A clean computer is a working computer. Try these tips to keep PCs in immaculate condition.

Keeping the keyboard free of debris

As a computer technician, I have seen keyboards destroyed in many ways. Paper clips, food, beverage spills, pencil lead, and scraps of paper are just a few of the things I have seen come out of my customers' keyboards. To help prevent such a buildup inside a keyboard, use a can of compressed air to blow out the dust and debris. Although keyboards are inexpensive these days, you don't want users wasting valuable support time with faulty keyboards.

Cleaning the keys on the keyboard

If you find that your users' keys are discolored, you can clean them with an alcohol wipe or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. This cleaning solution will remove all but the hardiest of substances. Although dirty keys won't prevent the keyboard from working, having clean ones will improve the appearance of the system.

Cleaning your monitor

Monitors attract dust just like televisions. As a result, they can become quite dirty. Clean the monitor screen with a nonabrasive glass cleaning solution. Be sure to spray the solution onto the rag and not directly onto the monitor to prevent any liquid from getting inside the high-voltage monitor.

In addition to cleaning the screen, you should also wipe the monitor case off every month to prevent dust buildup from impeding the airflow of the vents on the monitor. Also, ensure that nothing is covering the vents of the monitor because poor airflow can cause your monitor to overheat and fail.

Keeping your mouse clean

To keep the mouse and mouse-ball clean, you need a can of compressed air and some alcohol wipes. Once a month, remove the mouse ball from the mouse and clean it with the alcohol wipes. Then use the compressed air to remove any dirt and debris that may have found its way into the mouse. After replacing the mouse ball, you can use the alcohol wipes to clean the outside of the mouse, just as you did with the keyboard. These simple steps take just a few moments and will ensure that the mouse will continue to work reliably.

Cleaning the inside of your computer

Over time, the components inside of a computer can become covered with dust. This dust can cause problems with the contacts on the motherboard or its peripherals. Take the cover off of the system every three months and use a can of compressed air to blow the dust off of everything. You may want to ask a trained Computer Technician to do this.

Keep CDs clean to prevent the drive from getting dirty

Until my children began using my home computer, I never understood how dirty a CD-ROM could get. Now I make it a habit to check CDs for fingerprints, dust, and other debris before putting them into the drive. Dirt on a CD-ROM will drastically reduce a drive's performance, and could make the drive fail to read the CD completely.

If you do find fingerprints or other debris on the surface of the disk, use a clean, lint-free cloth to wipe the disk clean. Working from the inside of the disk to the outside using circular motions, you should be able to remove all but the most stubborn problems in a few seconds. If you need to use some liquid to help remove the debris, use only a little warm water. Never use any type of solvent on the disk because you run the risk of causing permanent damage to the data stored on it.