How to Clean a Laptop Fan: Easy DIY Methods

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Stop dust and dirt from clogging your laptop fan and vents
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Is your laptop running hotter than usual, making unusual noises, or have you not cleaned its fans in a while, and are wondering if you should? The heat and weird noises can be a sign that your laptop’s CPU cooling fan needs to be cleaned. Laptop fans collect dust over time; after all, they’re circulating air in and out to cool your laptop down. In this article, we’ll teach you how to easily clean a laptop fan with and without compressed air. Either method works to remove dust, but one requires disassembling your laptop, so pick what you feel most comfortable doing. Read on to learn how to clean the fan in your laptop, with helpful tips from computer specialists Luigi Oppido and Yaffet Meshesha.

Safely Clean Your Laptop's CPU Fan: Quick Steps

  1. Power off and unplug your laptop.
  2. Spray compressed air into the vents in short bursts.
  3. If the fans need more cleaning, remove the battery and bottom panel.
  4. Wipe the fan with a dry, lint-free cloth.
  5. If needed, use a laptop cleaning brush to remove grime.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Cleaning with Compressed Air

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  1. Before doing anything, it’s important to make sure your laptop is not on or attached to an active electrical outlet. This ensures that you won’t get electrocuted while cleaning the laptop. [1]
    • If you can, consider removing the battery. This will also help your laptop cool down internally. Simply open the latch on the underside back edge of your laptop and slip the battery out (how you remove the battery may vary depending on the laptop’s make and model).
    • According to Oppido, cleaning without disassembling your laptop is the best first step. You can always go back and open the case if your laptop is still heating up.
  2. Vents are usually located on the underside of the laptop, but may be in a different location depending on what type of laptop you have—just take the laptop and look around to see where the vents are located on your specific model. Hold the can upright at a 90-degree angle. Meshesha explains, "If you turn it sideways, the compressed air will spit out hydrogen, and essentially, it will turn into ice, and you'll be spraying liquid instead of air."
    • If you can see the fan blades through the vents, point the nozzle directly at them.
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  3. Putting continuous air into the intake vents could create condensation inside the laptop. [2] To avoid this, press down on the nozzle in 1-second increments to loosen any dirt and dust. [3]
  4. If your laptop is extra dirty, try spraying air through the vents on the side(s) of the laptop. This can help release trapped dust and push air through the intake vents. [4]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Disassembling the Laptop

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  1. According to Oppido, using compressed air to clean your CPU fan should do the trick, but sometimes you'll need to open up your laptop to clean inside. You should attempt this only if your laptop is still retaining heat. It’s always better to be safe rather than sorry, so ensure there's no electricity going in or out of the laptop. This way, there’s no chance you’ll be electrocuted.
  2. Locate the screws on the underside of the laptop. Use a screwdriver (preferably one designed for laptops) to remove each screw and lift off the back. [5]
    • Keep all the screws in a safe place as you’ll need them to reattach the backing later.
    • Some laptops have push tabs instead of screws, allowing you to remove the underside by pressing a switch(s). [6]
    • Consider referencing a “teardown guide” for your laptop’s make and model. Sites like iFixit and YouTube offer advice on taking apart all types of laptops.
  3. The fan is usually located in one of the back corners, but could vary depending on the make and model of your laptop. Use a lint-free cloth to remove any visible dust on the fan. [7]
    • If you’re comfortable, consider removing the fan from the laptop with your screwdriver to wipe it down entirely.
    • Compressed air can also be used at this stage if you have it on hand. Simply spray small bursts into the fan and its attaching parts.
  4. Carefully slide the brush along the blades of the fan and underneath the protective plate. If you’re comfortable, disassemble the fan itself by unscrewing the protective plates to release the blade. [8]
    • Oppido advises that if there's something gummed up on the blades, brushing is probably the only option to remove it; blowing air usually doesn't work in these cases.
  5. Reassemble the fan if you disassembled it, and put it back in place. Set the backing back on the laptop, lining up the screw holes. Use your screwdriver to put the screws back in—make sure they're tightly in place, so your laptop doesn’t open while you’re using it.
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      Tips

      • When to clean your fans varies. According to Oppido, if you usually use your laptop outside, aim to clean its fan every two months to keep it from overheating. If you only use it in the office or in a clean space, you can clean it once every six months.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/tech-takes/how-to-clean-your-laptop
      2. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/guides/how-to-clean-a-laptop/
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/M_kr3FmsSUE?t=202
      4. ↑ https://www.asus.com/ph/support/faq/1003050/
      5. ↑ https://bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/sites.psu.edu/dist/d/26560/files/2015/04/How-to-Clean-a-Laptop-Cooling-Fan-by-Matt-Murphy.pdf
      6. ↑ https://ncert.nic.in/vocational/pdf/keit104.pdf
      7. ↑ https://pcpl21.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/How-to-Clean-Your-Computer-Properly.pdf
      8. ↑ https://www.asus.com/ph/support/faq/1003050/

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