Im not sure this has been posted anywhere. I hope this can ease the air cooling user on cleaning their fans. I have almost 6 casing fans that on 24/7 , 2 of them is transparent color fan and 1 is Cooler master Aero 7+. These fans are super dirty and the dirt almost cover the color on the fan..Cleaning them is not easy especially the Aero 7+ as the fins are ridiculous small and unable to reach by cloth...

Thus, i came  of an idea and i've tested it during chinese new year. Just 3 steps can clean ur computer fans just like new.

1. Prepare a baldi of water, pour the dish cleaner liquid inside the baldi. I pour about 1 ml dish cleaner.

*The step may be risky. STOP here if u dun wan to take the risk. 3 of my tested fans cost about Rm 200 last time, but still i have confident it will work.

2. Dip the fans inside the baldi. I left the cable out, just my fans are in the water with dish cleaner.

*AFAIK, dishcleaner can clean away oil easily. I dip the fans about 10 hours as i perform it at mindnight.

3. Take out the fans and wipe with dry cloth, leave it dry for few days.

* It was a surprise when i saw the fans are so clean. previously, i unable to clean the dirt on the fans using cloth, and some edge that unable to clena. I have leave the fans dry for 2 days.

All the fans are in working condition after i confirm  it is 100% dry. Now my fans are like new, my cooler master green color fan speed has increase back from 2300 to 2500rpm. All the dirt inside the bearing has been clean, the fins are shiny..
Notice the fins of Cooler master aero 7, as i use it as a casing fan, the fins are very dirty, previously it was black color...Because i unable to reach the fin using cloth.

as interesting as this is....i would recommend u add step 4....

which would be to re-lubricate the bearings. as im sure the dishwashing liquid would have cleaned out the grease/ oil from the bearings as well.

I thought i saw this posted b4...but nvm.

Dipping the motor in water for 10hours doesnt spoilt it?

Why does my post about cleaning the small fan blades with earbuds were deleted?

It's the best way to clean those fan blades that is very small and hard to reach like the aero 7 fan blades.

Sean, why delete it?

Why does my post about cleaning the small fan blades with earbuds were deleted?

It's the best way to clean those fan blades that is very small and hard to reach like the aero 7 fan blades.

Sean, why delete it?

Why does my post about cleaning the small fan blades with earbuds were deleted?

It's the best way to clean those fan blades that is very small and hard to reach like the aero 7 fan blades.

Sean, why delete it?

Yup, that's what I do too. Cotton ear buds dipped in clear nail polish remover. ( I clean my mobo and gpu this way too, patience is the key ).
I thought of cleaning them with water@from a tap, but the grease thing gets me a bit worried.

I use a soft bristled pig hair paintbrush for cleaning everything in my rig from fans to PCBs. Reason for using a natural bristle brush is because they don't generate static.

For the tougher dirt on fans, I use a hard bristled toothbrush.

You can wash PCBs with dishwashing liquid under running water too, but you'll need to dry it really well before using later. I've not tried it on anything yet, but I'm sure one day I will.

nice one there dude.
think i shud merge this with the aircooling thread?
it will do more justice there

actually i might work coz i even played my r/c car on wet surface... it's still ok after years.. juz make sure after u dip in detergent then try dip in clear water awhile.. then letting it dry up totally.. hair blower is very useful in this, then RELUBE.. use silicon spray or sum motor lube u can find at hobby shop.... DO NOT wd-40 or similiar products on motor as it'll degreased or dry up after long use..

Some electronics stuff wont hv any problem after being dipped into water, PROVIDED it must not be functioning b4 u dipped it into the water basically u must make sure no current flowing through it. Just unplug it frm the power source and let it drain the power itself then only u wash it.

Thats y things like pendrive's dont hv any problem even after u take it out frm the washing machine... mine went into there countless of times

Very creative bro!

Rinsing the soap of the fans and oiling the fans is very very important. I'll explain for ball bearing and sleeve bearing fans.

Sleeve bearings (my own experience with my current fans)
-without oil, sleeve bearings will eat the bearing in a matter of months. Have 3 fans squeaking/vibrating because the bearing is worn out.
-soap residue is sticky, which will cause the bearing to seize up faster. Make sure you rinse it off well.

Ball bearings (from my experience with ball bearing yo-yos-they use similar ball bearings)
-ball bearings trap water in the bearing, only way to properly dry it is to completely disassemble the fan and dry just the bearing with a hairdryer.
-oil isn't so important for lubrication, but it important to prevent rust. Rusty ball bearings are worse than even worn out sleeve bearings  Won't even turn even when oiled.

Its best to completely take apart the fan to dry, as there are small crannies which are difficult for water evaporate. Besides, you'll NEED to oil the fans. Electronics will do fine being washed, as long as there's no electricity involved while washing.

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Added on March 8, 2007, 8:09 pmBtw, your Aero 7+ and transparent cooler master (with the word rifle on the sticker) are definitely ball bearing fans. Not sure about the iCute.

nope.. dun use singer oil... dat's the worst oil... it's not expensive to buy silicon lube, oil or spray (in can like wd-40).. they cost around rm20+ only... u can use it on more than 100 fans..

HaHaNoCluE,

but WD-40, will dry up the lubricant and make the bearing worst.. i tried using WD-40 on my fan (lucky i lubricate 1 fan that time) and after a few weeks the fan start squicking again... in the end i have to use the sewing machine lubricant (singer brand) and it's ok until now.. almost 1 year...  dunno why..may be i got a faulty fan... well correct me if i'm wrong...

regards,
point blanc

I just bought a silicon spray for rm10 and spray on the motor and bearing and the fan work fine now. But i still can hear some soft sound coming out of the fan.

the metal part at the motor oxidized and i didn't sand it.. Should i sand it?

can someone tech me how to clean zalman vf-700 heatsink? want to know how to remove the dust of my Galaxy gc.

how to clean laptop fan ?

how to clean laptop fan ?

crazyboysrs, keep a log of the lifespan of your fans.
very good idea.do you shake the fan in the pail of water to futher remove dirt or just drop in the pail and leave it alone?

i did try this method on my stock 478 HSF and the fan stop working after i use the water cleaning method, sad.