While we’re on the subject of starting out the New Year, now’s a good time to give that Mac of yours a bath. Yes, I know it’s not time for “Spring Cleaning” yet, but the time between the holidays and Spring Break (you know, the “Dark Ages”) is a good time to do indoor stuff like, well, cleaning your computer and peripherals.

First, the monitor. Check with the owner’s manual for the recommended cleaning solution. Since most monitors do not have glass screens, the use of “Windex” or another cleaner containing alcohol is not recommended. Often a cloth dampened with soapy water will do the trick. There are also commercial polishes available. Make sure to remove all the dust before serious scrubbing – you don’t want to scratch the surface. Most importantly, never spray the cleaning solution directly onto the monitor (or any other part of the computer, for that matter). Always spray an adequate amount onto a clean cloth. You don’t want liquid dripping or seeping into the electrically charged innards. That would be bad.

Now, the keyboard. Let’s face it – stuff gets into the keyboard. Crumbs, cat/dog hair, dead skin (yuck), pencil sharpenings, last week’s muffin, etc. You can disconnect the keyboard, turn it upside down, and stuff will fall out. Get a can of compressed air from your local office superstore – the one with the long, thin, straw-like attachment that can clean below the keys. On most keyboards you can actually remove the keys, but this shouldn’t be needed unless a key is stuck or you have an Exxon Valdez level spill on your desk. You’ll also notice that the oil on your fingers will create grime on the keys. You can remove this with a Q-tip or cloth and alcohol or other cleanser.

Mouse grooming. If you have a laser mouse, you won’t really have moving parts to clean. If you still have a roller-ball-based mouse, you can remove the ball and clean the rollers. Also consider cleaning the mouse pad. It can collect desktop substances as well.

Finally, the computer case itself. Probably the most important interior feature to keep clean is the fan that cools the computer’s insides. A fan fouled by dust and animal hair can not only provide decreased cooling efficiency, but can also be outright noisy.

© 2005 Peter F. Zimowski