Face it, when you spend hours a day at a computer that draws dust like a magnet, by spring they are a health hazard. When better than spring to take a close look at the needs of your computer? Although many times we consider our PCs inanimate objects that should be protected from things like cleaning supplies, a good cleaning will make your work environment healthier and a friendlier place to spend your time. Follow these tips on cleaning your hardware, keyboard, screen, outer covering and files to make your PC sparkle like new.
One key in spring cleaning your PC is important: minimize running liquids around electronics to avoid short circuiting them and causing yourself great expense.
Step One: Remove Work Materials from Your Workspace
Aha, caught you with piles of books, stale coffee mugs, piles of printed paper, and candy wrappers. Before you can start your spring cleaning, all of this detritus needs to be removed. Replace books on shelves, empty wastebaskets, return dishes to the kitchen and recycle your unneeded paper and file the needed. Whew, that makes the task easier already.
Step Two: Turn Off Your Computer
Here's a good time to test your surge protector. One click should turn off everything you have, if you have a surge protector. If you don't use this time to save you the expense of a new computer for a mere thirty dollars for a high end surge protector. Electrical storms and brown outs happen, don't be caught unaware.
Note : turning off your computer will protect against accidents while cleaning.
Step Three: Determine if Your Mousepad Needs Replacement
Mousepads have a bad habit of getting stained and dirty. Buy a new one for a few dollars if yours looks tacky or has mushrooms growing on the surface.
Step Four : Brush and Bang Your Keyboard
If you don't have a wireless keyboard, disconnect it from your computer. The placing the short end in a waste basket, broom all the little food particles from between your keys. Turn it 180 degrees and repeat the process. Check how well you've done by setting the keyboard key side down on a table and banging on the back. If you lift it up and there's piles like what you get out of a toaster, keep working.
Step Five : Remove Your Mouse Ball and Brush and Clean
Turn the little panel on your mouse and let the ball drop into your hand. Again, brush with a toothbrush, bang and wipe off the ball. If your mouse has been sticky, wipe the ball with a cotton pad dampened with alcohol and let dry. Return the ball to the mouse and secure. This only applies to mouse's with balls.
Step Six : Vacuum Your PC, Keyboard and Office Environment
Get out your vacuum and put a fine tip on the end of your hose or brush depending on which has the most suction power. Vacuum your desk, the vents on your monitor, the fan areas. You may want to remove the cover on your desktop or tower to vacuum any dust collected around your motherboards and fan.
Step Seven : Use Soapy Water on the Hard Shell Outer Covering
Use a soapy water spray like 409 or Windex cleaner and damp cloth to wash any dirt on your computer cover. Rub the keys on your keyboard and mouse clean with a damp cloth. Make sure you spray only on your damp cloth or areas that can't leak into electronics such as your keyboard.
Step Eight : Use Window or Computer Screen Cleaner on Your Monitor Screen
Spray a towel or soft cloth with window cleaner and use it to clean your monitor screen. Beware spraying directly onto a monitor as it might spark or short circuit.
Step Nine: Neaten Computer Cords
Use your spring clean up time to shorten all cords to a minimal amount with cord ties. Also, make sure none of your cords cross, it simplifies adding and moving devices.
Step Ten: Turn on Your Computer and Clean the Junk Off Your PC
Now that your office area and PC is sparkling clean and air fresh, turn on your PC. When your PC starts up, verify your essential Virus Protection software[1] is renewed. Then do the basic clean up tasks on your PC to ensure you're working at top speed and efficiency [2].
[2] http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/158574/how_ to_clean_the_junk_off_your_pc.html?cat=15