PCA Forums

how offen and what do you use to clean dust bunny's out of your computer !

when I open it, and that is rare... I just use can air

i said monthly, but a more accurate answer is every 6 months. I run a big old air cleaner in the office here because I smoke, yet I hate smoke (Weird right, I know).
Used to need to clean em out every week or so before I got em, afterwards, even only going in every 6 months or so there really isnt a whole lot of dust to clean out, i just use some canned air and 2 seconds later Im done.

THis air cleaner rocks, it's a big one made for a room about 4 times larger then mine, so all the air in the room goes through it something like 22 times and hour hehe

I said monthly, but it is questionable.

I use wood heat and we smoke too. Add to that we live off a dusty dirt road in the woods. Get enough traffic by the place to get lots of dust when it's been dry out.

Mine never has the side on it, so when the cpu sink turns brown, or the first DDR stick looks brown and fuzzy like a real mouse I clean it. Since mine runs about 4 times as much as the other 2 main systems, I clean those less. Also they have the covers on, so it don't show so bad

I used canned air once, too expensive. I have a canistor vacume, I connect the hose to the air out side and blow the system out that way. Just as good as canned air to me. After all, the canned air may be cleaner, but what are you doing with it? Stirring up a large dust bowl! So whats the difference really?

Also I use the canister vac to suck out alot of the dust and dirt too. Being careful not to static shock anything I suck out the worst of the large stuff I can get to, then reverse the hose to blow out the rest.
If I get a large dust cloud, and I often do, then I reverse the hose again and try to suck out most of the dust cloud.

If it gets really bad I have a 1500psi pressure washer I can use
Haven't needed it yet though, so I just use that on the cars for now.

I use paper towels and q-tips to wipe down the fans and such.

not as often as I should. fricken caned air is SO expensive now adays.

Greg

Originally posted by nexus_7
not as often as I should. fricken caned air is SO expensive now adays.

Greg

I always get it when it is free after rebate

We have six (yes six) cats, so it's a battle to keep them clean.

Monthly I clean the air filter. Any time I open the rig to tweak, tinker or upgrade (maybe every 2 or 3 months) it gets at least a vacuum (if I don't need to move it) or a full blow out with a compressor if it's gotta go on the bench in the garage anyway.

IMPORTANT: It's VERY tempting to blow air on the fans and listen to the satisfying whirring sound they make BUT this is NOT a good thing to do. A blast of air (even from a can of air) will spin most fans (especially the small ones on vid cards and chipsets) MUCH faster than they're rated max RPMs and you WILL damage the bearings, or shorten their lives.

ALWAYS hold the fan blade with a finger, or jam a screw driver in it to keep it from spinning while you blow it out (needless to say the power should be off).

ALSO if you use a compressor like I do ALWAYS drain the water out of the tank after EVERY USE (fancy more expensive units have a dryer). Otherwise a lot of moisture builds up inside which A) rusts the compressor's tank and B) will spray wet goop on your electronics if you let it get real wet in there which will ruin your board.

Costco has a good deal on canned air.. like 12 bucks for 4 16oz cans i think it is... that air at BB OM OD are rediculous in price...

i use a shop vac to blow them out when i work on them or when i need to find something for #2 son to do also use a 2" paintbrush to clean off cards, etc.

i usually clean it once a month. Sometimes every 3 weeks.

I use the cans of compressed air to clean out the majority of dust. Then I use a dirty sock, and wipe down the bottom/sides of the case, trays, etc....
I find the sock is easy to use cause
a) i have a lot of socks

b) toss in with the rest of the laundry when done dusting

clean? HA. Cleaning is for the weak!

~2 months.

I clean out my cases.. I use an Air Brush compressor, works great. I go over it with a 2" paint brush like John when it's really thick first, then AB it.. eGo

When ever I have to change their litter.

i head down to the garage
fill my air tank to 150 PSI
put on my concentrator nozzle
and KABLAM!
dust clouds everywhere
its kinda scary the first time the air is so powerfull it bends the pcb's
of course i take the pc outside when i do this