How to Clean & Protect a Computer
You probably put some effort into keeping your computer free of software viruses. But what about bacteria -- the germy kind? Many computer owners forget to maintain computer hardware, allowing dust, smoke and food to build up on the motherboard, in the vents and between the keys. Even if you bring the computer to a professional for cleaning its innards, you can easily keep the outside clean, disinfected and pristine yourself with a few simple steps. Regular cleaning and simple protection extends the life of your computer, and protects you, too, from illness and from repair costs.
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Things You'll Need
- Hand-held vacuum
- Can of compressed air
- Soft cotton cloth
- Cotton swab
- Rubbing alcohol or anti-bacterial mouthwash
- Disinfectant
- Glass cleaner
- Slipcover
Instructions
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Clean and Disinfect
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Vacuum the computer chassis. Although you should never vacuum the inside of the computer unless you know what you are doing, there is nothing to stop you from taking a hand-held vacuum and sucking as much dust as you can out of the computer vents and from between the keys on the keyboard (just check first that none of the keys are loose). You can also use compressed air (which you buy in a can) to work food crumbs out from between the keys.
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Wipe grime off the plastic case. Lightly dampen a soft, lint-free cloth with water and wipe down the outside of the machine. Use the same cloth to wipe the inside of the CD/DVD drive, but dry the tray before you close it.
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Disinfect the keyboard and touchpad. Turn off the computer and spray a bit of rubbing alcohol or anti-bacterial mouthwash onto a soft, lint-free cloth, and gently wipe down the keyboard, touchpad and palmrests to remove oil and germs. Use a cotton swab dampened with disinfectant to reach between the keys and other hard-to-reach spots.
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Clean the monitor screen. If you have an LCD monitor, dampen your cloth with rubbing alcohol. For glass screens, use household glass cleaner. In either case, if the screen has anti-glare protection, use water.
Protect the Computer
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Protect the computer from the elements. Don't carry around your laptop or notebook without first inserting it into a slipcover or carrying case. If you put it in a backpack without protection, the other stuff in there can scratch and bang the chassis of your machine. Additionally, there are cases made of polycarbonate or hard plastic that stay on the computer at all times, so you don't have to deal with reinserting it into a case or cover.
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Protect the computer from you. For 15 to 20 dollars (as of May 2010) you can get transparent plastic strips that cover your palm rest, keyboard or screen, preventing dust, food crumbs and the oil from your skin from making contact with the computer.
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Keep the computer out of harm's way. Never keep your laptop on the floor, or your desktop where someone might trip on it. Don't eat, drink or smoke near the computer. If you live or work in a dusty or smoky environment, clean your computer more often and cover it when you aren't using it.
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Tips & Warnings
Never use a dripping-wet cloth or spray liquids directly onto the computer in such a way that fluid might reach the circuits.
Unplug the computer before cleaning it.
References
- Photo Credit computers in aggressive environment image by frog from Fotolia.com
