Is it safe to clean pc with compressed air?

[Sonny Fontaine]

Hi all,

It's time to clean my pc from dusts (never done this before). So I'm wondering is it safe to clean it with compressed air can? I mean, can my computer's components be damaged if some cold liquid from compressed air duster gets on them (motherboard, HDD, gpu etc.)?

Thank you!

[FeilDOW]

Messaggio originale di kamk /idle:

Messaggio originale di igloosfolly:

Find a auto repair shop and have them blow it out. Recheck all the cables and your good to go.

...with some high pressure cleaner. That will certainly remove all dust!

Personal 2 cents: get a brush, and a vacuum cleaner. If you don't feel comfy using the latter, put some sock over the tube (i.e. nylon sock).
Keeping fans in place you should always do btw.

A vacuum is a terrible suggestion due to the amount of static electricity they create.

[TehSpoopyKitteh]

Messaggio originale di FeilDOW:

Messaggio originale di kamk /idle:

...with some high pressure cleaner. That will certainly remove all dust!

Personal 2 cents: get a brush, and a vacuum cleaner. If you don't feel comfy using the latter, put some sock over the tube (i.e. nylon sock).
Keeping fans in place you should always do btw.

A vacuum is a terrible suggestion due to the amount of static electricity they create.

So long as the nozzle is more than 8 to 10cm from the case, it shouldn't be a problem. I do it all the time because of my allergies. The reason being is that using compressed air to clean your PC spreads dust everywhere. By having the nozzle close by to suck up the particulate matter, but far enough to not produce an ESD grounding to the motherboard, it shouldn't be a problem. Just don't use an upright vacuum cleaner.

[FeilDOW]

Messaggio originale di The Spoopy Kitteh:

Messaggio originale di FeilDOW:

A vacuum is a terrible suggestion due to the amount of static electricity they create.

So long as the nozzle is more than 8 to 10cm from the case, it shouldn't be a problem. I do it all the time because of my allergies. The reason being is that using compressed air to clean your spreads dust everywhere. By having the nozzle close by to suck up the particulate matter, but far enough to not produce an ESD grounding to the motherboard, it shouldn't be a problem. Just don't use an upright vacuum cleaner.

I would recommended taking your rig outside to blow it out, not much point in blowing the dust in the room your computer is in. I would personally not suggest a vacuum to an inexperienced person over compressed air, it only takes one slip to cost lots of headache and money.

[TehSpoopyKitteh]

Messaggio originale di FeilDOW:

Messaggio originale di The Spoopy Kitteh:

So long as the nozzle is more than 8 to 10cm from the case, it shouldn't be a problem. I do it all the time because of my allergies. The reason being is that using compressed air to clean your spreads dust everywhere. By having the nozzle close by to suck up the particulate matter, but far enough to not produce an ESD grounding to the motherboard, it shouldn't be a problem. Just don't use an upright vacuum cleaner.

I would recommended taking your rig outside to blow it out, not much point in blowing the dust in the room your computer is in. I would personally not suggest a vacuum to an inexperienced person over compressed air, it only takes one slip to cost lots of headache and money.

Well yeah I wouldn't use a vacuum cleaner for what the compressed air was meant to do lol. The vacuum cleaner is only there to catch the particulate matter that's floating down back into the case. One precaution I forgot to mention is that you need to ground yourself to prevent damage to the motherboard.

[Sceles]

Messaggio originale di ugafan:

Messaggio originale di igloosfolly:

Find a auto repair shop and have them blow it out.

lol. okay...

Yes, this is how I do it every time. While you're at it you should also ask them to sandblast and paint your PC case, shouldn't cost more than $30.

[tacoshy]

ground yourself to prevent damage to the motherboard? wtf? If I clean a PC with compressed air or a leaf blower I not touchign the PC espacially the motherboard at all. So why do you need to ground yourself?

[tacoshy]

you dont need a grounding strap to ground you... You just need to touch your case once (on a metal spot) and your grounded. You want the same electrical build up as your PC not as somethign else. Also you dont have an electrical build up as fast as you need to build a PC befor coming in contact with the case anyway...

however this is absolutly unecessary for cleaning a PC at all. ANd if you know how to handle PC hardware even unecessary for building a PC too.

[Azza ☠]

Use short, quick bursts, at multiple angles. The dust should bunny and leap out of the case. Therefore either have the pc case already outside or vacuum the room area around the case (not inside) afterwards.

Unless the compressed air can is an invertible gas duster, avoid spraying upside down. Also, never hold down the spray for long periods.

This is safe, you just need to avoid spinning the fans like crazy for long periods and also avoid spraying too much, as it needs to evaporate with the air.

[Sonny Fontaine]

Thank you all for your informative answers!

Although, reading most of these answers makes me think that to be able spray simple air on your PC parts, person needs to graduate some special training course, lol :D

Done cleaning my PC and it seems everything was pretty simple :)

Thanks again!

[anrkyuk]

Messaggio originale di Omega:

Everyone should own an air compressor, any counter argument is invalid.

Air compressor is love, air compressor is life.

I would argue that everyone should have two !

A portable one for pumping up tyres, blowing/cleaning and for staple guns/pin nailers and a larger unit for sand blasting, polishing, sanding, nail guns, impact wrench, paint spraying !

Just make sure you buy an inline moisture trap if using one as a blower/duster !!!

[MancSoulja]

I clean my PC with a wet cloth, always have. I know, the horror right?

Yet my PC still works fine and I've never damaged a PC because of it.

[anrkyuk]

Messaggio originale di MancSoulja:

I clean my PC with a wet cloth, always have. I know, the horror right?

Yet my PC still works fine and I've never damaged a PC because of it.

I used to use Akasa TIM clean to clean my fans and heatsinks back in the day when I used to smoke, worked a treat !