October 12th 2007

Did you know your computer keyboard has more germs on it than the average toilet seat? Pretty awful. But aside from the health hazards of a dirty PC, all that dust and dirt can actually make your PC overheat and inhibit proper performance. Since spring is in the air, there’s no time like the present to rescue your desktop from all that grunge.

For this project, regular old Windolene and Mr Muscle are taboo. Make sure you have the right tools before you get started. We recommend:

1. A can of compressed air
2. Antibacterial wipes
3. A cleaner designed specifically for computer monitor screens
4. A soft, lint-free cloth
5. A small vacuum

First, turn your computer off. I recommend starting with your keyboard because that is the easiest to clean. Hold your keyboard vertically over a bin while you use the can of compressed air to blow out the dust and crumbs trapped down in between the keys. Then use an antibacterial wipe to clean the tops of the keys only. Make sure you don’t drip the liquid down into the keyboard, and never spray it with any type of cleaner. While you’re at it, give your mouse a good cleaning too.

For those who are germ phobic, you can purchase keyboard and mouse sets that have an antimicrobial coating to inhibit organic growth. This may be a good idea for public PCs or those that are shared by multiple users.

Next, clean your monitor screen. Before you clean your monitor, turn it off; it will be easier to see fingerprints and smudges.

NEVER spray Windolene or a regular household cleaner directly onto your monitor. The liquid could seep down through the edges of the monitor and cause irreversible damage. Instead, use computer cleaning wipes that can be purchased at any computer or electronics shop. If you don’t have these wipes available, you can use a diluted 50-50 mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol. Spray a little bit of this mixture onto a soft, lint-free cloth and wipe the screen carefully. Again, make sure the cloth is slightly damp and not wet or the water can enter the monitor and damage the circuitry.

Now for the really dirty part: your computer’s fan. This is the most serious dirt-related threat to your PC. Dust constantly gets sucked inside the case while your computer is running and, over time, it will cling to and clog your power-supply and cooling fans, causing them to slow down or fail completely. If and when the fan stops working, your PC will overheat and cause component failure and ultimately, data loss.

Once again, grab your can of compressed air. Remove the case lid and you’ll see the various fans and incredible dust bunnies clinging to them. Using short, powerful bursts, blow the dust through the internal slits so it exits to the outside of the case. Make sure to spray the compressed air in short bursts, keeping the can upright and the tube at least a couple of inches from the hardware. You may want to use the vacuum to suck up the dust you blow out onto the carpet, BUT BE CAREFUL! Vacuums create static electricity, which is deadly to sensitive electronic components. Don’t stick your vacuum hose inside your PC to clean up the dust or you’ll risk damaging the sensitive electronic components.

You can buy battery-powered vacuums made specifically for electronics, but for the price, compressed air will work just as well. Just make sure you power down your computer and unplug it before you start cleaning it.

After you are done, check all the cables and plugs inside your PC to make sure you didn’t knock anything loose during cleaning and turn it back on.