We bet you didn’t know that your PC is a literal magnet for dust and dirt. The static electricity it generates every time it runs attracts nasty bits of dirt, dust, and hair. These particles will eventually clump together and obstruct the CPU’s case fans, heatsink, and others. With the interior airflow subsequently blocked, the CPU overheats and it’ll be doomed to an earlier demise. To avoid this catastrophic situation, all you have to do is clean your computer regularly.  We’ll teach you the best and thorough way to do it in today’s post.

What Materials You’ll Need to Clean Your Computer

  • Isopropyl alcohol
  • Distilled water
  • Microfiber cloths
  • Compressed air can
  • Scotch tape
  • Q-tips

A Few Reminders Before Getting Started

  • Never use alcohol-based solutions to clean your computer monitor. These can potentially strip it of its protective coating. Use a mild cleaning solution or diluted alcohol mix instead.
  • Microfiber cloths are ideal for cleaning your computer screen. Using standard cloth or paper towel can leave scratches.
  • Find an open, well-ventilated space where you can clean your PC’s tower casing. Make sure that the component is sufficiently cooled down, too.
  • Unplug the peripherals (e.g. keyboard, mouse, loudspeakers, image scanners, etc.) when you’re cleaning them. Take out the batteries for the wireless ones.
  • Don’t apply any liquid directly to any component. You don’t want to risk getting any of them rusty. Pour the cleaning solution on a microfiber cloth and wipe the PC with it, instead.

The Steps You Need to Clean Your Computer

Polish the Mouse

Give it a good wipe all over, but pay special attention to the non-stick pads on the bottom. You’ll be surprised at how much gunk can accumulate on and around the mouse’s “feet”. As for the optical sensor, wipe it with a damp cloth and use a cotton swab to carefully remove the leftover crud.

Clean the Keyboard

Turn the keyboard upside down and give it a good shake. This will get rid of crumbs and debris stuck in between the keys. Afterward, briefly blast those places with compressed air. For really dirty and grimy keyboards, you may have to pry the keys off to better clean what’s underneath. Pop them off softly using large tweezers. Do this last part very carefully, or hire a professional!

Wipe the Monitor

Start wiping the monitor case and clearing any vents of visible obstructions without pushing dust into the unit. Then use a glass cleaner and lint-free cloth to clean the screen. Just a word of advice: wipe the LCD lightly because the glass underneath is quite fragile.

Dust Off the Case

Clear the ventilation ports of any obstructions using compressed air. Be careful not to blow dust into the unit and the optical drives, though. While you’re at it, blow off the case fans. Hold the fan in place using a pen, though, because spinning it too fast in the wrong direction can damage the motor. Clean the motherboard and free it from dust in between removable components when you can, too. Although we’d highly recommend that you do so only with a techie pal or a tech support guy around.

Give Your Laptop a Good Wipe

For dirty laptops, all you really need to do is give it a good wipe. Again, use a diluted alcohol solution or a mild cleaning liquid. Pour either on a microfiber cloth and wipe every surface dry. Meanwhile, don’t hesitate to use isopropyl alcohol to rub oily residue off the keyboard’s keys. Remove any underlying crumbs in between the keys using a can of compressed air.

To clear up those clogged side vents, blow them off with compressed air. In case stubborn dust bunnies hold on through the air blasts, consult an IT guy or check the device’s user manual to know how you can open the case. It may be tricky remembering which screw goes where during reassembly so don’t be too hasty with this procedure. Take a picture or two of the laptop before you open its case for reference and then call your friendly neighborhood techie for assistance.

A clean computer isn’t just easy on the eyes, it’s efficient, too. By keeping your machine squeaky clean, you help it attain and maintain an optimal performance. While you’re at it, why not clean your iPhone, too?