Thinkpads Forum

I'm curious how people remove dust from their laptops; I'm tempted to use a vacuum attachment, but I recall someone saying something about 'electro-static charges' or something of that nature; is this method safe, or is it best to use those compressed air canisters to just blow it all off?

I use a compressed air duster, and also use electronic cleaning wipes on the screen, keyboard and case. I buy both in large sizes for home and office, but also keep a small duster and wipes in foil packets in the laptop case for use on the road.

A camels hair brush, the kind used on cameras works nicely for removing the dust that seems to perpetually gather on the black surface of a thinkpad. I use the brush often. Compressed air gets the stuff under the keys so I use that occasionally. And very occasionally I clean the screen and body with lcd screen cleaner and a soft microfiber cloth.

Watch how Tom Meritt of CNET cleans his notebook with ease of compressed air and a eraser.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWwejCKVGOY



propellen

air compressor, baby

What ever you do, do not apply the compressed air on the fan blades or the fan vent. It degrades the fan motor considerably.

i pop my keyboard off, hold the fan in place then blast it with a can-o-air.

What liquid did he use to clean the LCD ???

Thanks!!!

I don't seem to get that much dust, but occassionally, I use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush. My vacuum has a hole in the hose that can be uncovered to reduce suction substantially. I vaccum the keyboards (desktop and laptop) gently and vacuum the screens gently.

At that time and in between times, I wet a soft cotton towel with plain water and clean the LCD screens and the keyboards. Then dry with a cotton towel.

If I have occassion to open a machine (computer, oscilloscope, whatever), I use the vacuum and a soft brush to loosen dust and dirt).

Seems to work, and to me, seems gentler than compressed air. I don't care for the thought of forcing dust further in, although at one client (where there is no vacuum, but a handy compressor), I use compressed air and hope for the best.
... JDH

There is a problem using a vacuum cleaner directly on circuit boards, but like JD says it would not harm the machine, even so I hold my machines sideways - open and used a high quality can of compressed air I get from electronic dealerships to avoid that white stuff you get from the cheaper ones.

And I'm curious as to why blowing the dust out of your fan would degrade it? The fan blades build up dust and it seems that would degrade the performance of the fans ability to circulate air.

bopchie makes a good point, I was amazed when I pulled the keyboard off my t60 how much "stuff" was under the keys themselves, not inside the machine, but under the keys, for a really really good cleaning of the keyboard it is best to pull if off and hose it out really good at different angles with air. (my opinion).

What liquid did he use to clean the LCD ???

Check the FAQ's. Click on the link in my sig.

I received a free sample swiffer duster. It works perfectly for surface dusts.

I haven't cleaned the dusts under the keys. Will probably take the keyboard out and air dust it when requried.

My biggest problem is actually the imprint of the think point cap (soft rim) on the screen. I've used diluted liquid dishwashing fluid like instructed in the manual, but it doesn't really remove everything, and it comes back right away. grr. [/url]

Kyocera wrote:
And I'm curious as to why blowing the dust out of your fan would degrade it? The fan blades build up dust and it seems that would degrade the performance of the fans ability to circulate air.

well depending on the amount af pressure the can of air has....you can actually siege up the bearings/motor due to the high rpms the fan spins from the air getting blasted in it.... this applies to PC fans also...ESPECIALLY if your using a air compressor

I can understand the concerns with using compressed air on an electric motor, but I just blew out the accumulated dust in a nine-month-old T60, and I don't care how much damage the compressed air might have done, I'm utterly convinced the dust was worse for the computer.

My point is, I guess I'd do it again

Where did you guys use your thinkpad? One of my 4 year old thinkpad, which i have not dusted it for ages does not have excessive dust accumulated in the fan. I use that thinkpad daily for more than 8 hours a day.

Compressed air just moves the dirt around and can actually push dirt in where there was none before. Use a gentle vacuum cleaner. A home vacuum cleaner with the round attachment for couches might be gentle enough--try it first on some other surfaces, the last thing you want is snag off a key from the keyboard. And yes, go very very easy on the fan. The blades are very flimsy and easy to bend, with unhappy results. It may be best to avoid vacuuming with the fan running.
As for the screen, clean water on a soft rag (not sopping wet, just damp enough to clean without stratching) works well.
The more problematic surface is the rubber coating of the case--it tends to accumulate hand grease and that is harder to get rid of. I had some success with Purell or denatured alcohol, which cuts the grease, but I'm not sure about the long term effects of that on the finish.

sorry for bumping this thread, but I have a related question: so I decided to give my machine a bit of a cleaning with some compressed air, and while doing so--much to my horror-- a bit of liquid released from the canister, leaving a bit of a frost on the lower left corner of the lcd and the surrounding bezel area; I quickly wiped it up, and all seems fine, but I'm wondering if this stuff can be dangerous for the laptop components--whether internal or external; at this point, I'm very apprehensive cleaning in this manner in the future......

Just moisture...

npish wrote:sorry for bumping this thread, but I have a related question: so I decided to give my machine a bit of a cleaning with some compressed air, and while doing so--much to my horror-- a bit of liquid released from the canister, leaving a bit of a frost on the lower left corner of the lcd and the surrounding bezel area; I quickly wiped it up, and all seems fine, but I'm wondering if this stuff can be dangerous for the laptop components--whether internal or external; at this point, I'm very apprehensive cleaning in this manner in the future......

you will be fine.....just in the future, try to keep the can upright and use short bursts of air

I should make my own cleaning video at 100psi, air compressor

the safest way,
blow it by your mouth

Hi all. A couple of questions for you regarding cleaning the laptop if you don't mind.

First off, how often is it recommended that I get the dust out of the laptop? I've had this T60 for about a month and a half now - is it time or can it wait?

Also, based on what you've all said, I guess it's not a good idea to blow compressed air directly into the fan vents. Is the best way to remove the keyboard, or to open up the chassis (or is that the same thing)? Is it difficult to remove the keyboard or fairly simple? And once it's off, do you just hold the fan steady and then blow compressed air into it?

Thanks guys.