To clean dust from your PC, firstturn it off,remove all connections, andtake it outside. Use a compressed air can or air duster toblow out debris and dust bunniesfrom each component.

You may even utilize a brush with soft bristles and microfiber towels to do the needful. I often use Q-tips dipped in Isopropyl Alcohol toget rid of the tough stains.

There certainly isn’t one standard way to clean your PC. But there are a few delicate things to keep in mind. My demonstration will give you a precise understanding of what to do.

Gather Necessary Tools

As I said earlier, you need to first grab acan of compressed airor anair duster.

I understand that not everybody owns this. However, these are the best bets when cleaning any PC component. So, I highly recommend purchasing one.

I’ll be usingFulljion’s Compressed Air Dusterto demonstrate the cleaning process today. But if you want a cheaper option, a compressed air can (specialized for cleaning PCs) or even aSilicon Air Blowershould suffice.

Besides, here are some other tools I recommend as I’ve always preferred them for cleaning my PC parts:

Prepare Yourself

Before you begin,take your PC outsideandplace it on a tidy surface. Do not clean t inside your home as the process can lead to dust storms, eventually increasing the burden.

Tip:While PC damage due to static electricity is quite rare, it’s wise toground yourselfto be super-safe. Use ananti-static wrist bandor if you’re already wearing anti-static gloves, that should be enough.

Now, start bytaking out all the PC panels–both the side and the one on the front. The exact process varies depending on your PC case.

If yours are tightened with thumb screws, you may unscrew them using bare fingers. But if it’s an older PC case, you’ll need a screwdriver.

Take extra care when removing the front panel. Apply force but not too much – or you may end up breaking thepressure clips/tabs.

Also, some come with a dedicated cable and button for RGB, which needs to be unplugged accordingly.

Somebest airflow PC casescome withdust filtersat the top and bottom. These accumulate a significant amount of dust, so kindly take them off.

Note that cleaning the inner section can accumulate dust over your graphics card. So, I recommend removing it as well.

Start With Air Duster to Clean the PC Case

Caution:Avoid usingvacuum cleanersorhair dryers. These can lead to static discharge and some can even be too powerful, which may damage the PC components.

Now that you’re ready, useshort burstsof compressed air to blow dust from the PC parts. Start from the top section (where filters used to sit), as demonstrated below.

Once that’s done and dusted, repeat the process in theback part as well as the side. ensure you remove dust from every section. Thegaps between the cablesmight be dirty – blow off the particles from there as well.

Lay the PC case flat and use the same air blower toremove dust from the bottom section. This part is a little tricky.

Choose the proper direction such that all the dust comes off from the side, otherwise, dust may accumulate over the motherboard.

It’s now time toclean the PSU enclosure/shroud. As you may see, the top of this section has accumulated the most dust in my scenario. So, I’ve blown air in and out to ensure the surface is tidy.

Dust Removal From Fans and Motherboard

The case and CPU fans are some other important parts that accumulate the most dust. If not cleaned well, they canproduce loud and irritating noise.

Start with the case fans – clean it from both inside and outside.Hold on to one of the bladesbefore blowing air.

Let’s move on with the CPU fan. I’ve applied the same technique for cleaning theAMD’s Wraith Stealthhere. While at it,clean the heatsinkby pointing the air duster sideways.

A common mistake most users make is they just let the fans spin during the cleaning process, which is not the right thing to do!

You maydamage its bearing(especially, if the fan is of low quality). The worst-case scenario is it may even harm thefan headerif the air duster is too strong.

After blowing air from all the compartments, most dust will likely accumulate in the motherboard. So, start blowing away the dust bunnies from each compartment.

you may even remove the RAM stick(s) andclean the DIMM slotsusing a brush. Repeat the process withPCIeand othermotherboard headers.

Wipe Hard-To-Reach Sections

Air dusters and compressed air cans are great for removing dust and debris that accumulate or stick around the components. But for amuch more thorough cleaning, you’ll need to inspect each section and wipe them accordingly.

Get back to all the areas where you had previously used compressed air, and start wiping the ones that are dusty. It will take time – soyou require patience!

Wipeevery cable and connector. Once you’re in the rear section, brush off dust particles that might have accumulatedover the PCB. Do this very carefully or you may end up damaging theconductive pins.

Repeat the process on all the previous parts – case fans, PSU shroud, CPU cooler, etc. Once you’ve reached the motherboard, clean theVRM (Voltage Regulatory Module)andchipset heatsinks.

As you may see above, some dirt and debris sat right above the M.2 heatsink. So, I’ve wiped it well using a microfiber towel.

Examine every part – including themotherboard slotsand headers to ensure no dust remains. you may evendip the cloth or a Q-tip in Isopropyl alcoholto get rid of the tough stains.

Caution:

Never clean your motherboard withhousehold cleaning productsoralcohol wipes. Even a few drops of water canmake the system board useless.

Do not blindly trust tutorials even if they show you that thecomputer POSTsafter washing the motherboard with water. Those are done for experiment purposes and you certainly do not want to do so with your working PC.

Clean the Ports and Buttons

We have cleaned most parts of the chassis and motherboard. But if you inspect closely, you’ll notice dust accumulation inside the ports too.

Reach out to each of them and use Q-tips totake off the debris stuck inside. you may even use a pair of tweezers topluck out hairs. Follow the same steps for both the case andmotherboard ports.

Also,wipe the I/O shieldusing a clean microfiber cloth. ensure there’s no stain in and around the ports.

Let’s move on with the power/restart button. While it’s rare to accumulate dust here,they might get sticky. This is exactly what happened to me. In such a scenario, use the dampened microfiber and rub it well.

Clean the Panels and Dust Filters

Now, keep the PC on a dust-free surface and bring the dust filters and panels to the working area.

I’m going to start with the front panel. Surprisingly, there were even cobwebs, which clearly show how dirty PCs can get.

ensure you clean each compartment. I’m going to adopt the same above technique – firstblowing off the websusing the compressed air duster followed bywiping itwith a microfiber towel.

Next, clean the side panels. For this, you may even rinse it with water. But ensure it’s100% drybefore fitting it back.

The same is the case for dust filters (if they are too filthy). Clean them in the running water and dry them overnight. Or, you may simply use the compressed air duster like we have done here.

Final Inspection Before Reassembly

Dust accumulation is a natural process. So, don’t be surprised if some sections become dusty again!

Before placing back the panels, inspect each section. Then, wipe down all the partsfrom top to bottom.

Also, clean your graphics card beforereinstalling itandconnecting it to the power supply.

Once everything looks neat and tidy, you mayattach the PC casesandscrew themaccordingly. But before placing it back, ensure you clean your work desk too.

PC Too Dusty? Deep Clean Your PC

If you follow my approachonce every 3 to 4 months, you shouldn’t be worried about dust accumulation anymore. Some professionals claim thatcleaning a PC once every 6 monthsshould be more than enough.

Actually, this completely depends onhow you have positioned your caseandthe environment you’re in. If you’ve placed it in the corner, it’s likely going to attract more dust. The same is the case for users whose rooms get dusted often.

In case you haven’t opened your PC for years or have stored it somewhere, I believe you’re suffering fromclogged fans,dirt in the motherboard slots,depleted thermal paste/pads, andoverheating issues.

The best approach in this scenario isdeep cleaning the computer. This involves removing and cleaning every component andreassembling the PC from scratch.

I’m talking aboutfull PC servicinghere. While I’ll come up with a detailed guide on this subject very soon, here are some basic steps you may try on your own: