How To Clean Dust From PC Without Compressed Air: A Step-by-step Guide

If you are wondering how to clean dust from your PC without using compressed air, there is a very easy and quick cleaning process. This way, neither you’ll need to spend a lot of money on buying compressed air, nor you’ll need to work on a PC that doesn’t work well due to dust.

So, in this article, you’ll get informed about all the essential steps of the PC cleaning process in detail. Continue reading to see how to clean dust from PC without compressed air and get back to your smooth working routine.

How To Clean Dust From PC Without Compressed Air?

You can clean your PC by following an eleven-step cleaning process. Here, you won’t need compressed air but a few tools and cleaning items. So, the prerequisites of the cleaning method include a screwdriver, a toothbrush or paintbrush, cotton pads, cotton swabs, a piece of microfiber cloth, and isopropyl alcohol.

– Main Steps for Cleaning a PC From Dust

Once you’ve gathered all items needed to perform the task, you should move toward the steps of the cleaning process. Please have a look at the detailed steps listed below and their explanations that have been written just below the list of the steps.

1. Shut down your computer and let it cool down.
2. Shift your PC to a balcony with enough natural light.
3. Reassemble the PC case.
4. Deep clean the PC case.
5. Cleanse the cooler and the socket.
6. Make the graphics card dust-free.
7. Clean the power supply.
8. Remove the dust from the motherboard.
9. Dust off the empty sockets.
10. Fix Back the PC Components.
11. Cleanse your monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Moving towards explaining each cleaning step in detail, here you go with the descriptions of the steps:

1. Shut Down Your Computer and Let It Cool Down

You should shut down your computer and let it stay idle for some time. It will ensure that your PC has got enough rest and it’s not heated up. Remember that you should never start cleaning up your PC without turning it off and letting it cool down. Now you can move on with the next steps.

2. Shift Your PC To a Balcony With Enough Natural Light

It’s always better to clean your PC in a place that has got enough light. This way, you won’t miss any components and be able to clean all the parts properly without stressing your eyes. Moreover, this step offers a better plan than cleaning your PC in a room because it won’t make your room dirty. Also, it would be easier and quicker for you to clean the balcony than your desk, room, your shelves, and all the other stuff surrounding your PC.

Note that if you don’t have a balcony at your home, then you can shift to an empty room, a parking lot, or any place that would be easy to clean later.

3. Reassemble the PC Case

Now, it’s time to use the screwdriver and disassemble your case. Here, you’ll need to separate the peripheral panels and filters from your case. It would be better if you took out the left side panel at first.

4. Deep Clean the PC Case

Once you’ve taken out all the panels and filters, tap them gently to remove dust particles. Next, you should cleanse the same components with a cloth or a brush to ensure that no dust is left behind. Later, you’ll need to clean the inner space of the case as well. So, you can use a cloth or a brush to remove all the dust stuffed inside the case.

Where did you keep those cotton swabs? Once you find them, pick a cotton swab, dip it in the bottle of isopropyl alcohol, and use it to clean the corners, unreachable areas, and fan blades inside the PC case. However, there isn’t any harm in removing the fans from the case for easily cleaning the same.

So, now you know how to clean computer fan without compressed air.

5. Cleanse the Cooler and the Socket

After cleaning the case, get started with cleansing the cooler and the socket. Here, you’ll need to start by disconnecting the cooler from the motherboard. Once you’ve disconnected the same component, you’ll have to remove it. Secondly, you’ll need to pick up a brush and wipe away the dust and dirt from the heat sink’s fins.

However, if it’s not possible to clean the hard, sticky dirt with a brush, then you can opt for alcohol-dipped cotton swabs or a wet brush. But ensure that you are not using a lot of water, and you let the water dry before fixing back the cooler. After cleaning the cooler, have a look at the socket and give it a cleansing favor too.

Lastly, place the cooler back into the socket.

Remember that the cooler plays an important role in cooling down your CPU. Hence, you should not miss the above step.

6. Make the Graphics Card Dust-free

A dust-free graphics card is important for the overall health of your PC. You can clean the graphics card with a brush or a cloth, and a little cleaning will be enough in this step. It won’t take much of your time.

7. Clean the “Power” Supply

Now, you should proceed with the cleaning of the “power” supply. But will you need to remove it from the PC case? Well, if you are sure that you can clean it while it’s in the case, then you can go with your choice. However, if you look for a recommended way, then it would be better to take out the “power” supply and clean it with more concentration.

Note that separating the “power” supply from the case is a risky task, but it is possible if you do it carefully. Once you successfully have the “power” supply out, use a brush, cloth, and alcohol-dipped cotton swabs for cleaning dust.

8. Get Rid of the Dust on the Motherboard

You can get rid of the dust on the motherboard with the help of a toothbrush or a paintbrush. A motherboard is easy to clean. Hence, you don’t need to worry about implementing this step.

9. Dust off the Empty Sockets

You might have some sockets in your PC that haven’t been used for a long time. Although you haven’t used them, there can be dust inside them. Therefore, you should thoroughly clean such sockets with a brush while ensuring that you don’t damage them.

10. Fix Back the PC Components

After cleaning all the components, you should now fix all of them in their respective positions.

You can use a screwdriver to fit the peripheral panels and filters.

11. Cleanse Your Monitor, Keyboard, and Mouse

Once you’ve got all the PC components in their places, take a cloth and remove the dust from your monitor, mouse, and keyboard. However, you might need alcohol-dipped cotton swabs to clean your keyboard because the cloth might not be able to dust off the spaces between the keys.

So, here you have your PC that is deep cleaned with zero dirt. Plus, all these steps answered your “how to clean dust from laptop without compressed air?” query.

FAQ

This section contains the questions and answers related to the above topic. Please feel free to find out the question that disturbs you the most and get it answered correctly.

1. Are Rubbing Alcohol and Isopropyl Alcohol the Same?

No, “rubbing” alcohol and isopropyl alcohol aren’t the same. The isopropyl alcohol is pure, while the “rubbing” alcohol is a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol.

2. Which Is the Best PC Dust Cleaner Alternative?

The best alternative to a PC dust cleaner can be a manual dust blower. However you might like to use a vacuum cleaner or an electric hair dryer, but both of the given products come with a risk. On the other hand, if you choose to use a hand dust blower, then you’ll find it safer, cheaper, and more reliable than the other options.

3. How To Clean GPU Without Compressed Air?

You can clean the GPU without “compressed” air by using toothpicks and alcohol-dipped cotton swabs.

4. Which Product Replaces the “Compressed” Air Can?

The Opolar Cordless Air Duster for computer cleaning replaces compressed spray gas cans.

5. Can You Name Some Good “Compressed” Air Dusters?

The Falcon Dust Off Compressed Gas Engangsrenseduster, Office Depot cleaning duster, and Koonie battery operated air duster are very effective “compressed” air dusters that can be used for cleaning the PCs.

6. How To Clean PC Without Taking It Apart?

You can’t clean your PC without taking it apart. However, you should follow the precautions and the cleaning steps carefully to avoid messing up with your PC.

7. Should You Reapply Thermal Paste While Cleaning the Laptop?

If you are doing a deep cleaning and taking out the cooler to clean the same, then it would be good to reapply the “thermal” paste.

Concluding the Post

Regularly cleaning your PC is important to keep it working well and avoid function loss due to the stuffed dust inside its components. However, using compressed air for cleaning can be expensive, and not everyone can afford it. But the above article solved the problem, and here is the summarized view of this post for your clarity:

• You can use cotton pads, brushes, cotton swabs, a cloth, and rubbing or isopropyl alcohol to easily clean your PC.
• Shutting down the PC and allowing it to cool down is important before starting the cleaning process.
• You can use only a little water to remove the hard stains, but then don’t forget to dry off the components before placing them back into the PC case.
• You should always avoid using your breath to blow off the dust because it can lead to headaches and allergies.
• A manual dust blower is considered the best, cheap, safe, and reliable alternative to “compressed” air.

So, don’t wait more and start your PC cleansing session today to boost up its performance and complete your tasks quickly.