How to Clean a Computer

 

 

Gather the following supplies when cleaning a computer:

two 100% cotton cloths

a spray bottle with cleaning liquid. No ammonia based liquids should be used around electronic equipment. Liquid should never be sprayed directly on any computer equipment. Instead, spray it on a soft cloth.

cotton swabs

several 3x5 index cards, or pieces of tagboard

toothpick (plastic if possible)

toothbrush

Always log out (IBM) or shut down (Mac) the computer before starting to clean the machines

Unplug the keyboard and mouse from the machine. Be careful when pulling out the cables. Always pay close attention to where you unplug the cables.

Begin with the monitor

·1 Check and be sure that the cloth is clean and free of any particles that could scratch the screen

·2 Always spray the cloth, not directly onto the computer

·3 Watch to see that you aren't spraying the liquid at someone or near your own face

4 Clean the screen first. Wipe the monitor going around the whole screen. Be sure to clean the small lip that frames the glass section. Look carefully to see that it isn't streaked when you finish.

Now wipe the plastic case

·1 This is a dust and dirt collector

·2 Clean the lips of the CD Rom drive and the disk drive

3 When cleaning the top, back and sides, try to wipe the areas that allow air to circulate

How to clean the keyboard

·1 Tip the keyboard over gently. Tap the keyboard and watch the dust & paper particles drop on the counter. Don't hit it too hard, but don't be afraid to tap it to loosen the dust particles.

·2 Clean the frame. A little extra rubbing may be needed on the spacebar, Enter (IBM) and Return (Mac) keys.

·3 Wrap one finger with the cloth and walk the keyboard, going over each individual key

4 Moisten a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol. Use your fingers to wring it out so it's not too wet. Use it to go between the rows and clean the sides of the keys.

5 You may want to turn the keyboard upside down and use a can of compressed air to blow out dust and debris that might have fallen inside the keyboard.

Cleaning the mouse is vital

·1 Remember: spray the cloth first

·2 Clean the outside of the mouse. This is done by taking an index card and folding it in half vertically. The small open ridge around the mouse is a dirt collector. Use the index card and go into the ridge area and remove the dirt.

·3 Turn the mouse over and remove the plastic plate at the bottom. (The arrows usually tell you which way the plate comes off) Use the toothpick to get the dirt off the wheels on the inside that the trackball uses.

·4 Spray the rag again, place the ball into the rag and clean the track ball

5 Reassemble the mouse

Clean the workspace

·1 Use the toothbrush to dust off the mouse pad

·2 Lift up the keyboard and mouse. Clean the areas they rest on.

3 Have an adult lift the monitor and clean behind and under it; repeat the process for the CPU

Reconnect the keyboard and mouse

1 Now, reboot the machine and be sure that the monitor, CPU, keyboard & mouse are all working properly

 

 

 

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