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Ok so I am told to use air in a can to clean a laptops fan and such but in every store I been to on the cans it says not to use on anything motorized so I'm wondering what I could do to clean my laptops fan.

Thanks for any tips

Hopefully this message will post this time
This question / problem has been solved by SCPMimage
The compressed air cans you find in the computer section of your store are perfectly safe to clean your laptop with, as long as you don't hold it upside down (so the coolant doesn't make contact with anything inside the computer). If you shake the can, aim and spray a burst into empty space first, just enough so that you no longer see anything spraying out of the nozzle.
Edit: And be sure to clean the computer in a well-ventilated area, you don't want to be breathing in all that dust.
Post edited June 19, 2013 by SCPM
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SCPM: The compressed air cans you find in the computer section of your store are perfectly safe to clean your laptop with, as long as you don't hold it upside down (so the coolant doesn't make contact with anything inside the computer). If you shake the can, aim and spray a burst into empty space first, just enough so that you no longer see anything spraying out of the nozzle.
Edit: And be sure to clean the computer in a well-ventilated area, you don't want to be breathing in all that dust.
So its fine to be used on the fan even though it says on all cans to not be used on anything motorized? that's what my worry is
What I do and always have done, is lightly hold the fan so it can not soon with the force of the air from the can. Spinning them that fast will wear and cause problems. So careful pencil or something to hold out in place works wonders. Just be sure your not contacting anything behind etc. Choose your implement carefully to.
Correction: spin* with the force.

Sorry am on a mobile device therefore cant edit comments.
Post edited June 19, 2013 by chezybezy
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chezybezy: What I do and always have done, is lightly hold the fan so it can not soon with the force of the air from the can. Spinning them that fast will wear and cause problems. So careful pencil or something to hold out in place works wonders. Just be sure your not contacting anything behind etc. Choose your implement carefully to.
Correction: spin* with the force.

Sorry am on a mobile device therefore cant edit comments.
Can I use something like a paintbrush? to clean it compressed air seems expensive I been looking around today they don't go for less than 15 bucks
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Elvin37: So its fine to be used on the fan even though it says on all cans to not be used on anything motorized? that's what my worry is
I've only seen that kind of warning on electronic cleaners, which I would not use to clean a laptop with. I was speaking of gas dusters, which can go for less than $5.
Post edited June 19, 2013 by SCPM
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Elvin37: So its fine to be used on the fan even though it says on all cans to not be used on anything motorized? that's what my worry is
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SCPM: I've only seen that kind of warning on electronic cleaners, which I would not use to clean a laptop with. I was speaking of gas dusters, which can go for less than $5.
Cheapest one I found in 3 different stores http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp;jsessionid=RCXNYt1DWR0plthFhrn3vBcKpwg2BmmcsVyBb6nh1BnlsWkDSwgT!-570521677?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443300393&bmUID=1371690957762

Is this the right product? on it there was a warning to not use on anything motorized
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SCPM: I've only seen that kind of warning on electronic cleaners, which I would not use to clean a laptop with. I was speaking of gas dusters, which can go for less than $5.
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Elvin37: Cheapest one I found in 3 different stores http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp;jsessionid=RCXNYt1DWR0plthFhrn3vBcKpwg2BmmcsVyBb6nh1BnlsWkDSwgT!-570521677?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443300393&bmUID=1371690957762

Is this the right product? on it there was a warning to not use on anything motorized
That one looks fine to use, but you can probably find something cheaper here:
http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/187-9241509-2906019?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=gas+duster
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chezybezy: What I do and always have done, is lightly hold the fan so it can not soon with the force of the air from the can. Spinning them that fast will wear and cause problems. So careful pencil or something to hold out in place works wonders. Just be sure your not contacting anything behind etc. Choose your implement carefully to.
Correction: spin* with the force.

Sorry am on a mobile device therefore cant edit comments.
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Elvin37: Can I use something like a paintbrush? to clean it compressed air seems expensive I been looking around today they don't go for less than 15 bucks
A paintbursh would probably create some static electricity which you do not want around your electronics. I agree, make sure you keep the blades of the fan from spinning with a pencil when you use the [url=http://www.amazon.com/Innovera-51505-Compressed-Duster-10Oz/dp/B000U08SYK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=137169111 8&sr=8-1&keywords=compressed+air]Compressed Air[/url]. Also, spray it away from your laptop first (on a desk or something), if you see a white film then you need to wait a minute or two (usually means you turned the can too far over)

Really cheap in Walmart and sometimes in your office stores (OfficeMax, OfficeDepot, Staples, etc).
Post edited June 19, 2013 by jjsimp
Cheapest in the UK is 8 pounds if you only want one.

Yes you can use a brush, but you must get the right type of bristles otherwise you'll build a static charge and fry things. Get the right type, use antistatic measures and you'll be ok. But health warning with this ok, if you do it wrong potentially fried components. Quetips, papertowel will work too - dry though!

prefered method compressed air (can) and brush, incl the earbud things I mentioned and paper towels. Oh maybe need something like a coctail stick to remove the fluff/hair you often get clumping between grill/heatsinks. Again be really careful if you use any of this. It is much safer to just use compressed air. Using above tips previous poster mentioned (sorry can't check name!) And make sure you direct it so the dust/fluff with eject out and not towards stuff, you don't want it compacting against you cpu/gfx/heatsinks!
Again sorry am on a mobile.
All right Well thanks guys I just don't want to lose this laptop as its all I have If I lost it who knows when you would ever hear from me again as I am in no way able to afford a new pc
You're welcome Elvin. I did very nearly lose my first laptop because I had never cleaned the dust out of it, it wouldn't turn on. Luckily it happened at a service shop at the time, and they helped me get it cleaned and working.
Obligatory instructional video.
Yea that is indeed my next problem pfff all just to clean a fan >:O wheres the fan panel! why isn't there one! there's a panel for every thing else that you would never need to open ever
you should see the dell i had in a while back, to clean the fan you had to either remove EVERYTHING from the laptop (screen, keyboard, mobo, case etc EVERYTHING) or take off the heat sink to get to it - CRAZY - it made no sense why you had to remove the heatsink to get to the fan but its true.
Post edited June 21, 2013 by chezybezy