Feather duster PC cleaning

[MajorG]

I just saw online that cleaning a PC with a feather duster is a big "NO-NO". Well.. It's actually pretty obvious.. Static electricity and stuff.
I am always cautios about these things...
But, to be honest, I cleaned my PC's with a feather duster since 2008.. ALL of the parts.
Never had any problems..
Nothing gets the PC cleaner than a feather duster

Could have I done damage without knowing it?
I mean, even though the PC runs fine, Could I damage it somehow?

 

[richc46]

If you caused any problems with your PC, it would be obvious. The most common problems would cause hard drive failure and you would know if that was beginning to happen. My advice is just enjoy your PC and clean it in the proper manner.

 

[MajorG]

If you caused any problems with your PC, it would be obvious. The most common problems would cause hard drive failure and you would know if that was beginning to happen. My advice is just enjoy your PC and clean it in the proper manner.

It's just so weird. Especially that I cleaned my HDD's for ages using a feather duster.. Including the circuit board.
I think I will try and find a static free feather duster. I just can't think of a better cleaning method.

Thanks for the comment.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I use compressed air and either a clean dry tooth brush or various paint brushes and that works fantastic.

 

[oscer1]

i do the same as linnemeyerhere.

 

[MajorG]

I use compressed air and either a clean dry tooth brush or various paint brushes and that works fantastic.

i do the same as linnemeyerhere.

Compressed air from a can?
The ones I saw are made of Burane and Propane gases.. Are they safe to use? Can I sprey them on the hardware itself? Or is it just for general cleaning like fans, case filters and cooling ribs?

 

[oscer1]

yes from a can yes you can blow on every thing. do not shake can keep the can upright. should be good

 

[Barman58]

Any cleaning of the interior should only be performed on a system that is switched off and disconnected from mains power, and left to cool to normal room temperature before starting any work. this is just common sense before opening the case

 

[MajorG]

yes from a can yes you can blow on every thing. do not shake can keep the can upright. should be good

Are you sure? I mean.. It doesn't sound to good to put Butane or Propane on my HW..
It can leave residue too..

Any cleaning of the interior should only be performed on a system that is switched off and disconnected from mains power, and left to cool to normal room temperature before starting any work. this is just common sense before opening the case

Sorry mate, I don't see how this relates to any of my questions.
But yes, I follow these rules.
I also press the start button when the power is off and the PC is disconnected from any power source to get rid of capacitor current. I can see the fans spin a bit when I do so.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Air duster products are safe to use as long as you use them as suggested,
Computer Cleaning & Maintenance | Staples®

 

[Barman58]

I personally use soft brushes and occasionally a photographic blower (manual compression), I also have air extraction, (vacuum cleaner), whilst cleaning, One other thing is that my system cooling is designed for positive internal pressure which tends to reduce accumulation of dust

 

[tinmar49]

Static electricity is a fickle thing, most of the time you get away with ignoring the warnings. I used to work in an engineering co that had lots of pc's on the shop floor for operators to upload work progress and the IT manager often turned up to upgrade/repair the pc's with static sensitive components loose in his jacket pockets, he always got away with it.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Since I was asked I always remove the computers to outdoors and with my garage air compressor I clean the rigs completely and utterly clean. I stop fans from run away spinning and don't blast full power unless cleaning the radiators. Using a soft brush to help loosen dust of fan blades and fins as well as the mobo. The trick is to use common sense which fortunately just comes to me naturally......

 

[malvoglio]

I have a repressed memory but this thread brings it back, of opening a tower case, finding the fan blanketed under a thick layer of dust, using either a blower or a vacuum (don't remember which) and then the dust got off the blades and into the bearings and the fan was ruined forevermore

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I wish all fans were made with detachable blade assemblies so you could use soap and water and dry them before snapping them back on their housings.

 

[AddRAM]

I use the same compressor I use to work on my cars/trucks, carefully, once a year

I clean the screens once a month.

 

[MajorG]

Thanks for the comment, guys.

Since I was asked I always remove the computers to outdoors and with my garage air compressor I clean the rigs completely and utterly clean. I stop fans from run away spinning and don't blast full power unless cleaning the radiators. Using a soft brush to help loosen dust of fan blades and fins as well as the mobo. The trick is to use common sense which fortunately just comes to me naturally......

I am actually very carefull about static electricity in general and always careful when handling sensitive parts.
For some reason, this just slipped away.. I guess that I just got used to cleaning my PC with a feather duster..
It sucks that I will not use it anymore but I'll manage.

I use the same compressor I use to work on my cars/trucks, carefully, once a year

I clean the screens once a month.

I dont have access to any compressors. Just canned versions

 

[linnemeyerhere]

This could be just what the doctor ordered, in the long run it's going to save lots of money !

Amazon.com: Metro Vacuum ED500 DataVac 500-Watt 0.75-HP Electric Duster 120 volt: Home Improvement

 

[MajorG]

This could be just what the doctor ordered, in the long run it's going to save lots of money !

Amazon.com: Metro Vacuum ED500 DataVac 500-Watt 0.75-HP Electric Duster 120 volt: Home Improvement

Amazon doesn't ship appliances to Israel.
Thanks anyway

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I understand but you likely can find this or something like it.