My dog got urine on the front of my desktop case and some connectors, and it may have reached a drive. The PC is unplugged and I have not turned it on. Dabbing with 91% isopropyl alcohol has not removed the smell. Is it safe to pour alcohol over the affected parts?
How should I clean dog urine off my unplugged PC?
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FieldNotes+8
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Don’t pour alcohol into an assembled PC. Unplug everything, then take the system apart so you can tell what actually got wet. Clean the empty case separately, and handle each electronic part according to where the liquid reached it. Let everything dry fully before reconnecting power.
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Urine leaves residue, so getting rid of the visible wetness or smell isn’t the only concern. If it reached a motherboard, card, or drive connector, avoid powering it up and clean the affected area carefully with electronics-safe methods. A soft brush can help with residue, but don’t scrub components or assume a quick wipe is enough.
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For the bare case, remove all components first. The case can be washed and dried separately, but keep water and cleaning products away from the electronics. For components, use a small amount of suitable isopropyl alcohol on the affected area rather than dunking parts or pouring it over an assembled system. Give them ample time to dry before testing.
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If the urine got into a power supply, I would not open it or try to rinse it. A contaminated power supply is a good reason to consult a repair shop or replace it. The same goes for any part where liquid may have entered an enclosed area you can’t safely clean.
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FieldNotes+8:
Would a drive be safe to clean the same way if urine might have reached its connectors?
BiscuitMetric:
Be cautious with the drive itself. Don’t open its sealed housing. If liquid reached the connectors, clean only the exterior contacts and casing, and consider professional help if the data matters.