Topic: How To Properly Clean Xbox

Believe it or not, using vacuums and canned air can be very bad for your console. It causes static electricity that can potentially cause errors to your console. Simply wiping the outside is just enough to clean your console. To be clear, vacuuming a closed console through the vents is not going to build up enough charge to destroy it, but it is not a good practice. Better to be safe than sorry. According to Microsoft Forums, "A vacuum for example can cause damage to your Xbox through transmitting static electricity that can harm the components inside."

@UserTK-421 I had no idea about it. The great fan of Series X should be enough to keep it fairly clean inside.

@Banjo- Yes, the Xbox Series X|S fan systems keep it clean and insulate cool air into the console, however it is good to keep your console in optimal condition. As for me, I used to vacuum the outside until I read the fine print in the User Manual: DO NOT USE VACUUM NEAR CONSOLE OR USE CANNED AIR TO CLEAN VENT!
To this day I have never ever used a vacuum again. The last thing I need is to be in the middle of a Call of Duty Match or Star Wars Battlefront Match and then my console crashes! Glad I finally realized that.

I posted a link to my Fandom Page.
https://community.fandom.com/wiki/User:UserTK-421

@UserTK-421 Wiping with a cloth is just as likely to generate static as a vacuum or compressed air as its caused by friction (among other things). You're probably more likely to blow something into the vents that would cause a short with canned air which is one reason you probably shouldn't use it.

Unless you are handling the bare electronics you shouldn't really have an issue with static as the console will be grounded via the chassis/power lead.

@dmcc0 Thanks for the tip. I kind of knew a little bit on the topic with SOME experience, but as far as the static electricity I needed some guidance. Does anyone have anything else to suggest as well? I typically clean my Xbox every other weekend, or every month or so. Plus, I do clean my two controllers, and I dust and disinfect to avoid stick drift within my joystick drivers. I considered using Isopropyl Alcohol, but the acid might do something bad to the system, so I just got a SLIGHTLY dampened washcloth and wiped the exterior handles and buttons of the controller. I always want to keep my Xbox accessories in OPTIMAL condition, but I might as well see what everyone else has to offer... Thanks for the tips!

@UserTK-421 Damp cloth is fine for cleaning if you are doing it every couple of weeks. Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) doesn't harm electronics as long as they are not powered - it's commonly used for cleaning circuit boards. It shouldn't affect the plastic casing of controllers or consoles, but I think it does make certain plastics go 'cloudy' or a bit white. I wouldn't bother using it for cleaning unless you're trying to remove a sticky mark or something.
I haven't used IPA for avoiding or fixing stick-drift, but WD-40 Electrical Contact Cleaner (not regular WD-40) has fixed stick drift in quite a few Switch Joy-cons and a couple of Cheap 3rd-Party Xbox controllers in my house.

@UserTK-421 I used to be a bit obsessed with alcohol (before covid, I mean), but now I have realised that a clean cloth slightly dampened using just water is fine for almost everything. I would only use alcohol or cleaning vinegar for sticky dirt like @dmcc0 said. A clean cloth does wonders and you can rinse and wring it out as many times as needed.

Ah this a topic that I have become intresated beviset I have like had my Xbox now for some time now and yeah would like to see it last for some more time. I can understand that Ms dont want to provide info about how to keep it clean and well free from dust but it would cool if they did. I mean not least given how valuable the console is.

Iam a little bit sad that alreday have some but not much dust in it.. atm. Hehe.