How to Clean Your Laptop Fan

April 14th, 2009 by Mike

Sadly for many of us, cleaning a laptop is much more complicated, leave alone having to disassemble it to clean the insides like the fan. This article offers some solutions for cleaning the laptops. In laptops that are similar in hardware design, it is only for cleaning MAC books and the likes that it is advised to refer to a qualified person.

Since the information on how to disassemble every single model of laptops cannot be provided here, there are some basic instructions that you will have to modify accordingly to suit your purpose. Once again it is advisable to take the help of a professional if you feel you are not up to the task. In case you make a mistake, reasons like “I switched it on and it exploded all by itself” wont get your laptop replaced!

You will require some basic tools like small headed screw drivers, a small container for depositing the loosened screws, a digital camera to take pictures so that you do not forget where what goes, a soft bristled brush, a lint free cloth and a can of compressed air. Ensure that the laptop is turned off completely before attempting to dismantle it.

Some laptops require that the entire paneling be removed, that is, the back panel, the panel including the keyboard and the display screen before you can reach the fans, but if you can see the fan through any ventilation spots on the back of the laptop, gently use the compressed air at a safe distance of about ten centimeters and release it. This should clear out the majority of the dust bunnies. Be sure to hold the can upright as holding it in any other direction may cause unwanted pressure being released. Then you get a damaged laptop on top of a dirty one.

For a more thorough cleaning, carefully disassemble the laptop screw by screw, keeping all your tools within easy reach, when you finally reach the fan, use the soft bristled brush to carefully brush out as much visible dirt as you can see. Then use the can of compressed air, gently press and blow out all the dirt. Use the lint free cloth to wipe the surrounding area, and then using your pictures that you have taken with the camera, reassemble the laptop.

If all of this has been done properly your laptop should feel immediately cooler and sound quieter. If you still feel that something is not right, take it to an authorized dealer and have it checked out properly.