I've been seeing a lot of people worried about using 70% alcohol for cleaning their electronics, and I'm a bit concerned too. Since 70% is mostly water, I'm wondering if using 99% alcohol would be a better option for cleaning. If I use the 99% alcohol, can I start up my PC immediately after cleaning, or do I need to wait for it to dry completely? Any advice would be appreciated!
4 Answers
Definitely go for isopropyl alcohol instead of ethanol. Isopropyl is what's commonly available at a high purity, usually around 99.99%. It's excellent for cleaning PC components without leaving a residue. Also, you don't need it dripping wet; it evaporates really quickly. Just be careful not to use it on screens or plastics, as those can get damaged.
But isn't 70% still fine for cleaning? It just takes longer to dry, right?
I've used 70% to clean thermal paste before, it's fine, just takes longer to dry. If you're in a pinch, it's not going to ruin your components. But for the purest results, stick with isopropyl alcohol, preferably 90% or higher.
I agree, I've cleaned with plain water before too. As long as you're careful and let it dry, it’s usually fine.
Haha, totally. I've cleaned off paste with just some water and a cloth! Never had problems.
It's actually the impurities in water that can be problematic for electronics, not the H20 itself. So while using 70% alcohol, just make sure it’s from a clean source. And yes, 99% is better as it evaporates quickly—just let it dry before turning on your PC to be safe.
Got it! I'll make sure to wait a bit after cleaning with 99%. Thanks!
Yeah, it's all about allowing time for drying. A few minutes always helps.
While 99% ethanol can be used, it's often pricey and may not perform any better than isopropyl. Isopropyl is much cheaper and widely available, plus it does a great job without the higher cost.
Yeah, I looked up prices, and wow, 99% ethanol can really add up!
For sure, I grab my isopropyl for only a couple bucks at the pharmacy. No need for the expensive stuff.
True, and ethanol isn't as effective for cleaning compared to isopropyl. 99% will dry way faster, which is a big plus.