Tips for Cleaning

Say you bought a computer and the previous owner didn't bother cleaning it beforehand, or the computer you've had for years isn't looking like it used to. What are some basic supplies to get it looking clean again? I think there are some guidelines for cleaning individual components like the keyboard, surface areas, the screen, and the inside. I've some things about using some type of alcohol and a lint-free cloth, but I'm looking for something more specific. Any help, Lainon?

>>68045 They usually sell the necessary things as kits in the markets, just google it and I'm sure you can find it easily. but if you want a more detailed cleaning, you may need more than these, of course, I think that these kits can easily do your job to a great extent. Or what you need is to mix things at home with your imagination and practicality.

Alcohol, microfiber cloth, compressed air can, that's pretty much it. Pop the keys off, you can soak them in water or whatever if you let them dry completely. Put a little bit of alcohol on the cloth and not enough to create drips to clean the screen and outside, be especially cautious around the edges of the screen and any gaps. Clean dust out of the inside by spraying it with the compressed air, keep the can upright and use the plastic tube to aim.

>>68047 for alcohol make sure you use either 90+% ethanol or rubbing alc.

A new and not used microfiber cloth and warm water for the screen and the chassis. Alcohol if it's absolutely disgusting. A somewhat firm brush to clean underneath the keyboard keys and other tight spaces.

>>68051 The reason to use alcohol isn't really that it's better for cleaning, it's that water destroys electronics.

>>68045 Are you talking about the outside of it or the inside too? Outside, use lysol wipes or something. Inside you can take the whole motherboard apart (I mean take the CPU fan off and remove the CPU if you can) and soak the really dirty stuff in a casserole dish with 90% alcohol, 100% if you can get it. Keep in mind that any heat sink compound you remove needs replaced with new stuff. ALSO MAKE SURE EVERYTHIGN IS COMPLETELY DRY BEFORE RE-ASSEMBLY AND POWERING BACK ON.

>>68079 Sorry for double posting but I forgot to mention the best way to scrub off sticky dust, human goo, and lint is with a toothbrush. Paper towels leave lint, and other cleaning tools usually have bristles that are too stiff or too abrasive to use on something as delicate as a computer. Avoid touching anything inside without keeping yourself grounded, either the right way with a grounding strap attached to the case, or the wrong way where you keep one hand on an appliance with a metal case (refrigerator, microwave, air conditioner) or even a cold water pipe if you have metal pipes.

>>68045 My god, at this point take out the keys, clean them and also clean the inside of the laptop.

>>68135 surplus thinkpad keyboards are cheaper than my time.