Removing thermal paste?

[xYowie]

Im getting a new cpu heatsink and thermal paste, whats the best way to clean off the old thermal paste without using alcohol or buying a cleaning kit?

 

[turkey3_scratch]

You're going to want to buy alcohol. It's not expensive at all, isopropyl is cheap. Any reason you can't buy alcohol?

 

[jrrdmchls]

Unless its super crusty I usually use toilet paper or a paper towel. Usually wipes off pretty good.

 

[fudgecakes99]

rubbing alcohol the higher the percentage the better drys up quicker less water. Though i guess technically you'd want it to be more water soluble for certain kinds of messes. Any ol isopropyl alcohol will do really.

 

[Ragnarous]

Use a linen cloth that is smooth as butter, That's what i use when i have no alcohol close to me.. It's smooth surface wont damage the metals and will wipe of pretty well!

 

[InvalidError]

Regular 70-90% isopropyl "rubbing" alcohol which you can get from the drugstore for $1-3 and regular paper towels do a great job with most pastes.

 

[himynameisraz]

Use an old credit card to take off the majority of the old gunk. Next get isopropyl. Use a qtip to clean off the old junk. Not sure why you don't want to buy alcohol to clean the old paste..it's the best method. Please don't use toilet paper...get something that is lint free like coffee filter or literally a lint free cloth and use it to wipe it off. CPU and GPU should be mirror like with no marks. Then put on the new paste and spread it covering every part and reapply heatsink. Some people like putting a pea sized drop and then putting the heat sink but in my experience that does not cover all the spots (depends what shape your cpu is)