by Craig Ardolino

Created on: January 10, 2011

PC Cleaning Techniques

Over time, PCs gather dust and dirt, which can affect hardware performance. Homes or businesses with a hot air system will generally accumulate dust faster than those places with other heating systems. Your PC is no different than any other electronic device in your home, and it does require an occasional cleaning. In fact, computers probably require more attention because they are stuffed in places that have little or poor air circulation and dust happens to collect in these areas in a greater magnitude.

You should clean your computer at least twice a year and we are NOT talking about software. You must cleans your components and remove dust from the inside of the case. It is best to get yourself in some type of cycle. I personally find I automatically perform this during spring cleaning and again during fall cleaning.

Before cleaning any of the following items, always turn off your PC and remove the power cord from the wall outlet. Never attempt to open any electronic device while it is plugged in. Turning off a power strip does NOT constitute as unplugging. Unplugging means pulling the power cord out of the outlet!  

Your cleaning plan should include attention to the monitor, keyboard, mouse, cooling fan, internals. DO NOT attempt to lubricate anything with WD-40. WD-40 is not meant to lubricate any component inside a computer. By using this you may damage your unit.

Monitor: Purchase special computer-cleaning kits or use a dampened lint-free cloth. Do not use any standard ammonia-based glass cleaners (like Windex), and never use a liquid cleaner on a flat-panel monitor. Do not press to hard on any LCD unit as you do not want to damage the screen.

Keyboard: Clean your computer keyboard by turning it upside-down and gently tapping the bottom to dislodge any particles between the keys. Spray crevices with compressed air or use a specialized mini-vacuum to remove dirt and dust.

Mouse: Optical mice without a rollerball don't require regular cleaning. To clean one with a rollerball, first unplug the mouse. Remove the ball from the bottom and use alcohol and a cotton swab to clean the ball and the internal rollers. Rollerball mice may need to be cleaned several times a year.

Cooling fan: The fan inside your PC accumulates dust as it cools the system. Remove dust on a regular basis by spraying compressed air inside the fan. Do not spray any type of lubricate onto the fan as over spray may sprinkle the boards in the unit.

PC internals: Compressed air can be used to blow dust from boards, power supply, fans and vents. If you prefer, a specialized PC vacuum can be used to clean the PC internals.

PC externals: Use a dampened cloth (wring well before use) and gently wipe the outside of the PC case, all attached cords and around connections. Printers, faxes and scanners: Because the makes and models of peripheral components vary, search the manufacturer's website for specific cleaning suggestions.

Now you understand which tools you need and how to keep your hardware clean and running smoothly. http

Learn more about this author, Craig Ardolino.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.