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Help me clean my baby.

Regicid3Regicid3 Registered User regular
I need to dust out the inside of my tower and clean my LCD, what do I do?

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Posts

  • xYUUBINKYOKUxxYUUBINKYOKUx Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    just go get a can of compressed air then take it outside and spray all the dust out. As for the LCD I usually just use a swiffer duster.

    xYUUBINKYOKUx on
  • Xenocide GeekXenocide Geek Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    you can also use a vacuum cleaner.

    just be gentle when touching components, and make sure you periodically touch something metal. static charges can build when using the vacuum.

    i always use a vacuum to clean my shit, though, and i've never once shocked something.

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  • DiannaoChongDiannaoChong Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    you can also use a vacuum cleaner.

    just be gentle when touching components, and make sure you periodically touch something metal. static charges can build when using the vacuum.

    i always use a vacuum to clean my shit, though, and i've never once shocked something.

    The last person I met that stuck a vacuum inside their computer came out of the deal with every component fried. I would say its a horrible idea. Go buy a can of compressed air and dont risk anything. Also, when he says touch something metal, he dosent mean a component. the above is a really terrible idea all around and dispite him being able to do it safely, It really shouldnt be recommended.

    20$ buys you some nice TV and LCD cleaner that will last you close to forever. I bought a bottle of the monster stuff on sale years ago and I still have plenty of the stuff left while using liberally.

    Any canned air will do from an electronics shop/best buy/staples for blowing out dust from your machine. Keep the can level with the table as you blow air, bend the straw/tube that comes with it to get a different angle on how the air blows onto the spot you want it. Changing the angle of the can can cause chemicals to come out, which can cause damage to your components/skin if it gets on them.

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  • TrentusTrentus Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Or if you have an air compressor handy, you can use that too. My old boss used to have this little hand held compressor. It was noisy as hell, but handy for when we needed to blow out a machine and didn't have any of the canned stuff available.

    Trentus on
  • contrabandcontraband Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    do not vacuum the inside of your computer

    Compressed air works fine. I've even used a large shop air compressor at a high psi, and my computer is fine. Blow, but don't suck.

    contraband on
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  • TransparentTransparent Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Just remember that if white stuff's coming out of the compressed air can that's bayud, mkay. Keep the can upright using that little red straw to aim, and use short bursts of air.

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  • DeusfauxDeusfaux Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    vacuuming a computer should be done with the bristle attachment, and not directly touching the components.

    or/and you can stick it in one corner and use it in conjunction with an air can to suck up all the unsettled dust blown off things

    Deusfaux on
  • SilvoculousSilvoculous Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    and use short bursts of air.

    This is key. It's sprt-sprt-sprrrt-sprrt-sprrt-sprt, not sprrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt

    You'll find out in very short order if you're doing it wrong.

    Silvoculous on
  • Xenocide GeekXenocide Geek Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    i guess all 15+ years of vacuuming computers without ever once frying a component was just luck

    where the hell is the eye rolling emoticon when you need it

    i don't use cans of compressed air because when you're working in an environment with other electrical components (such as having the computer propped up on a work bench in an office, with other components around you), blowing dust into the air is a pretty fucking stupid idea.

    it also makes you sneeze.

    bristle or not, both work. clearly, don't drag the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner over your shit harshly, but that's just common sense

    Xenocide Geek on
    i wanted love, i needed love
    most of all, most of all
    someone said true love was dead
    but i'm bound to fall
    bound to fall for you
    oh what can i do
  • Brodo FagginsBrodo Faggins Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    I second the vacuum method, been cleaning this tower for years with the handheld attachment.

    Brodo Faggins on
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  • blanknogoblanknogo Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    I also clean my computers with vacuum cleaners. It's not that hard with a little common sense. I don't touch the components directly, I just hover over top and suck off as much of the loose dust as possible.

    Using a vacuum in conjunction with compressed air is also a solid idea.

    blanknogo on
  • zanetheinsanezanetheinsane Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    For the LCD I second the recommendation of a small bottle of commercial cleaner if you have a soft screen (not the hard glossy kind). Be very careful about using just anything on it, as you could seriously fuck it up.

    Basically avoid anything with ammonia in it. Most cleaners are just 50% isopropyl alcohol, so you can use a standard bottle (most will be like 90%) and mix 1 parts alcohol and 1 parts water and be pretty safe, just make sure it's diluted. Use a very soft cloth, paper towels are too abrasive.

    zanetheinsane on
  • Monolithic_DomeMonolithic_Dome Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    I usually dual-wield a hand vac and a can of compressed air.

    psssst - dust blows in the air

    vrrrr -dust gets sucked into the cannister.

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  • Moe FwackyMoe Fwacky Right Here, Right Now Drives a BuickModerator Mod Emeritus
    edited July 2008
  • CyvrosCyvros Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Trentus wrote: »
    Or if you have an air compressor handy, you can use that too. My old boss used to have this little hand held compressor. It was noisy as hell, but handy for when we needed to blow out a machine and didn't have any of the canned stuff available.

    Also, this can be very fun. Once got paid to take apart six or seven old towers and clean them out with a fairly hefty air compressor. Loud, but fun.

    But I'll agree with those advocating a nice can of compressed air. I found it safer than a vacuum because I used to have this amazing ability to (almost) injure myself with just about anything.

    Cyvros on
  • AiranAiran Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    ITT Vacuums VS Compressed Air? Why not both? Vacuum the dust which has been blown out by the compressed air, causes no accidental sneezes or whatever.

    I personally use a vacuum and have never shorted my PCs. However, I only touch the fans, and place the vacuum tube slight above any dust on the motherboard to suck it up. I also remove the power cord completely to avoid any sort of electrocution.

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  • mastmanmastman Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Not gonna lie, I thought this was about a human baby and I read threads backwards. So, I came here and scrolled down fast to the OP but at a glance I saw and was terrified by seeing vacuum, dual wield vacuum, short bursts of air.

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  • TofystedethTofystedeth Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Sounds like a good reason to start reading threads the way God intended.

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