Is it safe to use compressed air to clean a motherboard?

[President Donald Trump]

Is it too rough on the motherboard or is it safe to use? Also wpuld it be safe for blowing dust off components like a GPU fan?

[Omega]

It's the recommended way of cleaning a PC. Just be carefull not to put the nuzzle too close if you are using a powerful air compressor.

[_I_]

cans of compressed air or an aircompressor are the best ways to clean a pc

[Supafly]

Can or compressor are the recommended ways to clean computers. Cleaning fans are fine. Just don't hold powerful streams to close. Use in bursts and stop the fans from spinning wildly.

[nullable]

I tend to use a straightened paper clip or something to hold fan blades in place when cleaning them. Small screw driver could work as well. If you feel the need to get in there.

I use an air compressor and a airgun, cans of air add up, and a small air compressor is pretty cheap, and the airgun attachment was like $20. I kinda wish I had done it years ago.

[Illusion of Progress]

Compressed air, microfiber cloths, electronic brushes (like paint brushes, but typically softer and made to not cause ESD), and electronic vacuums (NOT normal household vacuums which can cause ESD) are fine. Each has pros and cons depending on what you need cleaned. Ideally you'd have a variety of them.

The vacuums are good as they actually suck up dust rather than blow it around the environment. But if you're looking to just get it out of the PC and don't mind cleaning up afterward, sometimes it's easier to find better results to blow it out.

If you go with the air compressors, only thing to watch for is the pressure. Too high is bad.

With air compressors or can air, watch for liquid discharge. Only use the cans holding them straight up to prevent this.

With fans, it's best to unplug them and/or hold them. Too high of pressure can either outright break them, work the bearings, or (though this is said to not be an issue in practice most of the time) turn the fan into 12V generator and send power back into wherever it's plugged into. Best to just unplug it (unless it's a GPU fan) and/or hold it and use a cloth for these where possible.

[Set-115689]

Pretty much hold the fans when blowing them. Blow the air on your hand to get an idea of the pressure. Keep a distance from stuff so you don't blow off stuff you need like thermal pads on the gpu or maybe thermal paste. Basically don't stick the air nozzle in and blast away with high pressure air.