Date: March 30, 2007

Subject: Spring Cleaning Your Computer

Ah, tis spring when this “young” techie’s thoughts lightly turn to…cleaning a computer. (With apologies to Alfred Lord Tennyson.) When better to clean a computer then after a long and dreary winter when we already have our minds thinking on the improvements we’ll make to the gardens this year? This month’s ELM Bulletin will take you through some of the steps necessary to ensure that your computer will continue to operate at peak mechanical efficiency.

1 – DUSTING – In spite of their high-tech image, from one point of view computer systems are simply air-cooled machines. From this simple fact arises one of the primary concerns of computer maintenance: Air carries dust. As air circulates through a computer is passes electronic components that have a static electricity charge that attracts dust. The dust settling on the parts of a computer presents a significant challenge to the computer’s cooling system, sometimes to the point of causing the computer to shut down as temperature limits are exceeded.

To reduce the possibility of computer overheating we recommend that computers be “dusted” on an annual basis. Almost all electronic and office retail outlets sell cans of high pressure air, one or two of which are adequate to clean the average desktop computer system.

Pointers

A – Unplug any electrical item you are dusting as many types of canned air contains sufficient moisture to destroy powered electrical components.

B – Take the item(s) to be dusted away from your normal work area to a service area or even outside so that the dust will not pollute your work environment.

C – Remove one side panel from your desktop computer and blow out all of the dust you find.

D – Blow dust from the power supply by forcing air through the fan at the rear of the computer case until no more dust escapes through the vents.

E – Turn your keyboard upside down and shake it while blowing air between the keys.

F – If you are using the older style CRT monitors blow air through its cooling vents.

2 – WINDOW CLEANING – Okay, so your monitor is not a window in the truest meaning of the word; but it is the window through which you view the information that is stored on your computer and as such any grime that builds up on it can be detrimental to your vision and your ability to do your job.

Pointers

A – For older style CRT monitors a simple wipe with a damp cloth will effectively clean all surfaces; do the glass part of the display first in order to avoid scratching it with dust from other areas.

B – For the newer LCD monitors use a damp cloth on the frame and screen cleaning fluid for the display portion. Be sure that the fluid you use states that it can be used on an LCD monitor as the wrong type of cleaner can cause irreparable damage. LCD cleaners will usually not use alcohol as their cleaning agent.

3 – STORAGE – One of the hallmarks of Spring is putting away our Winter gear and returning our Summer gear to its rightful place in our yards and garages. While you are cleaning your computer do the same thing for your desk. Ensure that cables do not entangle your feet.

Pointers

A – Many retail outlets sell Velcro cable ties, some are even colour coded! You can use these cable ties, or even twist ties, to bundle cables together so that they don’t trail haphazardly all over your work area.

B – This is also the ideal time to remove cables for devices you no longer use, and the devices themselves.

4 – PEST CONTROL – It has been said that our keyboards and telephones carry more bacteria per square inch than any other area in our home or office; in order to maintain our own health it is a very good idea to clean these areas on a regular basis, monthly would be idea.

Pointers

A – Alcohol based cleaners can be safely used on keyboards and telephones.

B – While you are cleaning your keyboard and telephone you should also give the surface of your desk a wipe as well as your PDA (be sure to use the same criteria in cleaning your PDA as you did for your LCD monitor as similar design methods are used in both).

C – Any other area of your work area that is typically in use should also be cleaned. This would include your calculator, scissors, coffee mug & etc.

For more tips on computer maintenance please refer to our ELM Bulletin of October 29, 2004.

I hope that you have enjoyed this month’s ELM Bulletin. If you have any ideas for a future ELM Bulletin please contact me at your convenience. Thank you.

As always, please contact me if you have any questions about this or any other computer issue.