How to clean a PC with an air duster (without spinning the fans)
Shut the PC down, unplug it and take it outside. Hold each fan still, then blow dust out in short bursts with the X6 on 40K and the needle nozzle. Clear filters and heatsinks on 80K with the long nozzle, working from the top of the case down.
To clean a PC with an air duster, shut it down, unplug it and take it somewhere the dust can go. Hold each fan still, then blow the dust out in short bursts. On the BLOWZER X6, use 40K with the needle nozzle for fans and tight gaps, and 80K with the long nozzle for filters and heatsink fins.
Work from the top of the case down and from the front to the back, so loose dust leaves the case instead of settling deeper.
What you need
- The BLOWZER X6, charged over USB-C
- The needle and long nozzles (two of the five in the box)
- A cleaning brush from the kit, for dust that is packed on
- A screwdriver for the side panel
- Somewhere outside or by an open window
Steps
- Shut down and unplug. Turn the PC off, switch off the power supply at the back and pull the power cable. Unplug everything else.
- Move it. Carry the case outside or next to an open window. The dust has to land somewhere other than your desk.
- Open the case. Remove the side panel and pull out any removable dust filters (front, top and bottom).
- Clean the filters first. Fit the long nozzle, set 80K, and blow through each filter from the clean side to the dusty side. Set them aside.
- Hold the fans still. Put a finger on the hub or a blade of the first fan so it cannot spin. Do this for every fan you blow on: case fans, the CPU cooler and the graphics card.
- Blow out the fans. Switch to the needle nozzle and 40K. Give each fan short bursts from a few inches away, blade by blade, while you keep holding it.
- Clear the heatsinks. Back to the long nozzle and 80K. Blow across the CPU cooler fins and the graphics card heatsink from the side, so the dust leaves the fins instead of being pushed into them.
- Work top to bottom. Finish with the top of the case, then the drives and cables, then the floor of the case. Brush off any dust that is packed on, then blow it away.
- Power supply from the outside. Do not open the power supply. Hold its fan still with a plastic stick or a toothpick through the grille and give it short bursts on 40K. If you cannot hold it still, skip it.
- Put it back. Refit the filters and the side panel, reconnect and start the PC.
Safety note
- Always unplug before you open the case.
- Never let a fan spin from the airflow. A fan spun hard by air can wear its bearing.
- Touch the bare metal of the case before you touch anything inside, to discharge static.
- Do not touch components with the nozzle tip.
What to avoid
- Blowing dust into the case from the outside. Open it and blow dust out.
- Long, continuous blasts at one spot. Short bursts keep you in control.
- Opening the power supply.
- Cleaning on the desk where the PC lives. The dust will be back in it within a week.
Keep it at the desk
The Desk Dock with Nozzles, a free print file, holds the X6 on its USB-C cable with four nozzle seats, so the needle and long nozzles are there the next time.
Cleaning a laptop instead? See How to clean laptop fan vents with an air duster. For the keyboard, see How to clean a mechanical keyboard with an air duster. More about the BLOWZER X6, its three modes and five nozzles.
Questions readers ask
How often should I clean my PC?
Every three to six months is a common rule of thumb (Corsair's guide). Clean more often if you have pets, carpet or a dusty room.
Can I use the 130K mode inside a PC?
Keep inside work to 40K and 80K. Save 130K for filters you have taken outside the case.
Why an electric air duster instead of canned air?
The X6 runs on a rechargeable battery and blows room air, so there is no can to run out.