How to clean your computer

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(Image credit: Future)

A PC full of dust

Jump to:Dust is the enemyBefore you startTools to helpHow to clean your PC

Anyone that owns a PC has to contend with dust buildup. It’s the bane of PC cooling. Even if you keep your area clean, some buildup will occur over time. It’s made much worse of you have a carpeted room and especially if you have pets.

You can configure your fans however you like, use as many dust filters as you can fit, and make sure your PC is well away from carpets and floor-bound fluff, but at some point, the dust comes for us all.

You can’t escape it, and it’s a good idea to clean your PC now and then if you want to keep your components' temperatures manageable. Here are the methods we use to safely and thoroughly clean out our computers.

Dust is the enemy

Too much dust leads to higher temperatures and a loss of performance

The most important thing to consider when cleaning your case is that we want to make it possible for cool, fresh air to get into the case and hot air to get out. If dust filters are clogged or there’s excess dust collected around the heat sinks, that’s not going to be possible and your system could overheat.

Along with overheating, dust buildup can cost you performance. As temperatures rise, your CPU and GPU will begin to drop below their maximum boost and turbo clocks. In severe cases it can lead to significant throttling, if not shutdowns when your system is under a heavy load.

To counter that, you want to do everything you can to eliminate dust and leave your system fresh and clean.

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Before you start

Getting ready to clean your PC

One of the first signs of a significant dust buildup is when you can see it on the dust filters adjacent to your intake fans. It’s best not to just wipe it off or point a can of compressed air at your PC and hope for the best.

Before you begin, there are a few common sense things to consider.

(Image credit: Future)

a dusty PC heatsink

Tools to help

Get the right tools for the job

(Image credit: Future)

pc clean

How to clean your PC

Dust begone

Get rid of the dust —Dust is one of the biggest enemies when it comes to keeping a PC clean, and it can get everywhere.

You’ve likely already knocked loose a bunch of dust just moving your PC, use a vacuum cleaner to clean up any dust that ends up on the floor. However,don’t use the vacuum directly on the interiorof your case, as there is a real risk of static damage.

Use your can of air, or blower to get as much dust out of your PC as possible. You can often do a pretty good clean without needing to remove any components this way.

If your PC hasn’t been cleaned in a while, there’s a good chance you have dust caked onto the fans, vents, and heat sinks. In this case, a quick dusting might not be enough.

(Image credit: Future)

pc clean

Remove everything you want to clean —If you display your PC like a work of art as much as a functional tool or gaming machine, then you’ll want to do more than just give it a light dusting. For that, we’d recommend removing everything from the case. That means redoing all of your cable management, draining the water-cooling loop, and unhooking all your drive caddies. The end result, though, is worth it.

Note: We still recommend an anti-static wrist band when handling any components. If you don’t have one to hand, periodically touch your PC case to ground yourself.

If there’s only a few things that need the intensive clean treatment, feel free to just grab those out. That being said, it’s worth doing a thorough clean now and then and now’s as good a time as any. Just make sure you reapply thermal paste if you remove the heat sync. If you’re not sure how,read our guide.

Lay it out —Lay everything you’ve removed out on a non conductive surface. This should give you a good opportunity to see what really needs your cleaning attention. You can give them another once over with the compressed air or blower while they’re here.

(Image credit: Future)

pc clean

Wipe everything down —Grab your lint free cloth and wipe any dust build up you can still see. Pay particular attention to any crevices, plastic shrouds, and heat sinks. Thoroughly clean any dust filters too. For fans you can hold the blades still to give them a better clean on the individual blades.
Use some Isopropyl —If there are any fingerprint or oily marks or other stubborn grime, use cotton swabs and isopropyl alcohol or equivalent to wipe them clean. Be very careful and of course, make sure to leave them to dry before putting them back together.
Opening components —Some components, like a graphics card, can get dust build-up inside a covered area. Cleaning these may require disassembling the card, which is possible if you have the right tools (small hex and Torx bits are often required). Hopefully this won’t be required, but if your PC has been extra dusty there might be some caked inside.

(Image credit: Future)

pc clean

There are certain components, like the interior of your PSU, that you aren’t going to be able to clean effectively without taking it apart and voiding your warranty. Doing so can be dangerous, too. Instead, we’d recommend using a can of compressed air with a long straw attached to give it a little blast to dislodge any stubborn dust. When you next turn it on, its own fan and natural airflow should blow any loosened dust out of the rear.

How often should I clean my PC?

To maintain a healthy system, we recommend a light dusting at least every three to six months, or more often if you have pets or live in an especially dusty environment. For deep cleanings, every six months to a year is recommended if you want to maintain peak performance, or every couple of years at the very least to avoid any potential overheating issues.

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Dust is the enemy#

Too much dust leads to higher temperatures and a loss of performance#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

Before you start#

Getting ready to clean your PC#

Tools to help#

Get the right tools for the job#

How to clean your PC#

Dust begone#

How often should I clean my PC?#

Dust is the enemy

Too much dust leads to higher temperatures and a loss of performance

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

Before you start

Getting ready to clean your PC

Tools to help

Get the right tools for the job

How to clean your PC

Dust begone

How often should I clean my PC?