How To Clean a Computer

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How to Clean a Computer

Do you have a dirty computer? A dirty computer can lead to an overheated computer and then a non-working computer. You should clean your computer every couple years to make sure that it runs at it's peak!

Tools

Dusty Computer
Phillips Head Screw Driver
Air Compressor with blower attachment. Canned air can also be used as a substitute
Dust Mask or Cloth to keep dust out of your mouth
Small Pliers
Garbage Can/Bag

SAFETY FIRST!!!

We need to set down a few important ground rules before we start poking around in your computer. First and most importantly, touch the computer case before you touch anything in your computer. This will discharge any static electricity that may have accumulated on yourself. Static can wreak havoc on a computer. Secondly, make sure you are working in a coll-dry environment and that your hands are dry. Thirdly, if you unplug any cables from your computer to move it while cleaning it, make sure that you unscrew the cables that are screwed in instead of yanking them. If you pull on them and don't unscrew them, you WILL have to buy a new computer. Ready? Okay!

The How-To

First, you need to take off the outside case on your computer. This step can vary by the manufacturer of the case or computer. To determine the side that needs to be taken off, look at the back of your computer. The side that the cables plug in to is the side opposite to the side of the case you need to take off. Sometimes the entire case slides off, but this is usually on older computers, usually about 10 years or older. You may need to unscrew a few screws on the back of the case or push a lever and put some muscle into it to get it off. Then the case just slides off. See the picture to the left for any help.

Take the small pliers and pull out any thick pieces of dust and throw them away in the garbage can or bag. This step is mainly for computers that haven't been cleaned in a while or not at all. Alternatively, you can use a vacuum for this step, but it is highly un-recommended due to static charge being built on the carpet with the brush. Remember, static can ruin your computer!

(For Air Compressors) Turn your compressor on and attach the blower nozzle to the end of the air compressor hose.

Next, put on the dust mask or hold the cloth over your mouth and blow some dust out of the computer while holding the blower close to the components inside the computer. Be sure to keep moving the blower around to get the most coverage between the nooks-and-crannies in the computer. Be sure to blow between cards situated in the case. Also, try not to touch any other parts inside the computer with the blower. You can stop when you don't see any more debris floating around inside the computer.

Now, we will focus on fans. Take the toothpick and use it to hold any fans in place. Hold one fan at a time. Blow the dust out of the fan with the blower, making sure not to let the fan spin. Don't be afraid to get close to the fan to blow off any dust! IF THE FAN SPINS WHILE THE COMPUTER IS OFF, IT COULD BREAK THE FANS! This would cause the computer to overheat because of lack of ventilation. Clean the Fans Repeat this step for any fans that are inside of your computer. You may need to remove a guard or two to get to another fan, just be sure to replace them after you have cleaned them! There may be a fan on the front of the case, on the back, or even on the sides.

For any fans that are positioned on the back panel of the computer, you can put the toothpick through the ventilation holes in the back. There is always at least one fan. This is usually located at the top of the back panel. This is in the power supply and keeps the power supply cool. Put the toothpick in the back panel and make sure you are holding the fan stationary. Then blow into the fan. Keep moving the blower around while blowing out the power supply because there is usually a lot of dust inside it. Once you don't see any dust flying through the air around your computer, it is clean. Just give it a burst of air moving the blower around quickly and in a random order to blow out any dust that is left.

Conclusion

So, if you just clean your computer out every few months, it will run at maximum performance, and use less electricity. A dusty computer runs hotter and needs more electricity to run because it is slower and needs more time to process information. See, just a few minutes out of every few months will save time on your computer and save some money, too!