How to Clean Your PC: 7 Common Mistakes to Avoid

Is your gaming rig breathing in more dust than a Gautrain in a Highveld thunderstorm? Before you grab the vacuum cleaner, hold on. A clean PC is a happy PC—running cooler, faster, and quieter. But the wrong approach can turn a simple maintenance task into a costly mistake. We see it all the time. This guide will walk you through how to clean your PC properly by highlighting the seven most common blunders South African gamers make. 🧼

Why You Should Clean Your PC (It’s Not Just About Dust Bunnies)

That fine layer of dust blanketing your components isn't just ugly; it's an insulator. It traps heat, forcing your fans to work overtime and potentially causing your CPU and GPU to "thermal throttle"—a fancy term for slowing down to prevent overheating.

Regularly cleaning your computer can lead to:

• Lower Temperatures: Less heat means less stress on your hardware.
• Better Performance: A cooler system can maintain its boost clocks for longer, giving you more stable frame rates in games like Warzone or Apex Legends.
• Longer Component Lifespan: Heat is the enemy of electronics. A clean PC is a long-lasting PC.

Even if you're rocking one of our wallet-friendly budget gaming PCs, a simple clean-up is one of the best free performance boosts you can get.

The 7 PC Cleaning Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes

Learning how to clean your PC is easy, but learning how to do it safely is crucial. Avoid these common pitfalls to keep your machine in top-notch condition.

Mistake #1: Using a Household Vacuum Cleaner ⚠️

This is the big one. While it seems logical, using your regular vacuum cleaner is a terrible idea. The plastic nozzles can generate a massive amount of static electricity, which can instantly fry sensitive components like your RAM or motherboard. The suction can also be too strong, potentially yanking on cables or damaging fan bearings.

What to do instead: Use compressed air (canned or an electric duster) to blow dust out of the case.

Mistake #2: Spraying Cleaner Directly Onto Your Rig

Whether it's for the side panel or a component, never spray any liquid directly onto your PC. The moisture can seep into crevices and cause a short circuit, leading to permanent damage. This is especially important for anyone wanting to protect their investment in one of the many excellent PCs under R20k that form the backbone of SA's gaming community.

What to do instead: Lightly spray a microfibre cloth with your chosen cleaner (like isopropyl alcohol for stubborn grime) and then wipe the surface.

Mistake #3: Forgetting About Old Thermal Paste

If your PC is a few years old and cleaning the heatsink doesn't lower your CPU temps, the thermal paste might be the culprit. This conductive material sits between your CPU and its cooler, and it dries out over time, becoming less effective. For the powerful processors found in high-end PCs above R20k, optimal heat transfer is non-negotiable for performance.

What to do instead: This is a more advanced step. If you're comfortable, remove the CPU cooler, clean off the old paste with isopropyl alcohol, and apply a new, pea-sized dot of quality thermal paste.

Mistake #4: Being Too Aggressive with Canned Air

Compressed air is your best friend, but it needs to be used correctly. Blasting a fan at full tilt can make it spin faster than it was designed to, potentially damaging the motor. Furthermore, holding the can at a sharp angle or upside down can cause the bitter-cold liquid propellant to spray out, which can damage components.

Mistake #5: Using Paper Towels or Tissues

Wiping down your components or acrylic side panel with a paper towel is a recipe for a lint-covered disaster. Paper products break down easily, leaving behind tiny fibres that contribute to the very dust problem you're trying to solve. They can also be abrasive and cause micro-scratches on glossy surfaces.

What to do instead: Always use a clean, dry microfibre cloth. They trap dust effectively and are non-abrasive.

Mistake #6: Ignoring Your Power Supply (PSU)

The power supply is the unsung hero of your rig, and its fan is often a major dust magnet. Since it's usually at the bottom or top of the case, it pulls in air (and dust) from outside. A clogged PSU can overheat, reducing its efficiency and lifespan. Many of our pre-built PC deals feature cases with dedicated PSU dust filters—make sure you clean those!

What to do instead: With the PC off and unplugged, give the PSU fan grille a few short bursts of compressed air to clear it out.

Mistake #7: Thinking the Inside is the Only Part That Matters

A sparkling interior is great, but what about the parts you interact with every day? Dust, grime, and snack crumbs build up in your keyboard and mouse, while your monitor screen collects a film of dust that dulls its vibrant colours. A full clean means tackling everything. If the grime is just too much, sometimes seeing the best gaming PC deals available is the motivation needed for a complete fresh start. ✨

The Final Polish ✨

Knowing how to clean your PC correctly is a fundamental skill for any owner. By avoiding these seven common mistakes, you're not just tidying up; you're actively extending the life of your hardware and ensuring you get the peak performance you paid for. Set a reminder to do a light clean every few months—your rig will thank you for it.