rude66 wrote:that fan looks like a bit more than just tar though. my laptop has been standing in plenty of smoky areas, next to smoke machines, etc and it doesn't look like this.
It's mysterious indeed how that works; mine isn't that bad either. I do perceive cigarette smoke as more sticky than the more "pure" smoke of roll your own or pipe smoke. Considering the huge clouds that something like Ashton's Artisan's Blend leads to my fans should be pure gunk but they are not.
and yes kas, i do own a hair trimmer..
If anyone needs me I'll be in the shower, pouring a bottle of bleach into my ear to get rid of the mental images :-p.
Anyway, those brushes are perfect.
Another note; you can put a vacuum cleaner on a computer just fine but watch the fans. Fans contain electro-motors (duh) and those will act as turbines when spun by outside forces (they basically become a windmill). This means that cheerfully putting a vacuum on your fan will lead to a voltage somewhere on your mobo or power-supply that probably doesn't expect a voltage going that way. Pin them down with a long match or similar and only then put the vacuum on them.
Oh, and while I'm at it; any liquid spillage should be met by unplugging the thing and taking out the battery *immediately*, then allow at least a day in a dry and warm, well ventilated spot for drying. Liquid is no big deal, liquid&electricity combined are.