Weekend Open Forum: How often do you clean your computer?

User Comments: 85

1. February 18, 2012 1:49 PM
   MCJeeba said:

   Whenever they get dirty.

   Reply
2. February 18, 2012 2:25 PM
   joys247 said:

   Not Enough

   Obviously I have failed to clean mine often enough since AVG allowed a backdoor trojan to activate on the system. Thought the purpose of AVG was to prevent attacks not just warn about them.

   Reply
3. February 18, 2012 2:42 PM
   

   cliffordcooley, TechSpot Paladin, said:

   Obviously I have failed to clean mine often enough since AVG allowed a backdoor trojan to activate on the system. Thought the purpose of AVG was to prevent attacks not just warn about them.

   The subject is cleaning hardware not software.

   I clean the dust out of my case every few months. I probably should create a schedule for cleaning both hardware and software.

   Reply
4. February 18, 2012 4:29 PM
   ikesmasher said:

   every 3-4 months..these stock phenom ONE 9550 heatsinks get freaking LOUD. you have NO idea.

   Reply
5. February 18, 2012 5:46 PM
   

   slamscaper said:

   I clean mine thoroughly every two months.

   Opening up the power supply is required if you want to clean it correctly, however PSU manufacturers will void your warranty for doing this. This has always bothered me. You can only get so much of the dust out by blasting air into it... I usually cave in and take the PSU apart to clean it out. If I don't, it gets on my nerves knowing that all that dust is residing in there...

   Reply
6. February 18, 2012 7:25 PM
   

   captaincranky, TechSpot Addict, said:

   I have no rugs in my computer area. Rugs can be a big generator of particles inside a desktop.

   I check for dust about every 9 months of use.

   I have 2 of my machines sitting next to a cat litter pan, and I'm using clay, clumping litter, should I move them....?

   Obviously I have failed to clean mine often enough since AVG allowed a backdoor trojan to activate on the system. Thought the purpose of AVG was to prevent attacks not just warn about them.

   You should actually read the article that this WOF is linked to. Basically, it talks about physically cleaning the inside of the computer, not performing an exorcism on it.

   If the double enterdre was intentional..good one... If it wasn't...whoa....facepalm....

   Reply
7. February 18, 2012 8:47 PM
   

   Cota said:

   I give it a spray whenever i have leftovers in my air compressor.

   Reply
8. February 18, 2012 11:21 PM
   manish5 said:

   i clean pc case once in 6 month's

   Reply
9. February 18, 2012 11:57 PM
   Guest said:

   When I make an upgrade ^^

   It was like this for years; too much dust to actually clean the entire box, I would need to carry it somewhere to blow the dust out, but have no special place to do this and not want to do it in the room where it sits. Anyway, the entire box is something like 30kg and I'm not the superman type of guy

   Reply
10. February 19, 2012 12:09 AM
    hitech0101 said:

    Once in 3 months

    Reply
11. February 19, 2012 12:46 AM
    

    Archean, TechSpot Paladin, said:

    5-6 times a year, i.e. about every 8/9 weeks I take it apart, clean it, then put it back together. I must admit that I have done this only once in last few months as I don't get the chance to use it these days.

    Reply
12. February 19, 2012 1:22 AM
    madboyv1, TechSpot Paladin, said:

    Every couple of months (or less) for me for my systems.

    I tore down an old (7+ years) HP Compaq laptop for a friend and did a full clean and applied fresh thermal paste, and who would have thought the thing works like new now. Previously it would power off by itself after about 15-20 minutes of uptime, and when I opened it up it was a nightmare. NO idea how those fans were still spinning. XD

    Reply
13. February 19, 2012 1:34 AM
    

    captaincranky, TechSpot Addict, said:

    Anyway, the entire box is something like 30kg and I'm not the superman type of guy

    Well, they say the more we use are brains the more they will develop, perhaps at the expense of physical abilities and strength. Which brings me to my question, "how smart to you have to be before you can't lift 70 pounds"......?

    Seriously though dude, you need to put wheels under that sucker.

    Reply
14. February 19, 2012 5:16 AM
    

    Leeky, TechSpot Moderator, said:

    I tend to give the fans a clean every couple of weeks. I find the front fan on my HAF912+ really does suck dust inside the case. Then when its open for hardware replacement or disks or whatever I occasionally remove the hardware and give it a thorough clean everywhere -- that's usually 3-4 times a year.

    It especially builds up dust and crap on the front of the case, which a soft brush usually just wipes away. I do that most mornings.

    It's about due a full clean out now, as it happens.

    Reply
15. February 19, 2012 7:17 AM
    Atham said:

    My PC is not that dusty; I don't have any carpets in my room nor do I have curtains so no dust gets stuck anywhere. About once or twice a year

    Reply
16. February 19, 2012 7:21 AM
    Guest said:

    I throw my system in the wash for an 1 hour @ 350° every leap year.

    Reply
17. February 19, 2012 7:23 AM
    ET3D, TechSpot Paladin, said:

    If I open my PC to upgrade it and I see too much dust, I'll blow a into it with my mouth. Then I cough.

    Reply
18. February 19, 2012 8:42 AM
    Guest said:

    I clean mine with the hoover every time i hoover my bedroom

    Reply
19. February 19, 2012 10:32 AM
    

    PC nerd said:

    My computer has a nice environment. My room is as clean and dust-free as possible, because I have severe Athsma. The floor is lino instead of carpet, and there are no rugs or anything. Everything is hoovered and dusted regularly.

    The computer has dust filters on every intake port. I clean the outside of the case with micro-fibre cloths and I hoover the dust filters. Sometimes I take it outside and blast the **** out of it with compressed air.

    Feels good to have a nice, clean computer

    Reply
20. February 19, 2012 11:34 AM
    BakaRed77 said:

    I have the Antec DF-85 case, I clean the vents about once a week(dusty house -_-) and clean the inside about once every three months with my DataVac Blower.

    Reply
21. February 19, 2012 11:59 AM
    Guest said:

    Every 6 months is all you need to do if your system isn't being pushed to hard (over clocking etc)

    Reply
22. February 19, 2012 12:35 PM
    

    Knutz said:

    After reading some of these comments I might be over doing it I do a thorough cleaning once a month . I'm working with a pentium 478 w/stock cooler fan so everything is open and quickly broken down . I only have one intake filter that I vacuum once a week . Yes I'm a smoker and I like to head off problems before they get worse . This PC is about 6 yrs old .

    Reply
23. February 19, 2012 5:52 PM
    Kraemepoo said:

    My case air intake uses 2 X 250mm fans with no filters, I have to pop it open about once every couple months for a quick dusting.

    On a side note, I've fixed a couple chain smoker's computers... the gel like substance made up of tar mixed with dust is simply disgusting.

    Reply
24. February 19, 2012 6:46 PM
    

    treetops said:

    I was blew out my bros computer with a dust blower, it was epicly dirty and blue screening. Almost killed the cpu fan in the process. It ran like a champ for about a year after that.

    Reply
25. February 19, 2012 6:58 PM
    

    Adhmuz, TechSpot Paladin, said:

    Before and after Lans, as well as any major hardware upgrades. On average if none of the previous take place I would say 2-3 months.

    Working at a computer sales/repair store I've seen some incredibly dirty systems, the ones that smell like ash trays are by far the worse. I find it hard not to laugh when someone asks me if that could be why their PSU stopped working, well the fan is seized and the rear exhaust is completely clogged with brown tar... I wounder. Makes me feel better about not smoking and fear for those who do.

    Reply

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