Simple Guide to clean your Keyboard, Computer Monitor, Scanner, Printer or your Laptop Screen Here's an overview of how to keep your computer and peripherals clean.
If you are using just a damp cloth to wipe the screen, be sure to dry it off as well to prevent streaking. When cleaning the Computer monitor casing use a soft cloth with your cleaning fluid. Always spray onto the cloth, not the equipment!
If you spill Coke or Coffee in your computer keyboard the first thing to do stop working. Save your data using the mouse instead of key stroke commands, if possible, and quickly turn the keyboard upside down and unplug it. Allow as much of the fluid as possible to drip from the keyboard, and wipe it down with a soft cloth dampened with your specialized computer cleaning fluid or plain water.
Turn the keyboard upside down and shake so loose dust, dirt, and food crumbs will fall out. Spray between the keys with compressed air or vacuum the keyboard. For hard to remove stains such as ink, use a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol or an alcohol saturated wipe.
Conventional wisdom is that you should only clean a screen with a damp cloth, as many screens have an anti-glare coating that you risk damaging if you use a harsh household cleaner. Even traditional window cleaners can damage some coatings and screens, especially on laptop computers.
Scanners
Use a dry microfiber or lint-free cloth moistened with water or a mild glass cleaner on flatbed scanners. (HP says isopropanol- and butoxypropanol-based cleaners like Cinch, Spic And Span, Sparkle, and Glass Plus are okay.) Cleaners with ammonia or isopropyl alcohol may leave streaks. Cleaners with abrasives, acetone, benzene, or carbon tetrachloride may damage the glass. Only a few flatbed scanners let you clean the underside of the glass.
Sheet-fed scanners can be gently vacuumed to remove paper lint. You can also use fax, ADF (automatic document feeder), or scanner-cleaning sheets; run these sheets through a couple of times. With some, you moisten the fuzzy sheet with an included cleaning liquid first. Higher-end sheet-fed scanners and printers let you replace slipping rollers; for the others, wipe the rollers with a cloth soaked in pure rubbing alcohol (clear, not green). If you can reach the scanning elements, clean them with a microfiber cloth; using compressed gas might leave a slight residue.
How to cleaning your Notebook PC
Dust, cigarette ash, pet hair, and other particles can accumulate on or inside your notebook PC. When this happens, they form a layer of grime that can scratch or shorten the life of hardware components by causing overheating. Cleaning your notebook PC can extend its life by getting rid of this potentially damaging buildup. It is recommended to clean your system once a year as part of a regular maintenance program.
Clean the Cooling Vents
Depending on your model, vents can be found on the side, back, and/or bottom of your notebook PC. These vents allow air to flow through the PC and keep it cool. Buildup inside these vents impedes the cooling process. Purchase a can of compressed air (available at most computer retailers) and blow them out.
Clean I/O Ports
The back of your notebook PC has a series of ports. After cleaning the cooling vents, take your compressed air and blow out any debris that may have accumulated in and around these ports.
Clean the Display
LCD screens accumulate smudges and scratches all the time. To clean these, choose a non-abrasive cloth or towel. Plastic and glass cleaners containing ammonia may leave a glare-causing film, so use a computer monitor specific cleaner from a computer store. Spray the cleaner onto the cloth, then wipe the screen with it.
Clean the Keyboard
If you have a small vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment, use it to clear the keyboard of debris. You can also use a can of compressed air to blow out particles that get in between the keys.
Read more instructions for Cleaning the Computer
If you are using just a damp cloth to wipe the screen, be sure to dry it off as well to prevent streaking. When cleaning the Computer monitor casing use a soft cloth with your cleaning fluid. Always spray onto the cloth, not the equipment!
If you spill Coke or Coffee in your computer keyboard the first thing to do stop working. Save your data using the mouse instead of key stroke commands, if possible, and quickly turn the keyboard upside down and unplug it. Allow as much of the fluid as possible to drip from the keyboard, and wipe it down with a soft cloth dampened with your specialized computer cleaning fluid or plain water.
Turn the keyboard upside down and shake so loose dust, dirt, and food crumbs will fall out. Spray between the keys with compressed air or vacuum the keyboard. For hard to remove stains such as ink, use a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol or an alcohol saturated wipe.
Conventional wisdom is that you should only clean a screen with a damp cloth, as many screens have an anti-glare coating that you risk damaging if you use a harsh household cleaner. Even traditional window cleaners can damage some coatings and screens, especially on laptop computers.
Scanners
Use a dry microfiber or lint-free cloth moistened with water or a mild glass cleaner on flatbed scanners. (HP says isopropanol- and butoxypropanol-based cleaners like Cinch, Spic And Span, Sparkle, and Glass Plus are okay.) Cleaners with ammonia or isopropyl alcohol may leave streaks. Cleaners with abrasives, acetone, benzene, or carbon tetrachloride may damage the glass. Only a few flatbed scanners let you clean the underside of the glass.
Sheet-fed scanners can be gently vacuumed to remove paper lint. You can also use fax, ADF (automatic document feeder), or scanner-cleaning sheets; run these sheets through a couple of times. With some, you moisten the fuzzy sheet with an included cleaning liquid first. Higher-end sheet-fed scanners and printers let you replace slipping rollers; for the others, wipe the rollers with a cloth soaked in pure rubbing alcohol (clear, not green). If you can reach the scanning elements, clean them with a microfiber cloth; using compressed gas might leave a slight residue.
How to cleaning your Notebook PC
Dust, cigarette ash, pet hair, and other particles can accumulate on or inside your notebook PC. When this happens, they form a layer of grime that can scratch or shorten the life of hardware components by causing overheating. Cleaning your notebook PC can extend its life by getting rid of this potentially damaging buildup. It is recommended to clean your system once a year as part of a regular maintenance program.
Clean the Cooling Vents
Depending on your model, vents can be found on the side, back, and/or bottom of your notebook PC. These vents allow air to flow through the PC and keep it cool. Buildup inside these vents impedes the cooling process. Purchase a can of compressed air (available at most computer retailers) and blow them out.
Clean I/O Ports
The back of your notebook PC has a series of ports. After cleaning the cooling vents, take your compressed air and blow out any debris that may have accumulated in and around these ports.
Clean the Display
LCD screens accumulate smudges and scratches all the time. To clean these, choose a non-abrasive cloth or towel. Plastic and glass cleaners containing ammonia may leave a glare-causing film, so use a computer monitor specific cleaner from a computer store. Spray the cleaner onto the cloth, then wipe the screen with it.
Clean the Keyboard
If you have a small vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment, use it to clear the keyboard of debris. You can also use a can of compressed air to blow out particles that get in between the keys.
Read more instructions for Cleaning the Computer