Can I Clean Thermal Paste With Vodka?

Cleaning thermal paste off your computer may not be the neatest job ever.

To make the job easier, a lot of people try to clean thermal paste with different materials like nail polish remover, spirit, or alcohol.

The latest query we have received in this regard is "Can I clean thermal paste with vodka?". And that is exactly what we are going to find out today.

Let's dive in.

Is it necessary to clean the old thermal paste before applying new one?

Yes! It’s absolutely necessary to clean the old thermal paste before you apply the new one.

That's because if you don't clean the old paste, it will negatively affect the performance of the new one.

By the time you decide to change the old paste, it has already dried out and degraded, which means it cannot conduct heat as effectively as it used to when it was new. When you apply new paste on top of the old one, the new one does not perform as well as it can because it's not pure anymore.

Learn more about How to Clean Thermal Paste off CPU [2022 Beginner Guide].

What happens if I use vodka to clean thermal paste off the CPU/GPU?

We do NOT recommend using vodka to clean thermal paste.

Vodka is only 40% alcohol; the remaining 60% is water, which damages a system and causes short circuits.  When cleaning off paste especially, moisture can easily get into a CPU socket or even penetrate the motherboard and cause a short circuit.

Vodka having a 60% concentration of water means it’s mostly water. It won't be able to melt the dried thermal paste from your CPU, GPU, or heat sink. Plus it won't evaporate as fast as high-concentration alcohol does. So it will take longer to dry after you have cleaned the thermal paste. 

To melt dried-out thermal paste, you need at least 90% alcohol. That's why isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol is recommended for this job.

You can find rubbing alcohol and isopropyl in a supermarket or utility store near you.

All in all, we do not recommend using vodka to clean thermal paste, as there are many better options you could use. (Learn more about What Is Thermal Paste Remover or Cleaner?)

What else can I use to remove thermal paste?

The best way to go about the situation is to use a dedicated thermal paste removal solution, like Kooling Monster KLEAN-01.

KLEAN-01 is a very effective tool when it comes to cleaning thermal paste. It comes pre-applied on cleaning wipes so you do not have to mess with any chemical substances. All you need to do is grab the wipes and clean off the thermal paste.

Furthermore, KLEAN-01 comes with all the gear you need to clean up thermal paste.

Learn more about What Are Thermal Paste Remover Alternatives? Can We Actually Use Them?

How to clean thermal paste off CPU/GPU effectively?

First and foremost, make sure you have your cleaning solution by your side. We recommend wearing a pair of protective gloves while dealing with thermal paste so it does not stick to your hands.

If you purchase KLEAN-01, protective gloves come inside the package so you don't have to worry about that.

After you have worn your protective gloves, follow the simple steps below.

1. Open up your computer and remove the heat sink from the top of the CPU or GPU.

2. Grab your KLEAN-01 cleaning wipe or lint-free paper towels soaked in rubbing alcohol.

3. Use a cleaning wipe or paper towel to clean off the larger chunk of thermal paste from your CPU/GPU as well as your heat sink.

4. Now grab another wipe or paper towel and rub off the surface of the CPU/GPU and heat sink to remove the remaining amount of thermal paste.

5. If you feel like there is still a thin layer of thermal paste left, you can use a fresh wipe or paper towel to clean that up.

Now you are free to apply your new thermal paste and start using your computer.

The bottom line

It's not recommended to clean thermal paste with vodka because the alcohol concentration in it is only 40% which is not sufficient to melt down dried-up thermal paste and might damage your hardware.

Alternatively, you could use rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol for this job.

But the best way to deal with this situation is to use a dedicated thermal paste cleaning solution like KLEAN-01.