Cleaning out a smelly computer

[dayzd]

Hi all

 

I'm having a fun 'problem' with a recent eBay purchase: For a computer from a supposedly 'pet and smoke-free home', my 'new' Mac Pro sure smells a lot of weed when it warms up! I didn't notice it at first, but I left it on overnight one day last week and when I went back in to my office in the morning the odour was more than subtle! It hangs in the air, too, as it took a day or two to clear.

 

I've done the obvious things - checked there isn't a baggie stashed inside somewhere, cleaned out all the dust I can from the fans etc - but the smell persists.

 

Does anyone have any recommendations as to how I can gently clean the insides of my new favourite computer to reduce/remove this smell?!

 

Ta!

[GeekyPete]

Hang a car air freshener on the outside near the vents.

[Oaktech]

Check the keyboard. I would lay money on the dregs being in there.

 

Someone I know cleaned a pro out for a music producer and was able to return almost an entire evening's worth of 'product' to him. But it did involve removing every key top.

[tmoon-mint]

If you absolutely cant get rid of the smell, could you not return it since the item isn't as described? Seems a bit extreme but the last thing I would want is my house stinking!

[Crumpet]

You could always try masking the smell with another smell....burn jostics/ inscence or maybe take up smoking fags?

 

[Arreks]

Wrap the laptop in rolling paper and smoke it.

[3s-gtech]

There will be a degree of burned on residue inside the Mac if it has been drawing in smokey air. You may need to remove the heatsink and soak it overnight, perhaps clea with isopropyl alcohol too, as this may be the main source of odour. Anywhere that fans have been drawing in air will be affected, so the inside of the case may be in need of a clean with wipes (obviously when off and let it dry). I'd be pretty cross if I were you though.

[LeMarchand]

"Grass" them up.

 

IIRC the reason why hippies always used to smell of patchouli oil was that it was said to mask the "other" smell. Unfortunately either way, your house will smell like hippy. (Hopefully without the "unwashed" undercurrent).

[dayzd]

If you absolutely cant get rid of the smell, could you not return it since the item isn't as described? Seems a bit extreme but the last thing I would want is my house stinking!

There are a couple of reasons why I didn't do this:

1. I'm lazy

2. It was a while after the purchase before I found the problem.

3. I didn't have the box left over to ship it back in

4. It was a decent deal, which I possibly wouldn't manage to find again.

5. Did I mention I was lazy? ;-)

 

There will be a degree of burned on residue inside the Mac if it has been drawing in smokey air. You may need to remove the heatsink and soak it overnight, perhaps clea with isopropyl alcohol too, as this may be the main source of odour. Anywhere that fans have been drawing in air will be affected, so the inside of the case may be in need of a clean with wipes (obviously when off and let it dry). I'd be pretty cross if I were you though.

 

I've finally had a go at cleaning it. I removed pretty much everything except the logic board and the PSU, used compressed air over as much as I could, cleaned the case with a damp cloth (lots of fluff and dust), and finally gave the heatsinks a soak with some foam cleaner. Once all back together, I found I now have a machine that smells slightly of lemon cleaner above anything else!

 

If that fails, I'll have a go at the heatsinks with isopropyl alcohol as suggested, as they were definitely the components carrying the smell!

 

Thanks for the suggestions, all!