How to Clean A Laptop Cooling Fan in Every Possible Way?

Cleaning laptop fans is not a difficult procedure as several people think. Don’t worry if the laptop fan is disturbing because of dust. After complete research, we are sharing different ways to clean laptop fans. Fans are used in laptops to keep components cool that would overheat. One or two fans usually cool a laptop’s central processor and graphics chip. In a laptop, there is little space for airflow. As a result, even minor amounts of dust and dirt can reduce the performance of the cooling fan system.

In our computer lab, we have tried and tested several ways to clean the laptop fan . We found that a laptop fan can be cleaned “with compressed air, vacuum clearing and blow dryer”. One should be careful in cleaning a laptop fan as its wings are very fragile and can break easily. If you happen to have broken one of those wings, then you need to replace your laptop fan.

In the following sections, I have explained all these points in more detail.

Clean Laptop Fan without Compressed Air

Clean a laptop fan without compressed air if anyone doesn’t have it. But, keep in mind that this method is more hands-on and requires dismantling the laptop, which may void the warranty and cause permanent damage. Proceed if you are working on a laptop that does not hold essential documents or repair the laptop.  Here is a step by step information to clean laptop fan without compressed air:

• Remove the laptop’s battery after shutting it down and unplugging it from its charger. Look for a laptop teardown guide. Or, check the manufacturer’s website for instructions on how to disassemble it.

• Find and remove the screws from the laptop’s bottom. Remove the underside panel, being careful not to damage any wire in the process.

• Check the laptop fan and, if possible, clear any visible dust with a lint-free soft cloth. Use the same cloth to clean any dust from the laptop’s heatsink if it’s visible.

• Reinstall the rear panel and all the necessary screws and wires.

Clean Laptop Fan with Compressed Air

Cleaning a laptop fan is an easy process with a can of compressed air. Compressed air is safe for laptop fans. Almost every component of a laptop’s internal hardware begins to warm up. A fan keeps high-temperature exposure to a minimum, preventing damage to the laptop. Here is a step by step information to clean laptop fan with compressed air:

• Turn the laptop off. Remove the surge protector and unplug the laptop from the outlet. Remove the laptop casing and open it.

• Clean the laptop fan using compressed air, but keep it a few inches away.

• Use compressed air to clean dust from laptop fans, but avoid damaging the tiny blades.

• While utilizing compressed air, grip the fan blade with the finger. Wipe the blades clean with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol.

Cleaning the laptop fan every 6 to 12 months will help to prevent overheating or being damaged due to dust and grime. By cleaning a laptop regularly, you will not only prevent it from overheating. But you will also be able to determine which parts of the laptop are wearing down and need to be changed before it is too late.

Clean Laptop Fan with Vacuum Cleaner

If a tiny vacuum cleaner is available at home, use it to clean the laptop fan . It is also a simple way to clean a laptop fan. Use a lightweight cordless vacuum to clean the laptop fan because it provides more ease due to its tiny size. To prevent electrical harm to the laptop, make sure the vacuum cleaner is earthed.  Here is a complete guide to clean laptop fan with a vacuum cleaner:

• First, turn off the laptop. To stop the fan from spinning, place a non-metallic item between the hole and the fan blades, such as a tiny piece of wood.

• Turn on the vacuum cleaner and select the low-pressure setting.

• Use the vacuum for a few seconds at the laptop fan hole.

• Use a vacuum for all laptop vents, preventing direct contact between the vacuum tube and the vents.

Even though the pressure of a hand-held vacuum cleaner is not as high as compressed air. But this technique will adequately clean the laptop fan while allowing constant airflow.

Clean Laptop Fan with Blow Dryer

A blow dryer is also the best option for cleaning a laptop fan . Use a blow dryer that is lightweight and small. It’s a great way to keep one on hand at all times because they’re wonderful for blowing the dust off all parts of the laptop.  Follow below steps to clean laptop fan with a blow dryer:

• Make sure to turn off the laptop and remove the battery before proceeding.

• Place a non-metallic item between the laptop fan intake grills and the laptop fan blades to avoid additional spinning. Excess spinning could harm the laptop fan blades.

• Because hot air can damage the plastic components of the laptop, adjust your blow dryer to a cold or no heat setting.

While cleaning the laptop fans , make sure the blow dryer does not harm any laptop part.

How to Replace Laptop Fan

Heat rises quickly in a laptop due to a lack of area and ventilation. Through a vent on the side of the laptop case, a laptop fan blows hot air raised by the hard drive and other internal components. A laptop fan cools down the CPU. Follow these procedures to get laptop fan working:

Step 1 – Read Assembling Laptop Instructions

As you disassemble the laptop, pay particular attention to the instruction manual and assembling instructions. Work on a large surface with a bright light source and hold something metal frequently to reduce static charge.

Step 2 – Turn Off

Unplug the laptop and turn it off. Remove the main laptop battery and hard drive from the laptop. Place the hard drive in a slot on a single side of the laptop. Pull out the hard drive sled after removing the screw that holds the cover in place.

Step 3 – Remove Screws

Turn the laptop off and remove the screws that keep the keyboard in place. Push the keyboard up and out by rotating the laptop around, opening it, and then rotating it back over. Disconnect the keyboard’s extensible ribbon cable from the motherboard. Remove the screws that keep the laptop keyboard bezel in place.

Step 4 – Unplug Fan

Remove the laptop fan from the outlet. Disconnect the heat sink and fan from the laptop by disassembling the screws that hold them in place. Remove any remaining thermal compound from the heat sink’s bottom and the CPU.

Step 5 – Apply Thermal Compound

Reinstall the heat sink and fan after applying a thin layer of thermal compound to the CPU. Reinstall the screws, reconnect the fan, and reassemble the laptop.

Step 6- Turn on Laptop

Please turn on the laptop after plugging it in. New fan operating and feeling warm air blowing from the vent on the side of the laptop after a few minutes of use. Because a laptop fan does not run continually, don’t be worried if it turns off periodically.

Conclusion

Several ways of cleaning laptop fans are helpful but the most secure way of cleaning laptop fans is using compressed air. Mini vacuum cleaners are also safe for cleaning laptop fans. Kindly don’t remove or change any other internal parts just because of deep cleaning. Blow dryers are the most convenient option for cleaning laptop fans because blow dryers are available at almost everyone’s home. If you have any queries about this, kindly share them with us. We are available to help you.