I use a toothbrush. (small hobby brush can work well also.) Remove the fan and just brush it clean. Do the same to the heatsink, and you should be good to go. I find it doesn't take long at all doing it this way.
http://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/details/456813/keyboard-mouse-back-forward-buttons-a-dont-do-anything-anymore-b-cant-be-re-assigned
Hope it helps.
Depends what your definition of "reliable" is. Mechanical HDs are ...mechanical... so they'll fail one day. For most of them that could be a few years after they're first turned on, but there's never any guarantee.
If you're using the highest capacity model for important data without backing up...