Cleaning your Computer Inside Out

Indeed, it's only when you've first purchased your gadget that you really care for it. You bought different kinds of protector in order to keep it in a good shape, such a keyboard protector, a screen protector, and a laptop sleeve. But after months of use, most probably you forget to give it the care that it needs. And now that it's not performing as it did before, only then did you give importance to your precious device.

I you have neglected performing maintenance procedures on your computer, here's a round-up of the things you need to do as soon as possible.

Part I. Software

To start, you should begin the cleanup on the inside first.

Disk Clean Up

Running a Disk Clean Up will do most of the deleting tasks for you. It will remove all the unneeded files in your PC such as temporary internet files. Also, it will auto-delete the contents of your Recycle Bin so you don't have to do it manually. Lastly, it will compress all your old files so that it can save up space in your pc. Indeed, the Disk Clean-up is your all-in-one solution for system maintenance.

Anti-virus Program

Apart from trimming down your used-up disk space, you have to ensure that your computer is safe from any malicious software. Upon your use of your device, you may acquire viruses, malware, spywares and "Trojans" which may bring harm to your files and system. As such, you have to install a reputable anti-virus program, and update its virus definitions regularly.

Part II. Hardware

Now that you're done with the software, it's now time to get your hands do the dirty work: cleaning the hardware.

Preparation

Before you start the cleaning process, make sure to turn off your machine and unplug it from any outlet. Also, get the battery off the device. You don't want to damage your computer, or worse, to hurt yourself in the process. While you do want your PC to be squeaky clean, you don't want to risk your safety in doing maintenance work.

After you've secured the computer, search for a wide and tidy place to work on. This is to ensure that you will easily see or spot any part of the computer that you may have misplaced or have forgotten to clean. Aside from your device, do not forget to bring the accessories such as mouse and keyboard.

Keyboard

Your keyboard is probably the dirtiest part of your machine. The oil and dirt from your fingers is usually the culprit of an untidy keyboard. You may add to that the dust and grime that accumulates over time, which depends on where you use your machine. Sometimes, people also forget the golden rule that you cannot eat near the PC. Food crumbs will definitely hide in the crevices of the keyboard.

To clean the keyboard, you need a small duster and a microfiber fabric. Tilt your keyboard towards you such that you may see the cracks in between the keys. Use the mini duster to sweep out any particles that is located in the gaps. Do this from top to bottom of the keyboard so that you won't risk the dirt going back inside the cracks. Finally, clean the surface of your keyboard using the microfiber fabric. This should be able to pick up any remaining dirt.

Mouse

Gone are the days when most people are using a trackball mouse as their pointing device. Nowadays, most users prefer the optical mouse. It is a laser-type of mouse which doesn't need too much cleaning as the trackball mouse. Thus, using a microfiber towel would suffice in cleaning this accessory.

Computer

Now that you're done with the peripheral devices, the last one may be the hardest part of the tutorial. To do this, you'll need a screwdriver, a multi-purpose cloth, and a duster. It's a no-brainer that you'll have to dust off the outer part of the hardware. The tricky part here actually is on how you will clean the inside. You have to be very careful since you may lose a screw or two, or that you won't be able to remember how to bring back the parts that you disassembled. Thus, it is better if you will read your computer's manual first before disassembling it.

Once you've taken off the case, clean off any dust in the board and in the fans. You have to be very meticulous in cleaning especially in the fans. The noise that you usually hear in your computer is actually a dirty fan. So if you want your machine to run quietly, you have to clean this regularly. Besides, having a clean fan ensures that your device will be cool for a longer time.

After doing all of this, your hardware will be squeaky clean, like it's brand new!

It's probably been years since you bothered checking up on your computer. But with the tips above, your device will surely be in a better condition in no time.