I have thought of trying contact cleaner (the cleaner I mentioned before). If the PC just has loose dust built up around things, a good can of compressed air is good enough.

 

Never use a vacuum cleaner to clean a PC though, unless you use one that is specifically designed for cleaning computer hardware.  

[Vectraat]

8 minutes ago, Phentos said:

I personally don't use anti static cloths as I feel they aren't worth the price compared to cheaper microfiber (for general use) or disposable alcohol wipes for cleaning PC components. I mentioned them because I know others who do use them to clean their PCs. Using a clothes dryer will cause static buildup on any cloth surface, so washing them is counter-intuitive if you want to use one of these for only PC component cleaning.

 

What I use to clean PCs are microfiber cloths for cleaning off caked on gunk accumulated on case parts, fans, cables, and drive covers. I then use disposable alcohol wipes for cleaning actual components though I have thought of trying contact cleaner (the cleaner I mentioned before). If the PC just has loose dust built up around things, a good can of compressed air is good enough.

 

Never use a vacuum cleaner to clean a PC though, unless you use one that is specifically designed for cleaning computer hardware.  

Yeah, I wouldn't use a vacuum cleaner to suck. Although, I know some people who reverse vacuum cleaners to blow, and I've done it before on keyboards but never on the inside of a computer---not everyone agrees with that idea because they say you're blowing random particles on your gear. I know Linus has suggested it in a video before. Everyone seems to have their own way of cleaning their equipment, I just want to pick one way that's safe and works. Too many people suggest methods that aren't safe or can potentially lead to other issues. I'm really not sure why people are so divided/misinformed on this topic.  

This is what I ordered earlier: Link

[Phentos]

1 minute ago, Vectraat said:

Yeah, I wouldn't use a vacuum cleaner to suck. Although, I know some people who reverse vacuum cleaners to blow, and I've done it before on keyboards but never on the inside of a computer---not everyone agrees with that idea because they say you're blowing random particles on your gear. I know Linus has suggested it in a video before. Everyone seems to have their own way of cleaning their equipment, I just want to pick one way that's safe and works. Too many people suggest methods that aren't safe or can potentially lead to other issues. I'm really not sure why people are so divided/misinformed on this topic.  

This is what I ordered earlier: Link

Seems like the topic of what to use to clean computer components can be surprisingly divisive like most things about the PC gaming world.

 

That duster will work well in conjunction with alcohol wipes for cleaning up stubborn dirt or dust.

[Peskanova]

Vacuum cleaner , brush and a straw(if you dont have compressed air a straw can save your life )  , and those antistatic microfiber that use to clean my glasses, when I dont use more on the glasses I save to clean my computer.

edit: first remove dust then use the vacuum dont use the vacuum directly

[Vectraat]

15 hours ago, Phentos said:

Seems like the topic of what to use to clean computer components can be surprisingly divisive like most things about the PC gaming world.

 

That duster will work well in conjunction with alcohol wipes for cleaning up stubborn dirt or dust.

Now that I think about it, how long should I wait to power on my computer after I use the alcohol wipes? Or it doesn't matter and I can turn it on right after? 

[Phentos]

3 hours ago, Vectraat said:

Now that I think about it, how long should I wait to power on my computer after I use the alcohol wipes? Or it doesn't matter and I can turn it on right after? 

To be safe, a half hour or so. If the ambient air is hot you won't have to wait as long. 

[Godlygamer23]

19 hours ago, Vectraat said:

Hmm, a few videos I watched said 70% Isopropyl Alcohol is fine. Does it really need to be 95-99%? 

What would you use for a rag/cloth if you're not using the wipes (due to fibers being left behind)?

A higher isopropyl alcohol concentration will evaporate faster.