[SOLVED] Spun cpu fan backwards while cleaning

[IAmAEggHead]

So I heard that while cleaning your pc you should hold on the fans so that it wouldn't spin.... So I totally did the opposite of that, will there be any problems? I stopped immediately after it started spinning tho, and what's the reason to hold it so that it wouldn't spin?

 

[Udyr]

So I heard that while cleaning your pc you should hold on the fans so that it wouldn't spin.... So I totally did the opposite of that, will there be any problems? I stopped immediately after it started spinning tho, and what's the reason to hold it so that it wouldn't spin?

A short burst of air won't cause any immediate or long term problem for the fan. Prolonged use of high pressured air, either from a can or a compressor will cause the fan bearing to wear out prematurely.

 

[Nine Layer Nige]

The theory is that fans can become generators if blown with an air gun and so electric current could be fed into the motherboard in reverse. This may or may not cause components to fail or be overloaded if the fan is spun fast enough.
Thats the theory.