How to clean a desktop PC step by step

Keeping your PC clean lowers temperatures and noise and extends component lifespan. This guide walks you through a safe, effective cleaning you can do at home or in the office.

When you should clean your PC

• If you notice extra fan noise, higher temps or throttling.

• Dusty homes/pets: every 2–3 months.

• Normal office/home: every 4–6 months.

Tools you’ll need

Compressed air, soft anti‑static brush, microfiber cloths, isopropyl alcohol (IPA 99%), ESD wrist strap (recommended), screwdriver, small tray for screws. Optional: fresh thermal paste for the CPU.

Important precautions

• Power off the PC, unplug it and hold the power button for 10 s to discharge.

• Minimise static (ESD strap or touch bare metal on the chassis frequently).

• Don’t free‑spin fans with air: hold the blades still.

• Don’t spray liquids directly—apply IPA to the cloth/cotton swab.

• Never open the power supply (PSU).

Step by step

1) Power down and unplug everything

Shut down, disconnect the power cable and peripherals, and move the tower to a clean, well‑lit surface.

2) Open the case and prepare for ESD

Remove the side panel. Wear an ESD wrist strap and clip it to bare metal on the chassis. Take a quick photo of the interior to remember cable routing.

3) Bulk dust removal (interior)

With short bursts of compressed air, blow dust from the inside out. Use the brush to lift dust from corners, slots and fin stacks. Don’t blast directly at drives.

4) Fans and radiator/heat sink

Hold the fan blades still with a finger/cotton swab and apply compressed air. On radiators/heat sinks (CPU or AIO), blow opposite to airflow to push dust out of the fins.

5) GPU, RAM and PSU (don’t open it)

If there’s heavy build‑up, you can carefully remove the GPU (unscrew and release the PCIe latch), clean it and reinstall. RAM usually doesn’t need removal. On the PSU, only blow through exterior grilles while holding the fan—never open it.

6) Exterior and ports

Use a microfiber cloth lightly moistened with IPA for panels and glass. Cotton swabs with IPA for USB, audio and grilles.

7) Thermal paste (optional)

Only if you’re confident: remove the CPU cooler, clean old paste with IPA and apply a 3–5 mm pea‑sized drop before reinstalling evenly in a cross pattern.

8) Reassemble and check

Refit filters and side panel, plug in and boot. Check temps with a trusted utility (CPU/GPU at idle and under a light load). A 5–15 °C drop and less noise = job well done.

Preventive maintenance

• Rinse/clean filters every 4–8 weeks.

• Tidy cable management to improve airflow.

• Set fan curves in BIOS/UEFI or vendor software.

• Revisit thermal paste yearly if the PC runs hot for many hours.

Common mistakes to avoid

Free‑spinning fans with air, vacuuming components directly, wetting PCBs, opening the PSU.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How often should I clean my PC? 

Normal use: every 4–6 months; dusty/pets: 2–3 months.

Can I use a vacuum inside the PC? 

No. Only to collect dust on the desk/exterior.

Which thermal paste should I use? 

Any reputable brand; a small drop in the centre is enough.

What if I’m not confident? 

Take it to a professional.

Prefer us to handle it? Net i Pulit provides technical cleaning for PCs, offices and technical rooms. Ask for a quote and we’ll advise on the best maintenance frequency.