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What are the benefits of cleaning dust off your computer?
In principle, PC components are not particularly sensitive to dust or other types of dirt. So why do all the experts recommend cleaning them regularly?
Well, the problem is fine dust that settles on cooling systems, causing clogs and significantly impeding airflow. As a result, critical components are hardly cooled, which naturally leads to overheating.
Cleaning your computer of dust completely eliminates this problem, restoring maximum efficiency to all cooling systems. This ensures that components such as the processor and graphics card operate at optimum temperatures, significantly extending their lifespan.
It is also worth mentioning that cleaning dust from your computer can also increase your comfort at work. The fans of a well-functioning laptop or “desktop” cooler can run at a much lower speed, thus generating noticeably less noise. Consequently, a quieter workstation makes it easier to concentrate on the job in hand or the video game in progress.
How should a computer be cleaned of dust?
In fact, how you go about cleaning your computer of dust will depend mainly on how ‘dusty’ it has become. However, no matter how dirty your equipment is, you should always use an anti-static wrap to protect against the electrical discharge that can damage your computer’s valuable components.
In the case of light dust build-up, simply blow out the equipment with a can of compressed air. You can also use a blower, although the capacity and airflow of the blower should not be too high. Otherwise you may damage small components of the motherboard or tear off important cables.
If the equipment has not been maintained for a very long time, however, cleaning the computer of dust will require a slightly different approach. At first, you can also use compressed air, but you should be aware that this will not be particularly effective on a clogged cooling system.
Next, you will need a fine toothbrush to clean the dust off your computer. With this tool, you will need to manually remove all dust and pollen that has clogged the heat sink fins and accumulated on the RAM and SSD heat exchangers.
All fans should be treated in the same way, with special attention paid to the fan fins. In the case of laptop blowers and some graphics card models, a thin object such as a matchstick or a needle may be used. It is important, however, to be careful and not to lose your instrument inside the fan.
Cleaning the computer from dust should end with unblocking all the filters that the device is equipped with. This step mainly applies to desktop computers, which have modular housings.
Cleaning dust off your computer at home or outside?
Cleaning the computer from dust should always take place in an open and well-ventilated area – preferably outside the home.
The first reason is the safety of the person cleaning, who will not be directly exposed to the inhalation of pollen and other dirt particles. When the cooling system is running, these can mix with the residual thermal conductive paste, creating a mixture that is better not inhaled.
The second reason why you should clean your computer of dust outdoors is because of the pollen that flies into the air. This time, however, it is mainly to prevent the flying dirt from settling back onto the cleaned components, thus nullifying the fruits of your hard work.
Is cleaning the computer with compressed air a good idea?
Compressed air is one of the best allies when it comes to cleaning the cooling system. However, make sure not to overdo the air pressure – this is especially important if you will be cleaning your computer with compressed air using a powerful compressor capable of reaching several atmospheres.
