Hello all. Spring Cleaning used to be a lot more important. Before the Vacuum Cleaner was invented, it was the time when you could finally fling open the windows and doors and dust without fearing that it all fall back onto your floor.
Now for most work, the Vacuum Cleaner and other tools have changed this forever. However for your computer's main system, it's still a vitally important concept.
Your computer's internal systems are constantly using electricity, which is also generating waste heat. In order to get rid of that waste heat before it can damage your system, your computer has vents, and often fans to keep air moving over these hot components. However because their using electricity, these components can develop a static charge which attracts the dust out of the air.
The accumulation of dust inside your computer is something to be concerned with for several reasons. First of all, dust can act as an insulator, reducing the effectiveness of the airflow in cooling your machine. And when your system runs hotter, it can slow down and become more error prone.
In addition, some dust conducts electricity. And if enough dust builds up, it can start producing short circuits which can ruin your motherboard (And replacing a damaged motherboard is the most time consuming hardware fix for a PC).
So, it's a very good idea to clean the dust off your motherboard once a year or so. (More often if you use your computer in a very dusty location.) And it's a good idea to clean it outside, because the best method of cleaning the motherboard will send the dust into the air.
The first thing to talk about is Tools. A motherboard is a delicate thing, and the wrong cleaning tool can damage it. First of all, no vacuum cleaners of any sort. Even if their not so strong as to risk physically damaging the system, the electric motors powering them causes them to produce static electricity, which a motherboard can easily be damaged by.
Also, no cleaning cloths, no cleaning liquids, no water, no feather dusters. The one perfect tool for dislodging dust from the motherboard without damaging it, is air. Canned air to be precise.
You can buy the cans at a variety of locations, Staples, Target, CVS, indeed some grocery stores have cans of compressed air now. Just be sure that it's listed a Moisture-free. Take the straw the can comes with and put it in the hole above the trigger on the top, pull the tab, and it's ready to go. Just remember, the air in the can is highly compressed, so keep it away from open flames, or anything likely to puncture it. Also, be aware that as you use it, the can will get colder.
Since you will be blowing a fair amount of dust into the air, you might want to buy a basic dust mask at a hardware store, or at least tie a bandana over your mouth and nose desperado style.
The first step in cleaning the dust off your motherboard is moving your system to somewhere you don't mind dust being blown too, like outdoors. First of all, disconnect all the cables at the back of your system, making sure too note what connects where, for when you reconnect it all. Next, take your computer's main case to the dust friendly location you've selected.
Finally, open your case to reveal the Motherboard. Every case opens a little differently, some using Phillips head screws, some using large screws designed to be opened by hand, some using latches to eliminate the need for any tools to open the case.
And now, look at your systems motherboard. If you've had your computer for a while and haven't cleaned it before, it probably looks a bit fuzzy. Holding your can upright, spray the air at dust, initially continuously while moving the can to dislodge the dust, then in smaller bursts to clear remaining patches.
Now look closely at the heat sink and fan attached to your systems CPU. It will also likely have a layer of dust, and while dislodging it, you'll probably want to try angling your can of air to help the dust blow out of the case.
Next, look at the vents where air enters and leaves your case. Again use your air can to blow the dust off the vents, angling the can to insure as much dust as possible goes into the air.
A few more blasts of air to clean the dust off your drives and expansion cards, and you should have the case mostly cleaned out. Just use the caned air once more to clear all the dust that's fallen on the case bottom and you can close up the system.
Once you're done, you can bring your system back to where it was, reattach all the peripherals, and fire it up again.
As for your peripherals, they also need cleaning, often more frequently than your main system.
First of all, your monitor's electrical current attracts dust just like your motherboard. Now the methods of cleaning depend of if you have a older CRT monitor, or a newer LCD.
CRT monitors are big, with a rear portion extending backward almost as far as the screen is wide. Like all electrical equipment, turn it off before cleaning it. Regular window cleaner is the best for cleaning the CRT screen, however do NOT spray it directly on the glass. The sprayed liquid can sink down, seep under the rim of the glass, and dampen sensitive electronic circuitry there, presenting a strong risk of the monitor short circuiting. Which can ruin the monitor.
What you want to do, is spray the window cleaner on a paper towel, or clean regular cleaning cloth, and wipe the screen with that.
The newer LCD monitors are recognizable by their much thinner profile. Their also the ones where the brightness and colors on the screen vary when you look at the screen from different angles.
A LCD's screen is made of more sensitive and fragile materials than a CRT. Window cleaner and paper towels can damage your screen. To clean it, you need a specialized piece of equipment, a microfiber cleaning cloth. Either as is, or with a light misting of water, just wipe down the screen, being careful not to apply too much pressure to it.
And finally there's the keyboard and mouse. The two tools of choice for this are, your can of compressed air, and either antibacterial wipes, or paper towels and rubbing alcohol.
The first step is to dislodge the large stuff (It's surprising how much there is.) Take your keyboard, turn it upside down, and shake it side to side and backward and forward for a minuet or two. Afterward, direct your can of air into the cracks between the keys, and spray to knock loose the smaller dust. You can likewise use your air to blow dust loose from under the buttons on your mouse.
Once you've dusted your mouse and keyboard, you then take an antibacterial wipe, and gently wipe the keyboard and keys. Then wipe down your mouse and it's buttons. Once finished, give your keyboard a few moments to dry and it should be good as new. If you don't have antibacterial wipes, you can use a paper towel, dampened with a very small amount of rubbing alcohol.
Oh, in addition to routine cleaning, keyboards are often subjected to spilled liquids. If this happens, the very first thing to do is to disconnect your keyboards power. If it plugs into the back of your system, pull that plug immediately. If it's a wireless keyboard, remove it's batteries immediately.
Next, consider the liquid that was spilled. If it was just water, simply put your keyboard on a towel somewhere out of the way and let it dry out, overnight at least. If it was a liquid containing dissolved sugars, syrups, or anything that would leave a distinct residue when dry, said residue would have a serious risk of permanently damaging your keyboard.
The trick at this point is to take your disconnected keyboard, put it in the shower, spray it down with water, and let it dry for 24 hours or so. After letting your keyboard thoroughly dry out, plug it in, and test it carefully to see if it's been permanently damaged or not.
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