How to clean outside of PC?

[Anoos]

Ive been using a sock to clean the outside of my pc, specifically the sides with special paint, for months. I know this is stupid, but are there any risks to my components that I should be worried out? This is strictly the outside of the case. Specifically the front, top, and sides. The top has a vent, but is far from any components. The sides have vents, I used the sock/rag to clean those vents.

Here is my case: http://www.techpowerup.com/img/13-09-26/BitFenix_Phenom_02.jpg

http://techgage.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/BitFenix-Phenom-mITX-mATX-Chassis-Hardware-Installation-680x606.jpg

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... You should fine... How long has it been snce you opened up a cover on your case?

 

[buzznut]

glass cleaner, cleaner used for monitors, most gentle household cleaners are fine as long as you're not dumping them into the machine. If you have an automotive type finish then use a soft cloth and a cleaner wax once a month the keep the luster of the shine.

 

[unksol]

its just steel and plastic... you just wipe it off like anything else

 

[RunLuke]

No I think you are pretty safe using a damp lint free cloth too.
Use a brush/vacuum cleaner to clean vents?

 

[Havo_k]

Swifter duster

 

[Anoos]

Hello... You should fine... How long has it been snce you opened up a cover on your case?

I open the top vent at least once every two days to clean it. I recently had to plug in fan, so Id say I opened my side in the last two weeks.

I sometimes wet the sock..just a tad with.."a liquid" 😉 (water) and clean the sides. I flip it around and clean the side vents.

I take the top vent and kinda smack it against my bed to dissipate any large clumps of dust that might be in it. I blow through it, or just use a rag to clean it since I don have compressed air.

Just feeling a little paranoid lately, been having OS issues and false alarms with my hardware.

Well, come to think of it I did open my PC when it was off, and clean the fans on the GPU heat sink with my finger. I was grounded, or at least I think I was.

 

[tsnor]

IF you've never tried it, a $7 can of compressed air sold at staples or amazon is a really fun way to dust the inside of your case. Especially an old PC or a laptop where you are guaranteed a huge cloud of dust. Beats using your finger to clean the GPU heat sink.

If system is becoming unstable "..OS issues and false alarms.." it's usually a software glitz, but making sure your temps inside case are still low is a good idea. HW Monitor from CPUID is free and works well, plenty of other good temp programs out there.

Aside, vacuum cleaner is a much worse way to clean the PC than the wet sock method you are using.