Rec. for cleaning off CPU

[Seeker47]

What would you recommend for safely cleaning off traces of old, dried thermal compound gunk ?
(Not a whole lot of it, but some.) Windex ?

[aedipuss]

windex probably has water in it. not good. articlean or try rubbing alcohol(90% or higher).

[davexnet]

I believe it's acetone to get the worst off, then clean it up with 99% isopropyl alcohol.

[olyteddy]

According to the Arctic Silver instructions:

Removal From Hardware:
Thermal compound can easily be removed from hardware using the proper
cleaners and tools: For general clean up, a cloth or paper towel will work well.
Intricate cleaning can be accomplished with Q-tip swabs. An old toothbrush can
often get the compound out of crevices that other tools cannot reach. Again, use
ArctiClean 1 and 2 or high-purity isopropyl alcohol.

CPU Core: Remove thermal material with ArctiClean 1 and 2, a xylene based
cleaner, (Goof Off and some carburetor cleaners) or high-purity isopropyl alcohol
and a LINT FREE cloth (a lens cleaning cloth or coffee filter). If you use Goof
Off or another xylene based cleaner always follow up with a cleaning of highpurity isopropyl alcohol.
Heatsink: Remove thermal material with ArctiClean 1 and 2, a xylene based
cleaner, (Goof Off and some carburetor cleaners) or high-purity isopropyl alcohol
and a LINT FREE cloth (a lens cleaning cloth or coffee filter). If you use Goof
Off or another xylene based cleaner always follow up with a cleaning of highpurity isopropyl alcohol.

CPU Ceramic Package: Remove thermal compound with ArctiClean 1 and 2, a
liquid dish soap (not dishwasher detergent), WD-40, Citrus based cleaners, xylene
based products (Goof Off, some carburetor cleaners and many brake cleaners.) or
mineral spirits. Once the majority of the compound has been removed from the
ceramic, small patches remaining on the ceramic package can be 'erased' with a
soft eraser.

Removal From Self:
Wash your hands with any liquid soap (Dawn, Lux, Palmolive, Etc.) rather than
hand soap. (Do not use detergent for an automatic dishwasher.)

[Moontrash]

I use 70% rubbing alcohol and a Q-tip it does just fine...no problems

I read somewhere that 60% or higher rubbing alcohol was fine. I tried it and it's a winner

[lacywest]

I do this all the time and I have no problems ... I remove the CPU ... go into my bathroom and run water from the faucet. I have a toothbrush ... I use this green plastic toothbrush ... nice sturdy bristles.

I have a bar of soap sitting close by ... I scrap some soap with the tooth brush and start scrubbing the CPU ... usually all the old dry CPU compound comes off quickly ... if not ... I try the Comet cleanser close by.

Hold on to the CPU ... dont get the pins bent from falling into the porcelan sink.

Seriously ... this is how I do it ... I also have a ... AIR compressor out in the garage to help it dry off ... some CPUs ... have really tiny holes and I have sometimes wondered if water is getting in there ... so I will wait several hours ... just in case some water did get in there.

Also ... some CPUs ... the ones being built today .. have the LID permanently attached ... but what if there is a small gap where water could get in ... I have to consider that possibility ... too.

So far ... nothing has gone wrong ... the CPU works just fine ... when I push the power button.

[Seeker47]

Thanx to all respondents for your suggestions.

[mammo1789]

I do this all the time and I have no problems ... I remove the CPU ... go into my bathroom and run water from the faucet. I have a toothbrush ... I use this green plastic toothbrush ... nice sturdy bristles.

Are you kidding water and cpu. it is best to use 90% > alcohol and rub with tooth brush and after that with clean cloth it shines each time, and it is safe. If it is stuck you can use hairdryer to make it loose don't use force on cpu ever

[ranchhand]

For years I have been using mineral spirits (very pure form of paint thinner); I lightly moisten an edge of a white paper towel, wrap it around my finger, and lightly wipe. All old grease instantly removes on contact. I use my fingernail (through the paper towel) to remove traces around the contacts. I have never damaged a CPU, and I do this all the time. Paint thinner evaporates and leaves the chip clean with no residue.

[aedipuss]

you have no idea what you're leaving behind with alcohol or other solvents until you try the articlean 2 step process.

[ranchhand]

try the articlean 2 step process

What's that? (or info link?)
[EDIT]: Ok, never mind, Teddy's post above explains...

[aedipuss]

teddy's isn't really about articlean, it just mentions it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100010&Tpk=articlean

ArctiClean is the first retail product to emerge from the union of Arctic Silver and Nanotherm technology. ArctiClean is a two-step cleaning process that removes existing thermal grease or pads and prepares the thermal surface for a fresh application of thermal interface material.
ArctiClean 1 totally emulsifies thermal pads and thermal greases. The waxes, oils, and fillers of the thermal material are suspended within the ArctiClean 1 so they can be cleaned off completely. This emulsification allows ArctiClean to remove the thermal material in the microscopic imperfections in the heatsink or heat spreader that non-emulsifying cleaners cannot touch. The flash corrosion inhibitors in ArctiClean 2 then significantly reduce the corrosion layer on the copper or aluminum, improving the interface between the metal and the new thermal material and maximizing thermal transfer.