How to Clean your PC DIY

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This is my simple Do-it-Yourself tutorial on how to properly and safely clean your PC without the unnecessary hiccups. I have included the pertinent steps that we must undertake to ensure the best possible cleaning regimen.

Step 1

Before all else begins, power down or shutdown your PC and remove all power cables. Ensure too that we remove all cables from peripheral devices. As a rule of thumb, it is prerogative that we label all cords, cables and devices properly either with a masking tape or labeling sticker so as to ensure we never forget to put them back into place during re-assembly of our unit. For precaution, make yourself properly grounded using a wrist grounding strap before opening the PC case. Place all the screws in a secured place so you will avoid losing it.

Step 2

Use isopropyl alcohol moistened into a lint-free fabric to wipe dirt off the external case and monitor. Be gentle in wiping and not force your hands too hard on delicate parts like DVD drives. For the keyboard, use a nylon brush to take-off dust and turn it over to force accumulated dirt out off it. Disassemble the mouse, remove dirt from inside with a cotton-bud soaked with alcohol. Remove also the mouse ball and cleanse it with lint-free fabric moistened with alcohol, reassemble afterwards.

Step 3

If your PC is a busy workstation, then your case fan and/or exhaust fans should be clogged with dust, dirt, hair, cottons or if there insect infestation in your area – spider webs. Air can’t pass through dirt and dust and it may cause instability, overheat and sub-performance for your PC. It is necessary that we eliminate these gremlins. And for smokers (though I myself ain’t a smoker), it makes dust sticky and gum-like, making it more susceptible to soft shorts.

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Step 4

Some tech heads will probably advise you to use an air-pressured aerosol to clean the internal of your workstation. I ask for some amount of caution however for if we do this with neglect we may damage certain delicate parts of our unit. The same goes with vacuums. I choose portable vacuums over others as it draws lesser power and light pull from your PC. Placing a big vacuum over your PC may cause permanent damage to sensitive PC parts. So be very weary in performing this step. Hold still your fan while cleaning with a vacuum or airspray to prevent damage to its bearings. Remove all dirt, cobwebs, insect dungs, cockroach eggs, dust and grime from your PC. Other people might also ask you to use paint brush other materials to clean your motherboard or other PC parts, but I am against this as it may unnecessarily cause permanent damage or make certain parts static.

Step 5

Prevent further accumulation of dust. Use an airfilter, like the ones provided bundled with your motherboard, and place them over your exhaust fan to prevent dust from coming inside whilst allowing air to come out still. After sometime, ensure that the airfilters are washed and dried, ready for reuse. Elevate your PC and place it away from dust sources. I also suggest we use magic fleece to dampen sound emanating from PC peripherals. Keep it also away from Pets or other wool or hairy fabric to prevent hair from accumulating inside your unit. Avoid placing other clutter and unnecessary objects, like ash tray near your PC which may cause dirt or dust to come inside it. And please, do not place your PC near a window with air blowing next to it, you might as well place it outside your house and invite the dust bins to party. That’s it. Happy cleaning!

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