How to Clean Inside a PC
Though overlooked by some PC users, regular computer cleaning is important. Proper cleaning consists of more than just brushing the gunk off the mouse pad or disinfecting the keyboard surface. To ensure a long-lasting, well-functioning computer, you need to clean inside the PC, too. Fortunately, cleaning the inner workings of a PC is relatively easy with just a few simple tools and the proper safety precautions; even novice PC users can perform this basic, vital maintenance.
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Instructions
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1
Turn off and unplug your computer to protect against accidental electric shock.
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2
Let the PC cool down if it was recently in use. Typically, the PC will cool down in less than one hour even if it is quite hot. A hot computer can cause accidental skin burns.
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3
Unscrew the main access panel on your computer. On tower PCs, this is often located on the side. For flat PCs, the top panel is typically removable; however, this panel often wraps around, encasing the sides as well, so you may still need to unscrew the sides to remove the top. If you use a magnetic screwdriver, you won't accidentally lose the screws or--even worse--drop them into the computer's internal components.
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4
Use a can of compressed air with a nozzle to dust out the computer's power supply, holding the can about 2 to 3 inches from the surface of the PC. The power supply is easy to spot; the main power cable runs into the power supply, and the power supply also houses a large fan. When you're spraying the power supply, shoot the air through the fan and other air channels going from the inside of the computer outward. If you blow from the outside in, you'll simply be moving the dust around inside rather than actually expelling it out of the PC. Since the power supply contains the main computer exhaust fan--designed to suck out dust as well as cool the power supply--most excess, hard-to-remove dust will be caked around this primary fan. The fan is a vital component of your PC, and according to Trista Kunce's article in Smart Computing, "a loud whining or grinding noise" during your computer's start up means your power supply is dirty. While you should clean the power supply before it gets to this excessively dirty state, such noises are a strong indicator that you're overdue for another internal cleaning.
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Spray the wide internal cables running out of your power supply, too. These can often trap dust as it is blown toward the power supply's fan.
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Spray dust through any secondary fans on your computer, always making sure to spray from the inside, pushing dust through the fan toward the outside of the PC.
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Give the rest of the internal components a quick pass with the compressed air. Typically, dust will be centralized near fans, but it doesn't hurt to be on the safe side.
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Spray the external components only after you're confident that you've gotten rid of all the internal dust. You'll want to use the compressed air to dust out USB ports or other empty ports on your machine. Ports that are continually attached to external devices do not need to be dusted, since the cable inserted into the port essentially plugs up the hole and makes it almost impossible for dust to get in.
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Re-attach the main access panel and screw it back in. Make sure to clean the inside of your PC every two to three months or more often if you hear the audible warning previously mentioned in Step 4.
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Tips & Warnings
Always use compressed air when cleaning; air is benign and gentle to your computer's components.
Never directly touch components or rub any cleaning solutions on the internal components as this can damage your computer.
