HOW TO CLEAN COMMON COMPUTER PARTS AND DEVICES

You can do it yourself, only be careful to follow the instructions, at least you can clean the CRT, LCD, CD, DVD discs without calling on an engineer.

A KEYBOARD

Keyboards that are dirty can cause some keys to stick when pressed or other malfunctions. Dirt and dust can easily be cleaned from your keyboard by periodically holding it upside down and shaking it, or blasting it with compressed air. If the keys are dirty, once you have powered off the system, you can use a damp lint-free clothe to wipe the top facing of the keys. Never spray cleaner directly onto the keys as it may drip down into the circuitry beneath.

            If you spill a liquid on the keyboard, you should immediately shut down the computer (or if using a plug-and-play keyboard over onto a towel or cloth to prevent as much liquid from getting into the circuit as possible. You can use a small lint-free clothe to help clean the liquid out from between the keys, but do so with the keyboard still upside down. Leave the keyboard upside down for a day to help ensure as much of the liquid dries out as possible. A large amount of liquid spilled into the keyboard needing to be replaced, regardless of how well you try to clean it.

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If you just want to freshen up the look of the keyboard (e.g not clean due from problems or spilling of liquid) a cloth that has been moistened with warm water and a gentle soap will work quite well.

PDA, SMARTPHONE, CELL PHONE, AND SIMILAR DISPLAYS

Many of these devices do not contain glass, and glass cleaner and paper towel should never be used. For these devices, use the same procedure for cleaning the display area as listed for LCD monitors. Use a slightly moistened (water and gently soap) soft cotton to wipe the external casing on these types of devices.

NON-OPTICAL MOUSE

A trackball and roller mouse will need regular cleaning. When you begin to notice delays or jerkiness in cursor movement on the screen chances that your mouse needs a good cleaning. To clean the mouse you will need to have a few supplies in each reach such as cotton swabs, rubbing alcohol and a soft lint-free cloth.

                  With the mouse disconnected from the computer, you turn the mouse over and unlock the cover ring that holds the track ball inside. When you turn the mouse back over, both should fall out easily (be sure to catch them with your hand don’t drop the trackball onto your desk or other surface). Both the track ball and ring can be cleaned using a soft lint-free cloth. Set the ring down and place the trackball on top of the ring to securely hold it while cleaning the rest of the mouse.

                Endless are the percussion and tips for maintaining computer parts and devices. You should look out for more of these tips to update yourself; they improve as technology gets better.