Can you remove thermal paste WITHOUT alcohol?

[NoobyComputerGuy]

Everyone says you need alcohol 99%, but there's seriously no one selling alcohol in where im living (even if there is i heard its really expensive)

Can you use something else? Maybe a baby wipe? (Some contains alcohol) or hand sanitizer? Im just cleaning paste off a 7 year old pc...

 

[NoobyComputerGuy]

MERGED QUESTION
Question from NoobyComputerGuy : "Can you remove thermal paste WITHOUT alcohol?"

Everyone says you need alcohol 99%, but there's seriously no one selling alcohol in where im living (even if there is i heard its really expensive)

Can you use something else? Maybe a baby wipe? (Some contains alcohol) or hand sanitizer? Im just cleaning paste off a 7 year old pc...

 

[mrmike_49]

Isopropyl alcohol widely available. I've never bought 99%, cheapie standard stuff is apparently 70%, which is what i used in the past

 

[Gam3r01]

99% is not required. Sure its nice, but by no means necessary.
I personally use 97% (3 dollars at walgreens).
Anything above 70% is fine, below that gets very watery.

There are also other cleaners available, but I would not use things like wipes due to things like lint or residuals.

 

[Seanie280672]

I just use surgical wipes, alcohol based and available cheap from any pharmacy.

 

[The Paladin]

Rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl) is not recommended. Most rubbing alcohol is made from isopropyl alcohol or isopropanol in water. It is common to find isopropyl rubbing alcohol at concentrations from 68% alcohol in water up to 99% alcohol in water.

if you do use it in a pinch, make sure you blow it off the cpu to clear any possible water droplets left.. And clean it OFF the motherboard, a droplet can slip past your eyes under there cpu to the die and short out board and blow it.

where do you live, do you not have a computer store, electronics store in your area? in your country ? its pretty common to find 99% pads or liquids for the purpose of cleaning and applying new thermal paste, 99.99% whom sell the paste sell the alcohol

 

[mrmike_49]

I strongly recommend removing the cpu from the socket while removing (and re-applying) thermal paste!
This way, there is no worry about water or particles of thermal paste getting to the mb or being left on cpu surface: hold cpu by edges, in a vertical position, over a "safe" surface to catch any junk that drops.

Don't forget the anti static wrist strap though!!

 

[Ecky]

Don't over think it. You can wipe the old paste off with a paper towel and you'll see very little to no difference than if you used a professional cleaning solution.

 

[Math Geek]

i've used a paper towel before and left no residue. it's not really an issue. not like microscopic specs left will cause any issue. alcohol wipes work fine as well and are easy to get in pharmacies.

i've used a slightly damp washcloth as well with no problem. anything watery used needs to be left for a while to dry 100% before re-applying or mounting the cpu. but it's works good enough.

 

[R4DIO4CT1VE]

you can use a paper towel if you really need to, try and at least use a microfiber cloth though

 

[Ditt44]

Listerine works too. Paper towel is fine but I use a Q-tip to gently lift the old off and if no alcohol, I have used Listerine in the past with the Q-tip...just squeeze the Q-tip before touching the CPU and gently clean it off. Take your time and don't get it on the chip sides etc.