Regular cleaning not only prolongs the life of the game console, but it also helps to keep it quiet. — Photo: Christin Klose/dpa
BERLIN: Whether you play Xbox, PlayStation or Switch, your console is likely to slow down and get louder if you leave dust to gather on it over months and months.
Especially larger consoles like the Xbox and PlayStation are likely to stay in one spot for years at a time without being moved or dusted down. Over time, this will impact not only the volume of the fans, but also your gameplay as the fans become less effective at cooling the console down.
To keep things running quietly and efficiently for as long as possible, manufacturers say you need to regularly get the dust out of your device's fans.
What's the right way to do it? First, disconnect your console from the power supply. Where possible, try to avoid using any water, as it can damage the electronics in the console and the controllers.
If necessary, you can try and get rid of stubborn dirt with a slightly damp cloth before wiping the area down with a dry cloth.
It's also best to stay away from cleaning agents entirely, since these are likely to leave ugly marks on the device's surfaces, which are usually sensitive.
The most important cleaning tool is a microfibre cloth, as these can effectively be used to remove dust and other dirt from surfaces. The cloth attracts dust particles and holds them in place so they don't get thrown back into the air and redistributed on the console.
If there are hard-to-reach areas inside the console, such as the ventilation slots that a cloth won't be able to access, you may want to consider getting a compressed air spray can.
Be very careful if you want to try using a vacuum cleaner, as these devices are powerful and can damage the fan. If you want to risk it, it's best to first turn your vacuum cleaner down to its lowest possible suction level.
How often is a cleaning necessary? If you want avoid blocked fans – which are essential for dissipating heat, cooling down the console and allowing smooth gameplay – cleaning them roughly every three to six months is advised, according to Xbox manufacturer Microsoft.
The more dust you allow to accumulate, the faster the fans have to turn. This then leads to much louder fan noise while you're playing.
And that's not all: If the fan still doesn't manage to blow the heat out of the case, it can significantly reduce the console's lifespan in the long run.
You can also help reduce the amount of dust that gets into the console in the first place by storing it in the right kind of space, and Sony suggests avoiding putting it anywhere where there are long fibres, like on a rug or carpet.
Breathing space is also helpful, and Sony says PlayStation owners should leave about 10 cm of free space on either side of the console. – dpa
