Isopropyl alcohol is the staple substance to clean/remove thermal compounds from the CPU IHS & heatsink.
But what if youre unable to get your hands on some alcohol wipes & only have methylated spirits handy?
Can you, or more importantly, should you use methylated spirits to clean the CPU & motherboard?
Lets dive into this article and find out.
Can/Should I Use Methylated Spirits to Clean CPU?
After the residue dries, it can potentially decrease the thermal conductivity & prevent your gear from cooling properly.
see to it to not spill the solvent on the motherboard.
Not all methylated solvents are the same as different brands use different additives which can damage the PCB.
Also, clean the heatsink of the CPU cooler in the same manner.
verify theres no residue left on the surface.
LM removal is quite tricky & you cant risk spilling it on the PCB traces.
Its usually applied on top of the CPU IHS/die which helpslower the CPU tempsandprevent CPU over-temperature issues.
But check that its70-91%isopropyl alcohol or ethanol.
Soak a cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol & wipe the edges of the processor to clean any residue.
But I wouldnt recommend using anything other than isopropyl alcohol as aforementioned solvents can often damage the PCB masking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you clean a computer with methylated spirits?
Yes, you might clean a computer with methylated spirits as it evaporates quickly and doesnt streak.
What can I use to clean off a CPU?
70% isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol wipes are the best thermal compound cleaner for your CPU.
Is it OK to use alcohol to clean the CPU?
Wrapping Up
Thats about it.
Using electrically conductive solvents can potentially damage any electrical component in your gadget.
So just ensure your preferred cleaner doesnt have any electrically conductive impurities & youll be good to go.
