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How to Clean a Liquid-Cooled PC: Your Ultimate Guide

Learn how to clean a liquid-cooled PC to maximize performance and longevity. Our guide covers everything from dusting radiators to custom loop maintenance, ensuring your rig stays cool and efficient. Keep your system pristine and prevent overheating! ❄️✨

19 Sept 2025 | Quick Read | 👤 BuildByte

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How to Clean a Liquid-Cooled PC: A Step-by-Step Guide

Your liquid-cooled PC is a masterpiece of engineering, but even the best rigs in Mzansi can fall victim to dust and grime. Ignoring it doesn't just look bad; it can throttle performance and shorten your hardware's lifespan. Whether you scored one of the best gaming PC deals or built your own monster, this guide will show you exactly how to clean a liquid-cooled PC safely, keeping your temps low and your frames high.

Why Cleaning Your Liquid-Cooled PC is Crucial

Unlike air coolers, liquid cooling systems rely on radiators to dissipate heat. Think of it like a car's radiator... if it gets clogged with dust, the whole system overheats. In your PC, this means your CPU and GPU will thermal throttle, cutting performance just when you need it most.

Regular cleaning ensures optimal airflow through the radiator fins, allowing the fans to work efficiently. This simple maintenance can prevent performance loss and extend the life of your components, especially in high-performance PCs above R20k where every degree counts.

Gathering Your Toolkit: What You'll Need

Before you start, get your gear ready. You don’t need a specialised lab, just a few simple items:

Can of compressed air: Your main weapon against dust.
Microfibre cloths: For streak-free panel and component wiping.
Isopropyl alcohol (90%+): Excellent for cleaning stubborn grime without leaving residue.
Cotton swabs and soft brushes: For getting into tight corners and cleaning fan blades.
Patience: Don't rush it! A steady hand is your best tool.

The Step-by-Step Cleaning Guide 🔧

Ready to get hands-on? Follow these steps for a thorough and safe clean. This entire process should take about 30-60 minutes.

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Step 1: Power Down and Prep

This is non-negotiable. Shut down your PC completely via the operating system. Then, turn off the power supply unit (PSU) using the switch at the back and unplug it from the wall. Disconnect all peripherals and move your PC to a clean, well-lit, and well-ventilated area.

Step 2: Exterior and Panel Wipe-Down

Start with the outside. Remove any dust filters and give them a good clean—some can even be rinsed with water (just make sure they are 100% dry before reinstalling). Wipe down the case panels with a slightly damp microfibre cloth. For glass panels, a dedicated glass cleaner or a touch of isopropyl alcohol on a cloth works wonders.

Step 3: Tackling the Radiators and Fans

This is the most important part of cleaning a water-cooled PC.

Hold the Fans: Use one finger to gently hold the fan blades in place. Letting them spin freely with compressed air can damage the fan motor.
Blast the Dust: Use short, controlled bursts of compressed air to blow dust out of the radiator fins. Always blow the air in the opposite direction of the normal airflow. If your fans are pushing air out through the radiator, you should blow air from the outside in.
Wipe the Blades: Use a cotton swab or a soft brush lightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol to wipe down each fan blade. You'll be amazed at how much grime builds up here.

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Step 4: Dusting the Interior Components

With the radiators clear, give the rest of the interior a once-over. Gently blow dust off the motherboard, GPU, and RAM. Pay attention to the PSU shroud and any nooks where dust bunnies love to hide. This applies to all builds, from entry-level to the most kitted-out gaming rigs under R20k.

TIP FOR YOU

Pro Tip: Cable Management Matters ✨

cable management isn't just for looks. Tidy cables improve airflow, making your PC run cooler and quieter. More importantly, it makes cleaning much easier because there are fewer places for dust to get trapped. If you hate cable management, that's one of the perks of our [expertly crafted pre-built PCs](https: www.evetech.co.za pre-built-pc-deals x 1663)—we handle the tedious work for you!

Advanced Maintenance: Coolant and Loop Health

For custom loops, you should inspect your coolant every few months for signs of plasticiser leeching (cloudiness) or biological growth. A full flush and coolant replacement is typically recommended every 12-24 months.

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Thankfully, the All-In-One (AIO) coolers found in many budget gaming PCs are sealed units that don't require this level of liquid maintenance. For AIO users, this guide on how to clean a liquid-cooled PC is all you'll ever need to worry about.

By investing a little time every few months, you keep your machine looking and performing its best. A clean rig is a happy rig! 🚀

Time for an Upgrade? Keeping your PC clean is smart, but sometimes you just need more power. If your rig is starting to show its age, browse our massive range of award-winning gaming PC deals and find the perfect machine to conquer your world.

For optimal performance, dust radiators and fans monthly. A deep clean, including flushing the loop and changing the fluid in custom loops, should be done every 6 to 12 months.

Yes, but use a low-power setting and a soft brush attachment. The best way to clean radiator fins is with compressed air to avoid bending the delicate fins.

Key signs include rising CPU temperatures, unusual gurgling sounds from the pump, or visible dust buildup on the radiator. Regular AIO cooler maintenance prevents these issues.

No, AIO (All-In-One) coolers are sealed units and are not designed for fluid changes. Custom loops, however, require periodic fluid replacement for peak performance.

For custom loops, you must drain the system and flush it with distilled water. Use a soft tube brush for flexible tubing or a specialized flush kit for hardline tubing.

Maintaining a water-cooled computer is straightforward with a regular schedule. AIOs require minimal effort, while custom loops need more attention but offer better performance.