Cleaning a PC is a necessary and simple process and should be
done at least every three months.
NOTE: Before starting any physical cleaning procedures
remove all power cables from your PC. Disconnect all cables from peripheral
devices. Of course you will want to put them all back later so labeling them
before removing them is a very good idea ;-)
Do NOT spray anything directly onto the case. Instead,
moisten a lint-free towel with isopropyl alcohol (some will tell you Windex and
other things are ok, I prefer to only use isopropyl alcohol when cleaning PC's
just in case it gets on something it should not), and wipe down the front and
sides of the case, taking care to avoid moving parts such as CD/DVD ROM drawers,
Floppy drive doors, etc.
NOTE: Before opening your PC make sure you are
properly grounded. You should be able to purchase a wrist grounding strap for
around $5.00.
To determine if your PC needs internal cleaning, look at the
back of your PC; you should see a grated hole covering a fan. If this is clogged
with dust, dirt, hair etc, your PC needs internal cleaning.
Buildup of dust and dirt inside your case can hinder system
performance and even kill your PC. Fans and heat sinks are very prone to getting
clogged with dust causing fans to slow or stop and air can't pass through and
keep things cool resulting in overheating and burn out.
Attention smokers: smoke makes dust sticky; which
makes the PC more susceptible to soft shorts. Smoke also seems to accelerate the
aging process of certain parts and definitely gums up your moving parts faster.
NOTE: DO NOT SPRAY COMPRESSED AIR INTO YOUR PC
You always want to blow dust and grime OUT of your PC. If you
blow dust into the case, there is more dust piling up on your expensive internal
components. Internal dust and other grime (hair, tobacco tar, etc) can cause
overheating and eventually will lead to component failure.
Use caution when using compressed air, as air pressure
applied to certain areas of the PC can cause damage. For example, forced air
applied to a free-spinning fan can damage the fan bearings, causing it to slow
or stop spinning. When cleaning a fan with compressed air, block the blades with
a small screwdriver or similar object while cleaning to keep it still.
Holding a vacuum just outside the PC (do NOT use a
vacuum inside or on your PC) while using compressed air to blow the dust out
will cut down on your clean up.
Once you have the dust removed take a paper towel or a clean
coffee filter and wipe down the inside of the case. Only the case
should be wiped down and nowhere else. Do NOT wipe down any internal
components.
Now your PC is Clean, you Need to Know How to Prevent
Dust:
You can not stop dust from entering your PC. However you can
minimize the amount getting in.
First, keep your case elevated. Cases sitting on floors,
especially on rugs or carpeting suck in more dust.
Second, keep your pets away from your PC. If you have a cat
or a dog you will get hair in the system, so try to limit it by keeping the pets
away
Third, keep the area around your PC clear of clutter and wipe
away dust regularly.
Fourth, do not smoke around your computer, it will shorten
your PC's life and your own for that matter.
If you are purchasing a new
computer ask for a case with reusable filters. If you have an older PC buy
filters that you can place over the front vents. They don't catch all the dust
but they do a good job of keeping a lot out. Most filters are washable and can
be reused.
Cleaning the Monitor
Turn the monitor off and remove the power cord before
cleaning. Do NOT spray cleaners directly onto the monitor. If liquid enters the
vents in the monitor it will get on the internal monitor components and can
cause damage. Spray the cleaner on to a towel then wipe down the monitor.
Cleaning the Keyboard, Mouse, Scanner
As with all the procedures above, make sure the PC and device
you are cleaning are turned off while cleaning. The keyboard should be cleaned
like the monitor and case exterior – spray cleaner onto a towel and wipe it
down, do NOT spray cleaner directly on the components. An additional step prior
to wiping is to use a small nylon brush and loosen the dirt between the keys
then turn the keyboard over and gently shake it to let lose dirt drop out or use
a proper gentle PC vacuum.
A mouse may need to be internally cleaned if performance is
spotty or erratic. Turn the mouse over and look at the bottom. You should see
small pads you can clean with q-tips and isopropyl alcohol. If dirt has
accumulated around the light, gently remove it and clean with q-tips and rubbing
alcohol. If you have an older mouse with an internal ball dust and other
materials will accumulate on the rollers or the ball itself. The ball is usually
held in with a removable plate. Once the ball has been removed, blow out any
foreign material and inspect the rollers. If they have dirt accumulated on them
it can be removed using tweezers for large accumulation and a q-tip and
isopropyl alcohol for the smaller particles. Be careful to only touch the
rollers lightly and use the rubbing alcohol sparingly. The ball should be
cleaned with a lint-free towel and rubbing alcohol. Do NOT use any cleaner with
abrasives for any PC component cleaning. Reassemble the mouse and it should
return to normal operation.
Scanners should have the glass surface cleaned occasionally -
perform a visual check when you are using the scanner. Foreign objects, dust and
other contaminants can be detrimental to your image quality. Smudges from
fingertips, specks of white-out, traces of printer or pen ink from scanned
originals can all cause imperfections in your scans. Clean the glass surface
with a lint-free towel and glass cleaner, and the exterior with isopropyl
alcohol.
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