I have cleaned by CPU with a vacuum cleaner about 5-6 times now. Today I learned that cleaning the PC in such a manner can short the motherboard and render the PC useless. However, a vacuum cleanup with the CPU very well with minimal effort.
Is there any way to ensure the safety of computer parts when cleaning them out with a vacuum?
Thanks. :)
Let me add my two cents, same as harrymc's answer, based on no scientific method except 20+ years of empiricism.
I've been vacuuming computers for decades, I've not killed one yet.
I use a portable, battery-powered vac [Dyson] thoroughly sprayed with anti-static household polish - Mr Sheen [if that doesn't exist where you live, look for the one that used to be advertised as not making dust stick to your big old CRT TV screen in the 80s… or ask your folks;)
You can help this out in tough to reach places with a cheap household paint brush.
As I live in a territory where earth connections are compulsory, I leave the computer plugged in, but the socket switched off. This keeps the case earthed at all times. I keep myself in contact with the case as much as possible whilst cleaning, though I've never bothered with a wrist strap.
I've never taken any precautions other than these; I don't avoid the motherboard or anything else, it all gets the same treatment wherever I can reach.
Since last year, I've actually switched to a mains-powered blower - always wanted one, never got round to it. I bought an expensive, filtered, high-power one, nearly breaks your wrist as it starts up. I also have sprayed it with the anti-stat polish. The Dyson gets used 2 or 3 times a week round the house; the blower will get used twice a year, so it's a bit of a luxury item I suppose. The clear advantage is it can clean bits no vacuum can get to - rapidly.
I haven't yet managed to damage a fan by spinning it up too fast - though I did manage to break one by revving it up then touching it with the blower nozzle… my own stupid fault, but be warned;)
Also - do it by an open window, if not actually outdoors - or you'll be vacuuming the whole room for an hour afterwards.
In all, the blower does in 2 minutes a better job than the vac in 30. I'd go with the blower any day, but it's a $£€100 expenditure that doesn't get used for much else.
General note on 'grounding'.
The US calls signal ground & electrical earth by the same name, which can lead to some confusion. The UK separates the terms. 'Ground' is a signal ground - e.g.the extra stripe on your headphone jack, to give the signal a 'return path'.
Earth is mains electrical earth, the green/yellow wire that leads directly to an actual spike into the ground, either in your cellar or back at the nearest electrical sub-station.
In countries where earth is compulsory, your safest way to properly earth your computer [or anything] whilst stripping for maintenance is to leave its mains cable plugged into the wall, with the power switch off. This leaves the earth connected, but disconnects the power safely. In this way, touching the casing sets everything to a known equilibrium.
If you live in a very dry area, or ever get static spikes from things around the house in general, wait for a rainy day.
Don't wear plastic shoes & run up & down a nylon carpet. Don't rub the cat with a balloon or amber rod - this should, of course, go without saying;)
(This is my personal cleaning method, not based on any scientific testing. It will probably not be the consensus here.)
Most sources will warn, correctly, against using Vacuum cleaning on sensitive electronic components, to avoid the buildup of static electricity. They will advise using compressed air instead.
My problem with using compressed air is that I noticed that it may leave some humidity on the cleaned surface, which I see as equally dangerous for some components. Some compressed air cans can also blast the air too strongly for me.
My method of cleaning is:
Turn of the computer, disconnect the power cord and all connected devices
Use the vacuum cleaner and/or compressed air on air vents and inside the case, while keeping it away from the motherboard
For the motherboard, one can use the vacuum cleaner while keeping the nozzle at some distance, dislodging dirt using a paintbrush and letting it be sucked away, while using the shortest vacuum tube possible
Touch the metallic frame with your fingers, to take away any static electricity, before connecting everything back.
Here's what I've been told, despite myself having been guilty of using a vacuum before on occasion:
Aside from the issue of the static discharge, the problem with vacuuming is that when directed at your fans, they can cause the fans to undergo stress or spin at speeds it was not designed to withstand, thus possibly damaging them. I'm not sure if the static issue can be mitigated safely, but I believe as long as you're careful not to point the vacuum directly at any fan blades for sustained durations, it should be fine.
Regarding compressed air cans, you should always make sure none of the components are energized, and also wait 15 minutes before connecting them back to their power source, so that there's no potential short (this would allow for any residuals to dissipate as temperature equalizes).
Personally, I now almost exclusively use 99% isopropyl to clean all my components, they go for $20 a gallon at your local hardware or horticulture store.
(Disclaimer: the following is my personal conjecture without any validated testing, take with a grain of salt.)
PS: If you want to achieve an anti-static effect (EDIT: NOT the computer components), I believe you can wet with alcohol and wipe the surface down with a dryer sheet.
