Spray or wipe the innards?...

[MuuMuu]

Ellos,

I feel like a moron asking this, but should I wipe off the insides, or use an air can to get the dust out of the innards of the puter? It's been about half a year since I took a look in there, and there's dust all over the place. I'm kind of afraid of using air to get it out since it seems like that'll just lodge the particles in more, but wiping it seems like even worse of an idea. Which one's safe?

Thanks,

Muu

 

[fastman]

Air is the safest.

 

[Psychoholic]

And please when you use air make sure it's compressed air in a can. I know someone who took a compressed air shop hose to their computer. <rolleyes>

Evidently he didn't know there's also oil in the shop air as well.

 

[Migroo]

Air is safest yes. I wipe my components with a slightly (I mean VERY slightly) damp lint-free cloth.

The dust sticks to it better. I dont like air as it just moves the dust.

 

[Ryukumu]

I used an air can to dust off my computer's guts. Worked great! ...well... just remember to NOT turn the can upside down... I did on accident and sprayed the CPU fan, the mist was cold enough or something to get the fan stuck and therefore unuseable... had to go buy new one...

 

[QuiltingB]

Compressed air in the can - and I spray the innards at the end of the day after turning it off, and don't turn the computer back on until the next day - to give any moisture that might be left on the circuitry plenty of time to dry.

 

[ChurchOfSubgenius]

I use the vacuum attachment that has the long soft bristles to carefully suck all the little dust bunnies and spiders out, works great on fans.

 

[cetyle]

Air can, don't wanna wipe stuff unless it's like dust on the casing itself. You don't want like the paper catching on something and breaking it, that'd be unfortunate.

 

[DodgyDoug]

Not ideal i know, but i've always got by with blowing the dust away. Same with the anti-static devices, never damaged anything by just handling with a bit of care... Components are designed to be pretty resiliant..

Obviously if it's not my machine i take more care, so no flaming please, just a point of view

 

[Damascus]

<< Air is safest yes. I wipe my components with a slightly (I mean VERY slightly) damp lint-free cloth.

The dust sticks to it better. I dont like air as it just moves the dust. >>



Personally I'd never do that, especially if it's tap water, as you can leave trace
amounts of all sorts of stuff like calcium, magnesium, chlorine, etc from the
water.

 

[corkyg]

Nothing is the perfect solution. I have a very small 1/2 inch wide vacuum wand attachment that I use in conjunction with a camel's hair lens brush (for camera lenses) for some things. The air can is good forothers, but usually in a closed space, that just blows up and resettles somewhere else or where you blew it from. On smooth surfaces inside the case I use a "swiffer" dusting wipe.

Sometimes it is good to remove some items, like fans, and clean them thoroughly with swabs, wipes, and even a clean handkerchief. If you have access to industrial PC board cleaning agents, they work too, but use with care. Some are toxic.