Cleaning Questions in General
Some computer components require periodic cleaning to operate properly (e.g., screens, keyboards, heat sinks and fans). Questions on cleaning these aren't typically an issue. Other components require cleaning only if they get disgusting. Cleaning these is more cosmetic and doesn't usually affect computer performance or usability. Questions are sometimes treated as frivolous, even though they are computer components and have constraints on how they can be safely cleaned in a way that does not affect performance.
Example
Cleaning computer cables In the dishwasher.
This user inherited a large collection of varied cables and was looking for an efficient, safe way to clean them. He could have asked whether there would be any risk to dumping them all in a big bucket of very hot soapy water, and that might not have aroused more than the usual resistance to cleaning questions of this kind. However, he asked whether it was safe to use a dishwasher based on people having used that to clean keyboards, which include a cable.
Some people reacted as if it was a question about dishwasher science. One comment was "you are kidding right?", which received 8 upvotes as of this writing.
Although the question originally included a long list of cable types, they all fell into three groups:
- Never do it.
- Safe to do it.
- Residual water might not be great for cable life but probably wouldn't cause a performance problem.
The OP did complicate things a little by later adding power bricks to the list, although most people would just stick those in the "never" category.
The answers have some differences on the specific risks of residual water (the "why"), but the overall recommendations (do vs. don't) have the limited range of answers typical of most questions. However, the question was closed as too broad.
At the time of writing this, the question has had over 2,650 views in the first two days, which is pretty good interest, and 21 upvotes and 4 downvotes, which indicates that a lot of people found the question useful (and a few hated it). The close votes are what surprised me. I'm just not understanding what people see as close-worthy problems with this question.
I did some rewriting to try to focus the question more and to address the specifics random posted in a comment. The question is generally improved, but I don't understand the issues people had, so I really don't know if the changes address them. I did the edits only a few hours ago, so it hasn't had much chance to go through the Reopen review queue (but no traction so far).
Question
I'd look forward to any insight people can provide on cleaning questions in general or this question, specifically, especially if the edits don't address the issues people have. Do people just consider cleaning questions of this kind not a good fit for the site, or are there specific issues that can be fixed?