How to clean your computer

Keeping your computer and all of its parts clean can help keep your computer in good working condition.And depending on the environment in which the computer is kept will depend on how thoroughly you will have to clean it and how often.This article will give you some tips and suggestions on how to clean your computer and keep it running the way it was meant to run.

Since there are many parts to a computer, cleaning can be quite a lengthy process when done correctly so if you don't think you have the time or don't want to take the time to do it right then you might want to consider taking it to a professional to have it done.With that being said here are some general tips to keep in mind before you start doing anything to your computer:

• Don't ever spray any type of liquid onto any of the computer parts or the computer itself.


• Don't use a vacuum to clean the inside of your computer because it generates a lot of static electricity.


• Always turn the computer off before you go to clean it.


• Limit smoking around the computer


• Don't eat or drink anything around the computer as it can provide more mess to clean up.

What you will need
There are some pretty fancy tools out there to help clean your computer but really all you need are some basic household items.A cloth is the best type of tool to use when you are dusting or rubbing down something on the outside of the computer.Water and rubbing alcohol can be used when you want to add some moisture to your cloth.These two solutions are not abrasive and won't harm your computer.And if you have some old cotton swabs lying around you can use those to get into all the hard to reach places.

What and how to clean a computer
Let's just go down the list of some different computer parts and how to clean them:

• The Case- The plastic casing around the PC can easily be cleaned with a lint free cloth that has been dampened with water or rubbing alcohol.When you clean make sure that all the vent holes are free from dust.


• The Keyboard- When dirt and dust start to build up on your keyboard the first thing you can try is to turn it upside down and shake the loose dust from the keys.A more effective way to clean it however would be to use a can of compressed air.You can just point the nozzle in between the spaces and clean out any dust and debris.If you have sticky messes in your keyboard like soda, or candy from little fingers you can use a cotton swab that has been dampened with water to try and get the sticky mess off.Sometimes when messes like this occur the best remedy is to just buy a new keyboard.


• The LCD Screen or Monitor- Since the two are made from different materials you need to clean them differently.If you have an LCD Screen, do not use paper towels or hard objects to clean it.The screen is not made of class so it may scratch it.Use a soft cotton cloth that has had water or rubbing alcohol added to it.If you have a monitor it can be cleaned using ordinary glass cleaners, paper towels or cloths.


• The Motherboard- The best way to clean the Motherboard is by using compressed air.Make sure when you are blowing the dust out that you blow it away from the motherboard and out of the case.You could also use a small battery powered vacuum to remove and dust or debris from the inside.Make sure however that you stay at least a couple of inches away from the motherboard and other components to you don't actually suck anything into the vacuum itself.

The important thing to remember when trying to clean your computer is to never use abrasive solutions on it and if cleaning the inside, don't use a super powered vacuum that may suck parts into it.Keeping your computer clean will help keep it running much better and much longer.