I recently received my brother's old PC, and it's been sitting here collecting a good amount of dust. I use it every day but I'm not very tech-savvy and I'm unsure how to clean it properly without causing any damage. Any tips on the best methods or tools to use?
5 Answers
I just take mine outside and use compressed air to get the dust out. Honestly, it works great for me and I haven’t run into any issues.
An electric duster would be best if you can get one, but a dry cloth and a toothbrush can do the trick as well. Just make sure to clear out the heat sinks too, they can get pretty gunky!
First off, make sure to hold your fans in place when you're cleaning. If they spin while you're spraying them with air, it might send voltage into the motherboard or CPU/GPU and that can cause some serious issues. Use a can of compressed air designed for electronics—keep it upright and just do short bursts to blow the dust away. After a few sprays, let everything sit for a moment before going back for more.
Unless you're trying to see how fast you can spin the fan, it’s really not a big deal!
It really depends on how dusty it is. Compressed air is a solid choice, just make sure the PC is unplugged and you're outside with low wind. If it's really bad, maybe get a vacuum. And definitely wear a mask to avoid inhaling all that dust.
I recommend investing in an electric air duster—around 100,000 to 150,000 RPM, they're about $30 on Amazon. They last longer than canned air and are safer for your equipment. Plus, most come with attachments for more detailed cleaning.
It sounds like there might be more going on than just dust if the PC isn’t starting up properly. Sometimes cleaning helps, but if it's still acting up and going to a black screen, it might need a professional check-up. Just remember, PCs usually last about 5-7 years, so keep that in mind if it’s from 2020—it could be on its way out.
Does that hold true if the PC is unplugged?