How to clean PC without causing static damage?

Donut

New Member
I am going to be cleaning the dust out of my PC tower. I am concerned about causing static damage to the components, and I have put off cleaning the poor PC because of this fear. I have to carry the PC across carpet for about thirty feet and then I will be outside on the wooden porch, where I will place the tower down on a piece of particle board held up by two wooden folding tables. I will be barefoot, sitting on a wooden bench, in case that matters. I plan to do this next week on a day with about 60% humidity. I know I need to hold the fans while I clean them with canned air, but should I use a q-tip or a pencil or something else to hold the fan in place? I will probably need to pull out the graphics card and clean it separately. My biggest question is: how do I dispel static before and during the cleaning process to avoid any static damage to the computer parts? I have been told to touch a metal grounded object, and perhaps to touch it throughout the cleaning process, but I am not sure how to do that. I have a metal toolbox, and I have a metal pipe, but how do I make sure they are grounded? Do I need to attach a wire to the metal object and run it to the ground (ie the dirt beside the porch)?

I also know to hold the canned air upright. Are there any other details I am missing? I was told that I could easily ruin my PC if I make the wrong move so I appreciate any detailed suggestions.

Thank you for your advice!
 

johnb35

Administrator
Staff member
Just touch the metal part of the case to discharge any static. Providing you don't have caked on dirt, a can of compressed air should remove all loose dirt.
 

Darren

Moderator
Staff member
While it's good to be careful about static it's frequently a bit overblown on how much you need to worry about it. Touch the case before you start. That's it. I've done builds on carpet before, not that I necessarily advise it.
 

Darren

Moderator
Staff member
Air compressor or can of air works and then paper towels or coffee filters with isopropyl rubbing alcohol to clean fan blades and the like.
 

porterjw

Spaminator
Staff member
While it's good to be careful about static it's frequently a bit overblown on how much you need to worry about it. Touch the case before you start. That's it. I've done builds on carpet before, not that I necessarily advise it.

BTDT too!
 

Donut

New Member
Just touch the metal part of the case to discharge any static. Providing you don't have caked on dirt, a can of compressed air should remove all loose dirt.

Here is a diagram of a case. I have magenta arrows pointing to the places on the case that might be touched to dispel static, before and during a cleaning. Is this correct? Which of these places inside/outside the case are the ones that are safe to touch? Thank you!

PC_Diagram.jpg
 

johnb35

Administrator
Staff member
Any metal area even the drive bays. But usually you just touch the outer metal casing.
 

Donut

New Member
So it is OK to dispel static by touching the OUTSIDE of the metal case, the back part where the plugs go in? I was thinking that one must specifically touch the INSIDE for some reason. And after that I am safe to pull out the graphics card etc? I know that newbie questions can seem obvious and foolish, and I appreciate your having the patience to help me!

ps. Is it ok to place my PC tower on a metal table covered with a piece of particle board, for cleaning?
 
Last edited:

porterjw

Spaminator
Staff member
Touch. The. Metal.

latest
 

AlienMenace

Well-Known Member
I did a good cleaning about 2 weeks ago on my machine. I opened the front doors and had the screen door propped open, put my machine on a chair and used the shop vac and blew everything out into the open air. :p Got kind of cold in here for a short. I live in the Mid-West, United States.
Get everything, and don't forget the power supply. I blew it up from the bottom and out the back. And if you have removable screen filters, pull them also and clean.
 
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