Continuing the theme of computer cleaning, this week we will discuss some easy ways to safely clean your laptop or desktop and keep it running cool.  Whether you wear scrubs to work at your computer, or you use a laptop to hold your Cheetos (please do not do that), your computer is going to get dirty. There are right and wrong ways to clean a computer, but cleaning the right way will ensure you won’t be bringing your computer to us, or another computer shop in the near future. Before cleaning your computer, there are a few things you will need: The second two items are not necessary, but certainly helpful if you have a really dirty computer. Below we have our culprit laptop with a few shots of the dirty screen and keyboard. For this tutorial I only used a clean rag and some diluted rubbing alcohol.  For computer cleaning, it is important not to use water or window cleaner.  Water is difficult to dry off and can short out your computer if not completely dry. While window cleaner may sound like the logical choice for cleaning your LCD, it may leave a residue and can damage porous screens. 

We use a mixture of equal parts 70% Isopropyl rubbing alcohol and water.  This dries quickly and cuts down on grease and oil.  This is safe to use on your screen and most other parts of your computer. Cleaning your keyboard may require canned air or a brush if particularly dirty.  If this is the case, hold your keyboard at an angle and work from top to bottom with your brush or canned air.  Again, use diluted rubbing alcohol to clean and grime from your keyboard and any other exterior surface.  Stand back and admire the results. Should your fan or vents get dirty, use compressed air or a paint brush to clean it off.  Be careful if using canned air as you can damage internal components if held too close.  DO NOT USE AN AIR COMPRESSOR. The potential psi of an air compressor can cause irreparable damage to your computer if not handled correctly. Cleaning your computer takes only a few minutes time and the results are well worth the effort.  Should your computer need more in-depth cleaning, and or have a lot of dust congesting the internals, please consult a computer technician.

Ships Same Business DayTime for a computer cleanup? We hear a lot about keeping your files safe from harm, but what about actual computer cleaning? You can pay an expert a few hundred dollars to take apart your computer and clean the inside, or you can do it yourself—it’s easier than you think. As you can see, most of these are available at your local hardware store or pharmacy. air purifier natural gasThey may even be items that you already have in your house. does an air purifier remove dustEasy enough, so far!best odor removing air purifier By “set up”, we mean “clean up”. You will be dealing with small parts and working with precision, so it’s important to make sure that you have good light and a large, flat, clean surface on which to work.

Remove any clutter, and use a place like a kitchen table – not your bed. However, if your computer has a glossy finish, you can set it up on a flat towel on the table in order to prevent scratching.Power off your computer and every peripheral and make sure that every, single component is off and disconnected from its power source. If you use a surge protector or power strip, be sure that it is off and unplugged. It’s also a good idea to disconnect all wires and cables from your computer system before your begin. If you’re cleaning a laptop, disconnect the battery pack. Look along the back or sides of your desktop tower for fasteners; they might just be screws, but sometimes there’s a sliding back panel for easy access. If you can’t determine how to open your computer, check the owner’s manual (or look online if you have another device available). If you’re cleaning a laptop, you will need to unscrew a panel at the bottom in order to get to the vent. Be sure to carefully note the position of the screws as you take them out so that you can easily put them back in later.

Using your cotton swabs, remove dust and debris from the inside of your computer. If there are stubborn bits of junk that you can’t get out, try a tweezers or other small instrument. Once most of the visible stuff is gone, follow up by spraying your compressed air. Be careful, though… you want to be sure that the air is spraying the dust out of the vents, not pushing it farther in. Spray wherever you can reach with the nozzle, but keep the nozzle a few inches away from all components and ports (holes for cords). Don’t use your compressed air as a sustained stream; it could damage your components if used incorrectly, so be sure to use it only in short bursts. Note: It’s probably fine to tilt your computer in order to dump out any stuck particles, but don’t shake or slap the machine; that would likely damage it, especially when the case is open.Be sure that you replace each screw and part that you removed, and close the computer so that it appears exactly the way it was before.

Once finished, use a dry microfiber cloth or other lint-free rag to brush the dust and dirt off the outside of your computer. That’s the easy part! Also, finish the job by “detailing” your machine—dip a cotton swab in the rubbing alcohol and move it along each seam and edge of your computer; then, dry it with the swab’s opposite end. If you’re like many people, you’re eating or drinking while you work, and your sticky fingers or crumbs have done a number on your keyboard. But, there are several ways to clean a yucky keyboard. If you’re not comfortable with the dishwasher method, or if you don’t have access to one, you can use the compressed air to blow the crumbs and ick out from between the keys. Then, follow up with your cotton swab and alcohol; gently run the swab over the keys and all exposed areas of the keyboard; don’t pour the alcohol on the keyboard, and be sure not to get any drips in between the keys. Any fluid that gets inside the keyboard can be damaging.