I accidentally spilled a fair amount of soda on my PC tower, which has a mesh top. I quickly turned it off, unplugged it, and flipped it upside down. Upon checking the internals, I found a few water droplets on some components, and the fans are quite wet. I'm uncertain about the best way to dry it out. I hope letting it air dry will help, but I'm worried about potential rust or corrosion during that time. I thought about using a hair dryer for the major parts, but I'm concerned it might cause damage. What should I do?
4 Answers
Definitely avoid using a hair dryer! It can blow liquid into hard-to-reach places and make things worse. Instead, try using 99% isopropyl alcohol and some Q-tips to carefully clean the components. This will help minimize residue and make sure everything dries properly without causing further damage.
I'd recommend using high-proof isopropanol and a toothbrush for cleaning. Don't be stingy with it! Make sure to give the main components a thorough cleaning. Let everything dry out for a couple of days before putting it back together—that way, you reduce the risk of any lingering moisture causing issues when you power it back on.
Soda can get super sticky once it dries, so make sure to use high concentration isopropyl alcohol. It’s key to prevent any residue from forming on the parts. If it were my machine, I’d strip it down and clean each component with IPA before reassembly.
If there's any sticky residue, a little bleach on a rag can help, but don’t soak it. Just enough to wipe the gunk off. And whatever you do, do NOT turn on the computer until you’re sure everything is dry. It might be better to replace a single part than risk frying the entire system!
Thanks for the tip! I definitely want to avoid any long-term damage.