Well, its good to see that we have come to a consensus here.
Blow with Dry air and risk static discharge. Blow with wet air and risk corrosion. Blow too hard and blow the components right off the board.
Brushing risks both static and mechanical damage.
Vacuuming is ineffective unless you get right down on the components, in whiuch case you risk static with brushes and mechanical damage with hard nozzles.
Leaving dust to settle risks having the dust short out components and cause overheating because air can't circulate around components.
What's a mother to do?
I bet everybody would agree that the best solution is to never let the dust get in in the first place. Vented and filtered enclosures around components. Additional filters around component vents. However, only the most compulsive of us are likely to build additional filtering.
I think we also need to consider that the most damaging dust is down against the circuit boards, and the only way to get to it is to disassemble the unit. That is fairly easy for a receiver, but quite difficult for a TV.
I personally use a combination of techniques. I remove and wash external filters. I brush off external vents and cases. I then vacuum the vents. I open up easily accessible components and use air in a can to blow out dust. The nozzle on canned air is very controllable, especially with the extension tube.
I also live with the fact that I'm not going to get it all, and wait on the less accessible stuff until I have another reason to go inside. Frankly, accumulated dust isn't going to provide an issue unless it builds up for years.
Blow with Dry air and risk static discharge. Blow with wet air and risk corrosion. Blow too hard and blow the components right off the board.
Brushing risks both static and mechanical damage.
Vacuuming is ineffective unless you get right down on the components, in whiuch case you risk static with brushes and mechanical damage with hard nozzles.
Leaving dust to settle risks having the dust short out components and cause overheating because air can't circulate around components.
What's a mother to do?
I bet everybody would agree that the best solution is to never let the dust get in in the first place. Vented and filtered enclosures around components. Additional filters around component vents. However, only the most compulsive of us are likely to build additional filtering.
I think we also need to consider that the most damaging dust is down against the circuit boards, and the only way to get to it is to disassemble the unit. That is fairly easy for a receiver, but quite difficult for a TV.
I personally use a combination of techniques. I remove and wash external filters. I brush off external vents and cases. I then vacuum the vents. I open up easily accessible components and use air in a can to blow out dust. The nozzle on canned air is very controllable, especially with the extension tube.
I also live with the fact that I'm not going to get it all, and wait on the less accessible stuff until I have another reason to go inside. Frankly, accumulated dust isn't going to provide an issue unless it builds up for years.