Computer Cleaning Is Something That Should Be Performed On A
Regular Basis
Computer Cleaning requirements are similar to housekeeping requirements… you don’t wait until they are trashed to clean them. There are more and more computers being used in our Class C Motorhomes. Most of them are laptops. However, I'm sure you will also find the good ole' PC in a few of them.
Our screens will attract dust, and keyboards, over time, accumulate a wide variety of grime and dirt. It is important to keep the exterior and interior of your computer clean.
The point is, just like our rigs, if we use them, they will get dirty (especially out in nature). So we must pay attention to our computer cleaning chores.
Computer cleaning usually starts on the outside and then, to make sure it is operating at its maximum potential, by getting rid of the heat-generating dust built up on the inside.
You will need a few things before getting started:- denatured alcohol
- Q tips
- soft cloths
- some type of screen cleaner
- phillips screw driver
- compressed can of air
- vacuum cleaner
- all purpose cleaner
- glass cleaner
If you are cleaning a PC, the first thing you want to do is unplug it. At least once a year, maybe every 3 to 6 months under dusty conditions, you want to remove the side panel opposite the system board. Use a vacuum with the crevice tool to remove all the dust bunnies that are going to be inside your computer. You can use a can of compressed air to do this if a vacuum is not available.
Do not touch any circuit card with your fingers! ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) can cause damage to your micro-processors.
You do not want to disturb anything in the computer. Just vacuum it out, or blow out the dust and close it up. You do, however, want to make sure you fan blades are clean and can turn freely.- Use a soft clean cloth along with the glass cleaner and wipe the glass monitor screen clean.
- Turn over you mouse and remove the mouse ball if your mouse has one. Use Q tips with alcohol and clean the three contact points. Put the mouse ball back and the mouse is good to go.
- If you are using an optical mouse there will not be a ball or any contact points. The only thing that may be a concern, would be the small soft rubber feet. They can gunk-up and cause erratic movement. Simply clean them with a Q tip and alcohol.
- Disconnect the keyboard and turn it upside down.
- Shake it over a trash can several times. This should remove loose stuff.
- Turn it back over and use Q tips with an all purpose cleaner to wipe the tops and sides of individual key pads.
- Use compressed air to blow out remaining loose stuff.
- Let everything dry, and then connect it back together. Most of it is color coded.
Your laptop is a little different. But it does have a cooling system, and it will become dirty and require service.
Most laptops will require a good cleaning at least once a year. If you do not do this, they may begin to run hot. This, of course, will shorten their lifespan. Take it to a professional computer repair service and let them clean it for you.
You can perform the same external cleaning listed above with a few modifications. The major difference will be the use of a dedicated LED screen cleaner. You can buy this cleaner at Office Depot, Computer Warehouse, etc. It comes as a spray or individual wipes.
- Ensure that your laptop is unplugged with the battery removed. It is a
good idea to keep the battery out of the laptop unless you are using it as a power source.
- Use compressed air to blow out the keyboard.
- Use an all purpose cleaner on a Q tip to clean individual tabs on the keyboard.
- Do not allow any fluid to seep under keypad and onto the laptop circuit boards. If this does happen allow plenty of time for it to dry out, you can even put the sucker under a fan for a day, maybe two, if there was a lot of liquid involved.
- Use the screen cleaner spray on a soft cloth, wipe screen clean or use individual wipes and wipe screen clean.
It's just like your Class C. If you keep on top of things and do your cleaning often... you will have less hassles.
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