Keep your computer clean and grunge-free
- by Lisa Hoover (RSS feed) on Aug 4th 2007 2:00PM
- Filed under preventative maintenance, computers and internet, cleaning, Essential Skills, Know-How
It's not easy keeping my computers clean. I've got cats who like to walk across the keyboard, kids with sticky fingers who like to use Mom's computer instead of their own, and my own penchant for eating chocolate chip cookies while I work. The day my dog starts to lick the monitor, I'm doomed. Since I can't hermetically seal my electronics, I've found some preventative maintenance every couple of weeks keeps my computers looking nearly as good as the day I bought them.
First, remove the keyboard and take it outside or somewhere you don't mind blowing some dust around. Turn it upside down and shake gently to loosen debris and, um, cookie crumbs. Follow up with a few blasts of canned air to clear out stubborn pet hair and remaining dust. If the keys are really sticky or dirty, wet a paper towel with water until it's barely damp. Wrap it around your finger and scrub each key, but make sure the paper towel isn't wet enough to let any moisture drip into the keyboard. Use a slightly dampened Q-tip to reach spaces in between the keys.
NPR's Nell Boyce washes her keyboard in the dishwasher, but since I haven't tried it (yet) I can't say if I recommend it or not. Unless you're the adventurous type, stick with a paper towel and water.
Next, dampen a soft cloth with water and wipe down the outside of your PC and all parts of the monitor except the screen. If you notice dust or hair around the fan, don't aim a blast of canned air at it -- you'll simply drive it farther into the case and into your computer's sensitive components. Instead, use another damp Q-tip to gently clean the area, or open the case and use the compressed air from the inside so dust heads away from the computer.
Finally, wipe dust and fingerprints off your monitor's screen with a cloth meant for cleaning eyeglasses to make sure you don't accidentally leave behind tiny scratches. Now simply reconnect the keyboard and your computer should be sparkly clean and ready to use.
Here's a bonus tip for people who own white Macbooks and are constantly fighting the grunge that makes the area around the palm rest so look dirty no matter how clean your hands are. Gently -- very gently -- rub a moistened Magic Eraser over the area and watch the grunge disappear.
Comments [6]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-04-2007 @ 2:35PM
lintondoza said...
There is a keyboard you can buy that can go straight into the washer. Otherwise, take your desktop keyboard apart, and the hard plastic can be washed, and the soft plastic/rubber/whatever under the keys can be wiped down. Just make sure to dry it thoroughly before putting it back together and using it.
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8-04-2007 @ 5:36PM
Peter said...
Removing loose stuff from the keyboard is easy. Just turn it over and bang the front edge on your desk. Then you can go to work on the "baked on" stuff.
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8-10-2007 @ 9:59AM
Kiros117 said...
You can wash just about any electronic device in a dishwasher, just don't let it go through the dry cycle. as long as there is no water in or around the elecronic device it should be fine. The only thing I would not do this to is a monitor. And anything that has a capacitor you will need to let drain for a while. I have washed devices such as X-Boxes and computer towers in my dishwasher before. (The X-Box after I spilled an entire pitcher of lemonade into it.)
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8-19-2007 @ 9:59PM
jennifer angelo said...
This sounds really helpful. I just came back from vacation where i worked on my computer outside a lot. Now it's filthy.
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10-19-2007 @ 4:59AM
Colleen said...
The top row of my laptop computer is sticky, in that I have to hold the numbers down longer and harder before they register. At our house it is quite possible something my have gotten under the keys to gum it up. Is there a safe way to take off the key in that row to clean without doing permanent damage? Would appreciate hearing from anyone who knows how I may do this myself.
Thanks! Colleen
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10-23-2007 @ 6:03AM
Lisa Hoover said...
Hi Colleen,
Many keyboards can be unscrewed from the bottom so you can gently lift off the back and get underneath those icky keys that way. Be sure to note the layout of the keyboard ahead of time, though. That way, if any of the keys accidentally fall out of their slots, you'll know where to put them.
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