The right way to clean your PlayStation 5

From dirt and dust to hair and old food, your PlayStation® 5 can get filthy. That's not only gross, it's bad for your console. All that muck and grime can harm your PS5®, reducing its lifespan and keeping it from working at its best.

Don't worry though. Cleaning your console is easy, and we'll teach you the right way to do it.

What do you need to clean your PS5?

You don't need much more than what you probably already have at home. Here's what we recommend for cleaning your PS5:

1. A 50/50 mix of water and isopropyl alcohol
2. A small spray bottle
3. A microfiber towel
4. A soft bristle brush
5. A few Q-tips
6. A pair of pliers
7. A small T8 or T9 screwdriver
8. A grounding tool
9. Some canned air

How to clean your PS5 controller

Think about how many times you've picked up your controller after grabbing a handful of Doritos®? Gross, right? But we've all done it—and cleaning will only take a few minutes.

Spray that mixture of water and alcohol on a microfiber towel to wipe down those buttons, making sure to get into all the crevices. If anything is really caked in there, put some of that cleaning solution on a Q-tip and use it to get rid of the gunk.

We recommend doing this once every 2 weeks to clean up any accumulated grime. Your controller will thank you.

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How to clean your PS5 console

Cleaning your PlayStation will keep your machine working at its best and lower the chances of dust and debris getting into places it shouldn't—like in your console's fan, which can damage your machine.

Follow these simple steps and give your console a quick clean every 1–3 months.

Step 1: Turn off your console

1. Press the PlayStation button on your controller.
2. Select the power icon.
3. Select Turn off PS5.
4. Unplug your console from the outlet to avoid an electric shock.

Step 2: Set your PlayStation on a clean surface

Doing so will give you a better view. Take a moment to clean the case cover with the water and alcohol mixture you sprayed on your microfiber towel.

Step 3: Clear the dust from the vents

Grab a brush with soft bristles—like an old toothbrush—and run it along the vents to remove any dust buildup. Blow any remaining dust away with canned air.

Step 4: Clean the ports

Take a look at the ports on your console. Brush—or blow—away any offending dust and debris out of them.

How to clean your PS5 fan

Here's the part that requires some tech know-how—cleaning your PlayStation 5 fan. Doing so properly means you'll have to take your PlayStation apart, and if you don't feel comfortable with that, we don't blame you. You can bring it to a PlayStation 5 repair expert for help.

Either way, cleaning your PS5 fan is important. Clearing away dust keeps your fan from working too hard and your console from overheating. Both are issues that could cause bigger problems over time.

We recommend deep cleaning the fan about 1–2 times per year. Aim for more often if you keep your console low to the ground or in an area that gathers dust quickly.

Here's how to clean dust from your PS5 fan:

1. With your console turned off and safely unplugged, set it on a stable, flat surface.
2. Gently tug on the edge with the PlayStation logo and slide the rest of the cover downwards. Rotate your console and pull from the same direction you did on the other side, then slide the back cover off.
3. Gently pull up on the curved air vent area to pull it off.
4. Using your screwdriver, remove the 4 screws holding the fan in place. Put the screws in a safe spot—you'll need them later.
5. Look for three black cables leading away from the fan. Access those cables by removing the thin black piece next to the fan (near the silver warning sticker) with your fingernail.
6. Grab your pliers and pinch the white wire housing piece and pull it out. You might have to wiggle the piece a bit to remove it.
7. With the cables disconnected, pull the fan out and set it to the side.
8. Time for the soft bristle brush again. Use it to brush out the spot where the fan sits on the console.
9. Brush the dust out of the heat sinks (the brassy parts surrounding the fan).
10. Put your console back together. Going in reverse order, place your fan back into its spot and reconnect the cable. Slide the black piece back into place over the cable connectors. Screw the four screws back into place. Replace your air vents, and slide the case covers back on.