For cleaning keyboards and other computer components not reachable with a cloth, I generally use a can of compressed air. However, the can is empty. What else can I use that would be a general household item? cleaning substitute-tool technology dust Here are some methods for keyboard I use: turn it upside down and shake it use cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol (one of these sticks for cleaning ears) use something sharp and wrap it with a piece of cloth and clean with it between the keys Generally for computers I often use a vacuum cleaner and reduce its power to the middle (it depends how powerful is your vacuum cleaner - adjust it for your needs ) I insert a large diameter drinking straw [Starbucks has them in their Computer Cleaning Section of every store);-)] into the slim angled attachment which comes with most vacuums, I then tape the straw to the outside of the attachment creating a seal. It is a simple matter then to take an ESP Brush as mentioned above and use it to brush the dust into the straw which sucks it into the vacuum cleaner.

Where it goes from there I have no idea! I have encountered a similar problem while cleaning dust and grime off PCBs for re-soldering/repair. whole house air duct cleaning costUsually, the dust has accumulated over time, and due to moisture which can't be removed with compressed air.best way to clean timber blinds Using a special ESP brush (size depends on each case), or a simple paint brush but ensuring correct ESP procedure clean surface and around/under gaps and components.best type of mop to clean hardwood floors A small amount of Isopropanol (Isopropyl Alcohol) can remove persistent grime. Harder cases may require a stiffer brush. This is useful for cleaning motherboards, GPUs, fans and heatsinks.

If cleaning a CPU/GPU die, take care and use some Iso., both on the die and the heatsink contact. Always reapply thermal paste after. For keyboards, mice and other external peripherals, use cotton swabs with Iso. Keyboards (Desktop, mostly - laptops are difficult) can have their keys removed to clean between the key wells. I was about to make a special tiny nozzle for my hair dryer (on cool of course), before I discovered a powered duster and bought that instead. You asked about a household item, so I'd go with the nozzle. I also briefly considered a balloon and a straw... Depending on how the crevice to clean is shaped, an old (but reasonably clean) toothbrush can work quite well. This seems to work well on the narrow spaces where plastic pieces come together, or decorative grooves in a device, where dirt or dust sometimes builds up. Instead of expensive cans of air, I use the blow gun on my cheap ($50-on-sale) 1-gallon compressor. There is a slight chance of water droplets forming, but it won't be as bad as human breath or the stuff that often falls into keyboards.

For larger-scale cleaning, I use my electric leaf blower. I take my desktop computer outdoors once a year, open up the case, and blast away! This works well on furnace filters, too. How about just using a drinking straw and blowing out the dust? I had pretty good luck blowing dust out of a CPU heatsink that way. Or, maybe blow up a balloon and wrap the end on a straw for more force. Breath is humid (relative humidity of human breath is 100%), so don't try this for anything that may be sensitive to moisture. Note, prolonged blowing may cause dizziness. Although I haven't tried it, I would imagine a bicycle pump would work. If you taped the "straw" from your old can to the end you could probably make it more directional and higher pressure. The adapter for pumping up footballs might also help in this regard. I use sharp ended objects like toothpicks or mini screwdrivers. Weirdly, it's been a passion for me since childhood to clean such spots. To clean a keyboard, fold a post-it note in half sticky side out and drag it between the keys and it will pick up dust.

You'll probably need several to do a whole keyboard. (I have never tried it on the internal parts of a computer, but it should work) Anything that creates a stream of air: hair dryer if it has a no heat option shop vacuum that has an exhaust port I used to have a computer shop have blown out over 1000. For a keyboard, I like the compressor with a nozzle as it is hard to blow them out and they are not very sensitive. You can even vacuum on the keyboard. The downside to the compressor is you can get some moisture. I have never lost one to moisture but for the motherboard, I prefer the shop vacuum. Block the fans before blowing them out. I use a small screwdriver. With a compressor, you can get enough speed to spin (wreck) the bearings. The power supply will be the dirtiest. Blow it out in each direction. It is very hard to get into a laptop to clean it, but more important is it is smaller and the little fans and little fins can get impacted.

Use one these blower things to get those niches Sign up or log in Sign up using Email and Password Post as a guest By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.[x] Cleaning, Maintenance Products Cleaning, Maintenance Products Advanced Filters Special Offers / Advertisements Local Store or Chain Wide Options 97 available to ship 1 - 24 of 97 items New list of matching products Sorry, you may compare a maximum of 4 items at a time. Please clear one or more of your compare items before adding another AW Distributing Ultra Duster with Bitterant 8oz Usually ships in 1-3 business days. Inland Duster 10 oz. 3 Pack Inland 7oz Air Duster - 6 Pack Ultra Duster 10 oz - 3 pack Wirelogic CleanScreen Value Kit AW Distributing Ultra Duster 10 oz. Falcon Dust Off XL 10 oz. Duster with Bitterent - 3 Pack iFixit Anti-Static Wrist Strap Kingwin Anti-Static Wrist Strap

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